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Nebline, March 2006

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Nebraska 4-H Summer Camps Provide Ultimate Camping Experience for Youth
All-America Selection Vegetables for 2006
Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day
Hints for Starting Transplants
Red Flour Beetles
ewf needs volunteers
Household Hazardous Waste Collections for 2006
Don’t Get Trapped in a Smelly Situation
Pocket Gophers in Your Alfalfa? UNL Wildlife Researcher Needs Your Help!
Collection of Unwanted Pesticides, March 16
Diesel vs. Propane Irrigation Systems
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training
Worried About the High Cost of Fertilizer?
Pollination Requirements for Tree and Small Fruits
Upcoming Acreage Insights Clinics
Type of Farm Enterprise and Crop(s) Produced
$tretch Your Food Dollar with Canned …

Fire History, Passerine Abundance, And Habitat On A North Dakota Drift Plain Prairie, Timothy J. Ludwick, Robert K. Murphy

The Prairie Naturalist

Prescribed fire is among key tools for restoring and managing prairies in the northern Great Plains, yet there are no published reports of its impacts on grassland passerine birds on native prairie in the Drift Plain, a major physiographic subregion. We examined relationships between prescribed fire history and abundance and habitat of breeding passerines in Drift Plain prairie at Des Lacs National Wildlife National Refuge in northwestern North Dakota. In 2003, we used point counts (n = 79 75 m radius plots) to survey bird abundance on 16 management units that had been prescribe-burned one to three times each …

Estimates Of Breeding Bird Populations In The Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota, Mary Ann Cunningham, Douglas Johnson, Daniel N. Svingen

The Prairie Naturalist

We conducted a two-year survey of breeding birds in the Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota, to estimate total populations of breeding birds. The Grassland is of interest because it provides wildlife habitat and recreational birding opportunities. Indicated breeding pairs were counted on 100-m wide belt transects during morning surveys from late May to early July in 2002 and 2003. We surveyed approximately 6 to 7% of the Grassland each year. The most abundant species in both years were grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), claycolored sparrow (Spizella pallida), Savannah sparrow (Passerculus …

Reaction Of Sorghum Lines Genetically Modified For Reduced Lignin Content To Infection By Fusarium And Alternaria Spp., Deanna L. Funnell, Jeffrey F. Pedersen

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Two genes conferring the brown midrib (bmr) trait had been backcrossed into six elite sorghum lines, resulting in reduced lignin in the bmr lines when compared with the wild-type parent. Seed and leaf tissue from field-grown plants, planted at two locations, were screened for Alternariu spp. and Fusarium spp. on semi-selective media. The results suggest that bmr lines do not have increased susceptibility to colonization by Alternariu spp. However, significantly fewer colonies of Fusarium spp., including Fusarium moniliforme, were recovered from seed of reduced lignin lines from two genetic backgrounds. That the bmr trait in some genetic backgrounds might …

Potassium Ion Channels Of Chlorella Viruses Cause Rapid Depolarization Of Host Cells During Infection, Florian Frohns, Anja Kasmann, Detlef Kramer, Britta Schafer, Mario Mehmel, Ming Kang, James L. Van Etten, Sabrina Gazzarrini, Ana Morino, Gerhard Thiel

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

revious studies have established that chlorella viruses encode K⁺ channels with different structural and functional properties. In the current study, we exploit the different sensitivities of these channels to Cs⁺ to determine if the membrane depolarization observed during virus infection is caused by the activities of these channels. Infection of Chlorella NC64A with four viruses caused rapid membrane depolarization of similar amplitudes, but with different kinetics. Depolarization was fastest after infection with virus SC-1A (half time [t_1/2], about 9 min) and slowest with virus NY-2A (t_1/2, about 12 min). Cs⁺ inhibited …

Polarity In Plants - Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 12, Steven D. Harris

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Polarity is a fundamental property of all cells. The molecular mechanisms that underlies the establishment and maintenance of cellular polarity have been intensively studied in animal cells and yeast-like fungi. These studies reveal an emerging general principle whereby positional information is relayed to the cytoskeleton and other morphogenetic functions by conserved signaling pathways. Comparatively less attention has been directed toward the molecular basis of polarized growth in plant cells and tissues. This volume, Polarity in Plants, provides a comprehensive review of the topic that should satisfy both hardcore aficionados of plant cell and developmental biology as well as curious investigators …

Effects Of Predator Removal On Upland Nesting Ducks In North Dakota Grassland Fragments, Kristen D. Chodachek, Michael J. Chamberlain

