Funded Research Projects, FY2024

Project categories on this page:

Vegetables & specialty crops

Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization
Michael Mazourek, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Multistate
Project overview: Squash and pumpkin fit in healthy diets. C. maxima species types, like buttercup and kabocha, are valued for culinary quality, processing, and storage, but are especially susceptible to insect damage and heavy metal accumulation. Characterizing the species diversity for these traits is the key to new varieties that address crop issues while retaining valued traits for growers and consumers.
Rootstock impacts on fruit traits for NY vegetable crops
Margaret Frank, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Vegetable crop rootstocks provide a valuable strategy for increasing yields while also combating abiotic and biotic stresses that are particularly damaging in high tunnel environments. This proposal looks specifically at the impact of rootstock x scion combinations on fruit quality to help growers select optimal rootstocks for their production goals.
Harnessing Chemical Ecology to Address Agricultural Pest and Pollinator Priorities
Anurag Agrawal, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: This proposal is a continuation of our current Multistate project. Squash bugs and disease they transmit are emerging pests of NY cucurbits, made worse by climate warming. We will work with plant breeders in NY, PA, and TN to identify resistance mechanisms. Attention will be paid to cross-resistance to cucumber beetles, which are a major pest for which breeding efforts have begun.
Harnessing Chemical Ecology to Address Agricultural Pest and Pollinator Priorities
Jennifer Thaler, Entomology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Colorado potato beetle is a major pest of potato and other crops in New York State that is expensive to control with pesticides. Our initial work shows that deploying a repellent predator pheromone reduces beetle numbers and increases tuber yield. We propose combining the predator pheromone with the beetles own attractive aggregation pheromone to create an improved beetle management system.

Fruits

Validating the ecological component of the EIQ in apple orchards to reduce pesticide risk to beneficial arthropods
Alejandro Calixto, NYS Integrated Pest Management Program, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: The EIQ is a web-based tool designed to rate pesticides based on their potential risk to human health and the environment. This project aims to validate and adjust the ecological component of the EIQ in the field by assessing its association with actual pesticide residues in the crops, the abundance and diversity of beneficial arthropods, and the landscape composition in NYS apple orchards.
Avian pest control in New York apple orchards: an assessment of ecological and economic services
Irby Lovette, Laboratory of Ornithology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: With almost half of Earth's land devoted to agriculture, there is a growing need to integrate food production with biodiversity preservation. Research suggests that birds can provide real agricultural benefits while simultaneously benefiting from agro-ecological practices. This study will measure the ecological services of birds via their important roles in pest control in New York State orchards.
Assessing, Cataloging, and Recommending Hard Cider Apple Cultivars for Commercial Production
Gregory Peck, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: Hard cider, a fermented beverage made from apple juice, has become an important economic driver for family farms, apple growers, and agritourism. The proposed project will identify the cultivars that will accelerate adoption and decrease risk for growers who are planting apple trees for the emerging cider industry. We will create an online database and will disseminate results to producers and scientists.
Development of a high throughput assay to detect insecticide resistance in Drosophila melanogaster
Jeffrey Scott, Entomology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Sour rot is a devastating disease of wine grapes in NY. Management is achieved by late season control of vectors (fruit flies) of the disease. Insecticide resistance is severe and widespread in NY. Current assays for resistance are inefficient and low resolution. We will develop a rapid, high throughput assay to detect resistance providing the knowledge needed to better protect NY vineyards.
Improving Quality and Reducing Losses in Specialty Fruit Crops through Storage Technologies
Christopher Watkins, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: The apple industry is undergoing radical transformation to new cultivars, modern planting systems, new storage technologies, and changing market demands. Consumers want high quality fruit with a minimum of chemical usage. In this multistate project, we collaborate nationwide to develop use of storage technologies that will result in the availability of safe wholesome fruit of emerging cultivars.

Grains, grasses & forages

Intercropping for pest resistance in field corn
Andre Kessler, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: This project uses a NYS-native legume with soil-improving properties and the ability to reduce pest pressure in neighboring corn plants to develop a functional intercropping system. The technology will provide an alternative to pesticide-mediated control of fungus and insect pests in corn and an additional source of high-quality forage while improving soil quality and carbon sequestration.
Agricultural Floodplain Rice Farming as Adaptation to Climate Change in New York State
Chuan Liao, Global Development, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: We propose rice farming on agricultural floodplains as a potential adaptation to increasing flood risk in NYS while enhancing the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production. By facilitating the transition towards climate-resilience agriculture, we will enhance rural economies through empowering farmers' capacity to adapt to climate change through informed decision-making.
NY Rice: Seeding for the Future
Susan McCouch, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: Climate adaptation can provide opportunities for farmers to transition into more economically and ecologically sustainable farming practices. The increasing frequency of intense precipitation events continues to alter floodplain agriculture in NYS. The proposal focuses on rice as a flood tolerant crop that can be established as part of a diversified farming system to strengthen rural economies.

