2013 Annual Report Project Descriptions

2013 Annual Report Project Descriptions

AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

UVM research scientists and outreach specialists ...

  • develop a biophysical method for altering the developmental fate of plant cells.
    Reproductive Differentiation in Plants: A Structural and Mathematical Analysis
    BARRINGTON 1

  • develop a range of planting and harvest date recommendations to improve winter wheat yield and quality in Vermont.
    Enhancing farmers capacity to produce high quality organic bread wheat in Vermont.
    DARBY 1

  • develop optimal ranges for planting dates and seeding rates of sunflower and canola in Vermont to increase yield and quality.
    Best Agronomic Practices for Oilseed Production in Vermont
    DARBY 1

  • model an agricultural system capable of providing healthy diets without surpassing planetary boundaries
    Assessing the Potential for Carbon Neutral Food Systems for Chittenden County, Vermont
    FARLEY 1

  • interdisciplinary evaluation of best management practices on Vermont farms that aid in climate change adaptation and mitigation
    Climate Change Best Management Practices on Vermont Farms
    HURLEY 1

  • development of a transdisciplinary graduate degree in Food Systems
    Applied Master's Degree in Food Systems
    KOLODINSKY 1

  • develop a commercially viable value-added dairy product enriched in bioactive components (stearidonic acid) to improve the healthful attributes of milk
    Feeding stearidonic acid-rich oils to enhance animal health and nutritional attributes of bovine milk
    KRAFT 1

  • establish a novel feeding intervention to alter the milk fat composition to improve its healthfulness and functional properties
    Enhancing the nutritional attributes of bovine milk to achieve a more desirable product tailored to provide health-promoting benefits
    KRAFT 1

  • educate farm families to understand and act on issues related to farmland and farm business planning.
    Farm Transfer and Business Succession Education for New England Farmers
    PARSONS 1

  • determine biosecurity needs on dairy farms and demonstrate effective practices to prevent disease outbreaks
    Costs and Challenges Associated with Developing and Implementing a Community-Wide Biosecurity Plan
    SMITH 1

  • develop web-based educational materials on the subject of farm biosecurity for publication on national eXtension websites
    Development of Biosecurity Materials for eXtension Website
    SMITH 1

    Dairy

  • assess the health needs and services for Hispanic dairy workers in Vermont
    A Statewide Assessment of the Health Needs of Hispanic Farmworkers in Vermont
     BAKER 1a

  • assess the stress and anxiety among Vermont's Hispanic dairy workers
    Adjusting to Vermont:Stress Among Latino Farmworkers & State Policy Development
    BAKER 1a

  • determine food safety and extension gaps and opportunities for Vermont's artisanal cheese makers.
    Food Safety from Milking to Marketing for Vermont Artisanal Cheese Makers
    BARLOW 1a

  • determine the genetic and functional diversity of immune genes and proteins in Holstein cattle.
    Holstein Cattle Major Histocompatibilty (MHC) Gene Diversity and Tracking the Immune Response to an Adenoviral Vectored Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Using MHC Tetramer Technology
    BARLOW 1a

  • develop immunologic methods and tools that will be used to evaluate the T cell mediated immune responses of Holstein cattle.
    BREAD: A Modern Approach for the Development of Cattle Vaccines for Critical Bovine Diseases Impacting Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
    BARLOW 1a

  • determine the duration of protection for a new Foot and Mouth Disease Virus vaccine.
    Duration of Immunity to Vaccination of Cattle with Human Ad5FMDV Vacine
    BARLOW 1a

  • describe pathogen virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in key sectors of the dairy industry in Vermont in order to improve mastitis control practices and food safety.
    Mastitis Resistance to Enhance Dairy Food Safety
    BARLOW 1a

  • investigate alternative management of pasture damage and dairy waste utilization
    Northeast Pasture Consortium
    GORRES 1a

  • determine genetic and epigenetic differences between cows in their resistance to mastitis
    Effects of Variation in Pathogen Detection and Signaling Pathways on Resistance to Bovine Mastitis
    KERR 1a

  • determine reasons for differences in the ability of various strains of Staphylococcus aureus to cause bovine mastitis
    Effects of genetic variation in host and pathogen on severity of bovine mastitis
    KERR 1a

  • determine genetic basis for differences between cows in how they respond to mastitis-causing bacteria
    Mastitis Resistance to Enhance Dairy Food Safety
    KERR 1a

  • raise awareness of Johne's disease and encourage risk assessment and management planning on individual dairy farms
    Vermont Cattle Health Improvement Program
    SMITH 1a

  • examine the molecular diversity of bacteria and methane-producing archaea within on-farm anaerobic digesters
    Characterization of Methane-Producing Microorganisms in Dairy Cow Waste Anaerobic Digesters
    WRIGHT 1a