The Prairie Naturalist

Low nest success rates in the Prairie Pothole Region are attributed mainly to changes in the predator community coupled with reductions in availability of suitable nesting cover. We evaluated effects of removal of mammalian predators on pair density and nest success of ducks nesting on 259 ha sites in northeastern North Dakota during 2001 and 2002. We monitored pair density and duck nests on 10 sites with removal and 10 sites without removal. Overall nest success for both years was greater on trapped (53.4%) than nontrapped sites (28.7%). Pair densities were not affected by predator removal, but did increase across …

Why Dairy Farmers Need And Want High Quality Alfalfa Hay: Quality Of Hay = Performance And Profitability, Donna M. Amaral-Phillips

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Why do dairy farmers want high quality forages, including alfalfa hay, to feed to their milking herds? Feeding high-quality forages results in greater feed intake and as a result, dairy cows produce more milk, and they often times can produce this milk more economically. With advancing stage of plant maturity, fiber digestibility and protein content of the alfalfa plant decreases while the amount of fiber increases. Consequently, less energy is available to the cow when it consumes more mature alfalfa. Energy is the nutrient that most often limits performance in dairy or beef cattle - not protein. The take home …

Alfalfa Hay For Horses, Robert Coleman

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

When horse owners consider hay for their animals a number of criteria are generally considered. Of major importance is the hay must be free of mold and dust, it needs to contain nutrients needed by the horse and it must be palatable. If these criteria are met, the type of hay should not matter. However, that is not the case with many horse owners. When discussing hay, many owners first consider the type of hay. Can it be alfalfa or should it be a grass or how about a mix of grass and a legume. If a group of horse …

Interpreting Forage Quality Test Reports, Donna M. Amaral-Phillips

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Forages are the foundation for building diets for beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep and goats. The quality of these forages directly impacts forage intake, animal performance, and, ultimately, the profitability to their owners. As the quality of forages decline, consumption of that forage decreases and the amount of grain or byproducts which must be fed increases. The cost for a unit of performance increases and/or the animal can not perform (i.e. milk or gain) to the optimum level thus lowering profitability to the animal owner. These relationships are especially true with young and high performance ruminants, such as high …

Alfalfa As A Grazing Crop, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Over the past decade we have had several people address “Alfalfa as a Grazing Crop” including Warren Thompson, Jim Moutray, Gary Bates, Ken Johnson, Jason Sandefur, Byron Sleugh, and myself. Each has done an excellent job discussing the merits of this remarkable crop and the opportunities it offers for grazing. At the end of the Conference last year, I (as I always do) asked for your suggestions concerning topics for this years’ conference. As it has been for the past decade, “Grazing” was the most requested topic. In today’s presentation, let’s go back and revisit the question, “Is Grazing Alfalfa …

Principles And Practices Of Successful Alfalfa Establishment, Gary Bates

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is the most widely known forage crop, due to its high quality and the versatility of use. There are few forages that are as widely distributed as alfalfa, and none that can produce the high yields and high quality. Even with all of the positives of alfalfa, growing this crop profitably is often difficult. An evaluation of alfalfa budgets shows that a key factor in the success with alfalfa is the stand life. Because of the establishment expense, an extra year or two of production can increase the lucrativeness of the stand. The start of having a long life …

Bacillus Species Nrrl B-30212 For Reducing Fusarium Head Blight In Cereals, David A. Schisler, Naseem L. Khan, Michael J. Boehm

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Four yeasts (NRRL Y-30213, NRRL Y-30214, NRRL Y-30215, and NRRL Y-30216) and 1 bacterium (NRRL B-30212) have been identified as being superior antagonists capable of suppressing Fusarium head blight (head scab) in cereals, particularly in wheat and barley. Fusarium head blight is primarily caused by the fungus Gibberella zeae (anamorph=Fusarium graminearum).

Crop Updates 2006 - Weeds, Alexandra Douglas, Thomas M. Wolf, Harm Van Rees, Bill Gordon, Peter Newman, Glenn Adam, Aik Lee, Siew Lee, Katherine Hollaway, Brad Rayner, John Peirce, Rick Llewellyn, Frank D'Emden, Michelle Owen, Stephen Powles, Michael Walsh, Emma Glasfurd, Kathryn Steadman, David Ferris, Bevan Addison, Aik Cheam, Dave Nicholson, Ruben Vargas, Shahab Pathan, Abul Hashem, Nerys Wilkins, Catherine Borger, Bob French, Kari-Lee Falconer, Martin Harries, Chris Matthews, Vikki Osten, Harnohinder Dhammu, David Nicholson, Richard Quinlan, Debbie Allen, Mark Seymour, Pam Burgess, Owen Coppen, Chris Roberts, Christiaan Valentine, A. K. Basandrai, W. J. Macleod, John Moore, Neil Rothnie, Russell Speed, John Andrew Simons, Ted Spadek, Daya Patabendige, Michael Renton, Sally Peltzer, Art Diggle

Crop Updates

This session covers thirty seven papers from different authors:

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Alexandra Douglas, CONVENOR – WEEDS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

SPRAY TECHNOLOGY

2. Meeting the variable application goals with new application technology, Thomas M. Wolf, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre

3. Spray nozzles for grass weed control, Harm van Rees, BCG (Birchip Cropping Group)

4. Boom sprayer setups – achieving coarse droplets with different operating parameters, Bill Gordon, Bill Gordon Consulting

5. Complying with product label requirements, Bill Gordon, Bill Gordon Consulting

6. IWM a proven performer over 5 years in 33 focus paddocks, Peter Newman and …

Crop Updates 2006 - Farming Systems, Wayne Pluske, Bill Bowden, Craig Scanlan, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey, Peter Tozer, Derk Bakker, Louise Barton, David Gatter, Renee Buck, Daniel Murphy, Christoph Hinz, Bill Porter, Meredith Fairbanks, Nicolyn Short, Ian Foster, James Fisher, Doug Abrecht, Mario D'Antuono, Tracey M. Gianatti, Paul Carmody, Frank D'Amden, Rick Llewellyn, Michael Burton, Caroline Peek, Nadine Eva, Chris Carter, Megan Abrahams, Andrew Blake, Paul Blackwell, Sylvian Pottier, Michael Robertson, Greg Lyle, Lisa Brennan, Tony J. Vyn, Simon Teakle, Peter Norris, Jeff Russell, James Fisher, Roy Murray-Prior, Deb Pritchard, Mike Collins, Greg Hamilton, Rob Hetherington, Andrew Van Burgel, Cliff Spann

Crop Updates

This session covers nineteen papers from different authors:

SOIL AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

1. Inve$tigating fertili$er inve$tment, Wayne Pluske, Nutrient Management Systems

2. KASM, the potassium in Agricultural System Model,Bill Bowden and Craig Scanlan, DAWA Northam and UWA, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences

3. Long term productivity and economic benefits of subsurface acidity management from surface and subsurface liming, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey and Peter Tozer, Department of Agriculture

4. Furrow and ridges to prevent waterlogging, Dr Derk Bakker, Department of Agriculture

5. Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in Western Australia, Louise Barton^{1 …}

Crop Updates 2006 - Oilseeds, Graham Walton, Fiona Martin, Anne Wilkins, Nathan Hancock, Matthew Nelson, Marieclaire Castello, Linda Thompson, Anouska Cousin, Guijun Yan, Wallace Cowling, Moin Salam, Bill Mcloud, Ravjit Khangura, Jean Galloway, Art Diggle, R. F. Brennan, M. D. A. Bolland, P. M. Damon, Z. Rengel, Terry Rose, Qifu Ma, Dave Eksteen

Crop Updates

This session covers thirteen papers from different authors:

1. INTRODUCTION, Graham Walton, CONVENOR, Department of Agriculture

2. The performance of new TT canola varieties in National Variety Testing (NVT) WA, Fiona Martin, Research Agronomist, Agritech Crop Research

3. Comparison of TT Canola Varieties in Oilseeds WA Trials – 2005, Collated by G.H. Walton, Department of Agriculture, WA, from a collaboration between Oilseeds WA, Seed Companies, Agronomists and Growers

4. An overview of the potential for a Biofuels Industry in Western Australia, Anne Wilkins and Nathan Hancock, Department of Agriculture