  • study the mechanisms of methane production in farm based anaerobic digesters by analyzing microbial community gene expression
    Study of the Mechanisms of Methane Production in Farm Based Anaerobic Digesters by Analyzing Microbial Community Gene Expression
    WRIGHT 1a

  • purchase bench top reactors to be used in the study of methanogens, found in animals and anaerobic digesters, used in the production of biogas for methane-fueled electric generating units
    Bench Top Reactors to be used in the Study of Methaneogens
    WRIGHT 1a

  • identify and assess the diversity and structure of the methanogen population in a variety of lactating dairy cow breeds
    Examination of the methanogen microbiome in five breeds of lactating dairy cows
    WRIGHT 1a

  • conduct research to advance our current techniques of producing lifesaving medicine with much reduced costs and help create new ways for sustainable agriculture.
    Dairy Pharming: Production of Pharmaceutically Active Human Proteins in Bovine Milk
    ZHAO 1a

  • potentially develop the SNPs of glucose transporters and other genes as breed selection markers and may thus have a direct impact to dairy breeding program for improving milk productivity and efficiency.
    Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Glucose Transporters as Breed Selection Markers for Milk Productivity in Dairy Cattle
    ZHAO 1a

    Maple

  • assess Acer mono trees as a sentinel tree system for early detection of the Asian longhorned beetle in coldhardiness zones 3, 4 and 5
    Biological Control of Arthropod Pests and Weeds
     PARKER 1b

  • develop approaches for maximizing sap yields and profits in maple sap collection systems under vacuum
    New approaches towards maximizing maple sap yields
    PERKINS 1b

  • identify the maple tubing cleaning practice that results in the best impacts on sap yields and net annual revenues
    Identification of Effective Maple Tubing Cleaning Practices
    VAN DEN BERG 1b

  • identify a maple crop management system which optimizes productivity and that will enable maple producers to increase profitability of maple production operations
    Investigation of a new paradigm in maple syrup production
    VOGELMANN 1b

    Fruits and Vegetables

  • examine the opportunities and challenges of organic apple production within the two major orchard systems growers are using to change to new apple varieties
    Using ""New"" Alternatives to Enhance Adoption of Organic Apple Production Through Integrated Research and Extension
     BERKETT 1d

  • provide cold climate grape and wine producers in Vermont and other states in the Northeast and Midwest with research-based tools and practices to help them sustainably grow, vinify, and sell quality wines to local and regional markets.
    Northern Grapes: Integrating Viticulture, Winemaking, and Marketing of New Cold-Hardy Cultivars Supporting New and Growing Wineries
    BERKETT 1d

  • enhance the Competitiveness and Sustainability of Organic Apple Production in Vermont
    Enhancing the Competitiveness and Sustainability of Organic Apple Production in Vermont
    BERKETT 1d

  • evaluate the viticultural and wine quality potential of emerging wine grape cultivars in Vermont
    Multi-State Evaluation of Winegrape Cultivars and Clones
    BERKETT 1d

    Ornamental Horticulture

  • determine the effect from various cold acclimation times on subsequent regrowth of perennials after exposure to subzero temperatures to help growers properly harden plants for winter
    Hardiness of Herbaceous Perennials - Reacclimation after Midwinter Thawing
     PERRY 1e

  • determine survival of various herbaceous perennials at subzero temperatures in mid- and late-winter to help growers manage overwintering with less losses and reduced fuel usage
    Herbaceous Perennial Hardiness
    PERRY 1e

  • conduct a pilot training program on scouting and pest and disease ID to encourage growers to implement IPM.
    Scouting to Reduce Chemical Pesticide Use in Greenhouse Ornamentals
    SKINNER 1e

  • evaluate the effectiveness of a plant-mediated system combining marigolds, Beauveria bassiana, predatory mites and a pheromone lure to manage thrips in greenhouse ornamentals
    Granular Formulations of Insect-Killing Fungi with Plant-Medicated IPM Systems for Thrips
    SKINNER 1e

  • evaluate novel methods to increase energy conservation in plastic greenhouses.
    Novel Methods for Energy Conservation in Northern New England Greenhouses
    SKINNER 1e

  • evaluate novel methods to increase energy conservation in plastic greenhouses.
    Innovative Technologies for Energy Conservation in Vermont Greenhouses
    SKINNER 1e

  • evaluate factors associated with the effectiveness of a marigold guardian plant combining insect-killing fungi and predatory mites to manage thrips in greenhouse ornamentals
    The Working Group on Improving Microbial Control of Arthropod Pests
    SKINNER 1e