5. Retrieval of fertile progeny from interspecific …

Crop Updates 2006 - Cereals, Roger Jones, Nichole Burges, Mohommad Amjad, Ben Curtis, Wal Anderson, Darren Chitty, Brianna Peake, Harm Van Rees, Cherie Reilly, James Hunt, Dean Holzworth, Zvi Hochman, Allan Peake, Neal Dalgliesh, Stephen Van Rees, Trudy Mccann, Peter Carberry, Raj Malik, Kelly Winfield, Brenda Shackley, Judith Devenish, Darshan Sharma, Steve Penny Jr, Christine Zaicou-Kunesch, Mike Bolland, Ross Brennan, Paul Damon, Zed Rengel, Jeremy Lemon, Perry Poulton, Nick Poole, Brooke Thompson, Stephen Loss, Jeff Russell, Angie Roe, James Eyres, Narelle Simpson, Ron Mctaggart, Lionel Martin, Dave Allen, Hossein Golzar, Manisha Shankar, Robert Loughman, John Majewski, Donna Foster, Jamie Piotrowski, Nicole Harry, Geoff Thomas, Kith Jayasena, Svetlana Micic, Paul Matson, Tony Dore, Thomas (Ben) Biddulph, Daryl Mares, Julie Plummer, Tim Setter, Garren Knell, Steve Curtin, Wade Longmuir, Nigel Metz, Tina Botwright Acuña, Len Wade, Cindy Mills, Peter Stone

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty nine papers from different authors:

PLENARY

1. The 2005 wheat streak mosaic virus epidemic in New South Wales and the threat posed to the Western Australian wheat industry, Roger Jones and Nichole Burges, Department of Agriculture

SOUTH COAST AGRONOMY

2. South coast wheat variety trial results and best options for 2006, Mohammad Amjad, Ben Curtis and Wal Anderson, Department of Agriculture

3. Dual purpose winter wheats to improve productivity, Mohammad Amjad and Ben Curtis, Department of Agriculture

4. South coast large-scale premium wheat variety trials, Mohammad Amjad and Ben Curtis, Department of Agriculture …

Evolution Of The Nanog Pseudogene Family In The Human And Chimpanzee Genomes, Daniel J. Fairbanks, Peter J. Maughan

Faculty Publications

The NANOG gene is expressed in mammalian embryonic stem cells where it maintains cellular pluripotency. An unusually large family of pseudogenes arose from it with one unprocessed and ten processed pseudogenes in the human genome. This article compares the NANOG gene and its pseudogenes in the human and chimpanzee genomes and derives an evolutionary history of this pseudogene family. Results: The NANOG gene and all pseudogenes except NANOGP8 are present at their expected orthologous chromosomal positions in the chimpanzee genome when compared to the human genome, indicating that their origins predate the human-chimpanzee divergence. Analysis of flanking DNA sequences demonstrates …

Chlorella Virus Mt325 Encodes Water And Potassium Channels That Interact Synergistically, Sabrina Gazzarrini, Ming Kang, Svetlana Epimashko, James L. Van Etten, Jack Dainty, Gerhard Thiel, Anna Moroni

James Van Etten Publications

Fast and selective transport of water through cell membranes is facilitated by water channels. Water channels belonging to the major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) family have been found in all three domains of life, Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Here we show that Chlorella virus MT325 has a water channel gene, aqpv1, that forms a functional aquaglyceroporin in oocytes. aqpv1 is transcribed during infection together with MT325 kcv, a gene encoding a previously undescribed type of viral potassium channel. Coexpression of AQPV1 and MT325-Kcv in Xenopus oocytes synergistically increases water transport, suggesting a possible concerted action of the two channels in …

Forage News [2006-02], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Forages at KCA
• Heart of America Grazing Conference
• Nitrogen Costs and the Value of Legumes
• It Will Soon Be Calving Season
• UK Beef/Forage Field Day June 15
• Tall Fescue On-Line Monograph" Availability
• Comparative Lamb and Heifer Growth Rates on Non-Toxic and Endophyte-Free Tall Fescue
• Field Experience with Strip Grazing Standing Corn as an Economical Alternative for Wintering Beef Cows in the Midwest
• Free Nitrogen
• Upcoming Events

Nebline, February 2006

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Making Nutrition Education a Hands-On Experience for Youth
PUDDING CUP Recipe
PEANUT BUTTER BITES Recipe
YUMMY BUG Recipe
YOGURT PARFAIT Recipe
Private Pesticide Applicator Certification
Dormant Spray for Alfalfa Weeds
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training
Crop Protection Clinic, Jan. 23
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training
Boost Profits by at Least $20/ Acre Workshop, Feb. 15
Chemigation Certification Training
Fertilizing Crop Land with Biosolids Workshop, March 9
Dealing with Winter Flies
Beginning Beekeeping 2-Day Workshop
Be My Valentine? Consider these mating curiosities from the insect world...
Amazing Facts... About Honey and Honey bees
Household Hints: Rise and Shine with Clean Bed Linens
President’s …

The Established Intimin Receptor Tir And The Putative Eucaryotic Intimin Receptors Nucleolin And B1 Integrin Localize At Or Near The Site Of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Adherence To Enterocytes In Vivo, James F. Sinclair, Evelyn A. Dean-Nystrom, Alison D. O’Brien

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

For enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 to adhere tightly to the intestinal epithelium and produce attach and efface (A/E) lesions, the organism must express the adhesin intimin and insert the bacterially encoded translocated intimin receptor Tir into the plasma membrane of the host enterocyte. Additionally, some reports based on tissue culture experiments indicate that intimin has affinity for the eucaryotic proteins nucleolin and β1 integrin. To address the potential biological relevance of these eucaryotic proteins in the infection process in vivo, we sought to compare the proximity of Tir, nucleolin, and β1 integrin to regions of EHEC …

Farnesol-Induced Apoptosis In Aspergillus Nidulans Reveals A Possible Mechanism For Antagonistic Interactions Between Fungi, Camile P. Semighini, Jacob M. Hornby, Raluca Dumitru, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Steven D. Harris

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans secretes farnesol, which acts as a quorum-sensing molecule and prevents the yeast to mycelium conversion. In this study we examined the effect of farnesol in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We show that externally added farnesol has no effect on hyphal morphogenesis; instead, it triggers morphological features characteristic of apoptosis. Additional experiments suggest that mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in farnesol-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the effects of farnesol appear to be mediated by the FadA heterotrimeric G protein complex. Because A. nidulans does not secrete detectable amounts of farnesol, we propose that it …

Perennial Warm Season Grasses In Grazing Programs, Mark Kennedy

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Many warm season perennial grasses were once an important part of the plant community in much of the Midwest. Conversion to cropping systems, overgrazing, lack of regular fire and increased competition from cool-season grasses and legumes have caused many of these grasses to disappear from much of the region. However, warm season grasses can compliment cool-season pastures if managed properly. Midwest stockmen are rediscovering the usefulness of warm season grasses in their overall forage program. Adding these grasses to forage systems has resulted in increased gains and improved livestock performance during the summer months when cool-season grasses are at their …

Non-Traditional Forages For Grazing: Turnips And Other Brassicas, Dave Robison

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Over the past few years there have been a number of production livestock producers that have realized the benefits of grazing turnips and other brassicas. Turnips and other brassicas have traditionally been utilized for late season grazing to help extend the grazing season. But other ways are being found to utilize these highly productive, high quality forage crops. My purpose in this presentation is to introduce the different types of turnips and brassicas and explain how they can be utilized for various systems and different uses.

Corn And Other Annuals, Jeff Mccutcheon

Kentucky Grazing Conference

There are many factors to consider when planting alternative crops. One of the most important factors is deciding if you need additional forage. In our area the basis of any grazing system should be perennial cool-season grasses and legumes. Have you done all that you can to improve that forage production through managed grazing and fertility management? If you have, then you may be ready to consider annual forages in your grazing system.

How I Use My Pastures, Doug Gehner, Russell C. Hackley, Gil Myers

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Tall Fescue From 1931-2006, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Tall fescue is the most important coolseason grass grown in the “Heart of America”. It is a versatile plant used for animal feed, lawns and turf, and conservation purposes.

Mineral Supplements And Feed Additives--Can They Eliminate Fescue Toxicity?, John Thomas Johns

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Fescue is the predominate cool season grass in much of the United States due to its wide adaptation and hardiness. Many of these acres however, contain an endophytic fungus resulting in production of toxins with negative effects on grazing cattle. The two primary responses in beef cattle are an increase in core body temperature and a decrease in dry matter intake. As a result, decreases in reproductive rates, milk production, weaning weights and ADG are seen (Tables 1 and 2). Many approaches to pasture management have been advocated to overcome or minimize the problem such as incorporation of legumes, rotational …

Developing Watering Systems For Efficient Grazing, Kevin Laurent

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Whether you call it rotational grazing, intensive grazing or management intensive grazing, the economic benefits of controlling how and where your cattle graze are well documented. Increased forage utilization, greater stocking rates, greater legume persistence, reduced hay feeding and more uniform nutrient recycling are just some of the many benefits producers can take advantage of when practicing some form of controlled grazing. However, one of the greatest challenges to implementing a controlled grazing system is the delivery of stock water to the grazing animal.