Trees & forests

Mapping trees in New York City for management and environmental applications
Dan Katz, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: McIntire-Stennis
Project overview: Maps of urban trees can help inform management decisions and are useful for understanding plant-human interactions. However, in New York City, only a portion of trees have been manually mapped; the identities of the remaining ~90% are unknown. Here, we propose identifying all overstory trees in NYC with remote sensing approaches. The resulting maps will be provided to stakeholders and the public.
Enhanced Rock Weathering for Carbon Management in Central NY Forests
Christine Goodale, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, CALS
Funding source: McIntire-Stennis
Project overview: This research will examine the potential for enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to increase organic and inorganic carbon sequestration in central NY forests. ERW is a new, low-tech approach for increasing carbon dioxide removal through weathering, enhanced by applying ground silicate rocks also rich in other nutrients. To date ERW has been studied in agriculture, but it also has potential in forestry.
Confirming the Benefits of Woody Material on Accelerated Forest Growth and Regeneration using Terrestrial Lidar
Stephen Morreale, Natural Resources, CALS
Funding source: McIntire-Stennis
Project overview: Forests blanket 2/3 of our landscape providing timber, biofuel, medicinals and food. In the Northeastern US most forests are owned by small holders; 3%/year engage in a partial tree harvest. Retaining treetops during harvest is key to accelerating growth and regeneration. Measuring these effects with traditional techniques and terrestrial Lidar will be invaluable for directing forest management.

Soil & water

Grow-As-You-Go: Raised-bed gardening while co-composting underutilized organic resources
Rebecca Nelson, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: To support urban growers facing contaminated soils and expensive fertilizers and potting mixes, we are developing horticultural methods that use urban wastes and by-products of rural growers. "Grow as you go" horticulture can provide low-cost alternatives while reducing environmental burdens. We will develop methods, assess benefits and risks, and work with growers to find pathways to impact.
Microbial Technologies for Urban Agriculture Soils
Jenny Kao-Kniffin, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: Urban agriculture has been rapidly rising as a farming practice that empowers food insecure communities that lack access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. Soil management is a core component of urban agriculture that typically relies on routine additions of composts. The proposed work will examine the ability of beneficial microbiomes to establish in urban agricultural soils.
Strategic Tillage and Amendment Management for New York Farms
Harold Van Es, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Tillage impacts soil health, organic carbon losses, yields, nutrient runoff and GHG emissions. Both conventional and organic farmers in NY struggle with tillage decisions. GHG losses (NO2, CH4 and CO2) are minimal under cold weather conditions but this is unexplored as a management approach. Strategic tillage and amendment management can greatly reduce negative environmental outcomes.

Dairy & beef cattle

Biofilters for fugitive methane emissions from NY dairy farms: Evaluation and outreach
Jason Oliver, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Dairy farms generate odorous, hazardous and greenhouse gas emissions (NH3, H2S, CH4) with local, regional and global implications. Biofilters are low-cost systems that can mitigate these emissions to various degrees. To encourage wider adoption on NY dairy farms, I will evaluate the only two biofilters on farms in NY, showcase a pilot biofilter at CURC and develop supporting extension materials.
Management Systems to Improve the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Dairy Enterprises
Thomas Overton, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Funded in part by previous Multistate awards, the PI has established the relevancy of key blood biomarkers of dairy cattle health after calving. Furthermore, the prevalence of elevated biomarkers related to energy and inflammation is high on many farms. The proposed work will evaluate two putative causes contributing to these challenges on commercial farms in New York, Illinois, and Michigan.
Impacts of Stress on Performance, Health, and Well-Being of Animals
Sabine Mann, Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CVM
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Dairy calves are typically separated from their dams after birth and fed regular milk after a single colostrum feeding. Cows produce so called transition milk for the first week after calving which is richer in nutrients and immunologically active factors than milk and thus may have important roles in newborn immune development. We aim to study its effect on calf disease risk and immune phenotype.
A mechanism linking reduced appetite to increased inflammatory tone in early lactating dairy cows
Yves Boisclair, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Virtually all dairy cows experience an increase in acute phase proteins in early lactation reflecting increased inflammatory tone. Increased inflammatory tone coincides with inadequate appetite, and both phenomena are exacerbated in diseased cows. This project will assess the possibility that the acute phase protein lipocalin-2 is a causal link between inflammatory tone and depressed appetite.
Improving dairy quality by understanding sporulation and germination of sporeforming bacteria in dairy
Heather Feaga, Microbiology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: We are investigating spore-forming bacteria present in dairy products and seeking ways to eliminate them. Our findings may be used to improve the taste and safety of dairy products.
Contribution of Ovarian Function, Uterine Receptivity, and Embryo Quality to Pregnancy Success in Ruminants
Julio Giordano, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Our research will focus on developing, implementing, and demonstrating the novel concept of targeted reproductive management (a.k.a. precision management) of dairy cattle. This approach to herd management aims to increase dairy farm profitability and overall sustainability through tailored reproductive management based on data for predictors of variability in cow biology and expected performance.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Renata Ivanek Miojevic, Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CVM
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: This project aims to provide New York State dairy farmers with an antimicrobial stewardship decision support tool prototype. The tool will allow users to track their antimicrobial use in cattle and determine how their antimicrobial use compares to comparable simulation-based synthetic farms. As such, this project will support the dairy industry and One Health in New York State and nationally.
Hypocalcemia or inflammation in transition dairy cows -- which comes first?
Thomas Overton, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) is a highly prevalent disorder in the postpartum dairy cow and is associated with poorer health and performance depending upon when diagnosed. A research group elsewhere has contended that systemic inflammation is a major cause of hypocalcemia. This one-year project will evaluate inflammation related to different types of hypocalcemia in the postpartum dairy cow.
Mastitis Resistance to Enhance Dairy Food Safety, Milk Quality, and Animal Welfare
Matthias Wieland, Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CVM
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Individual quarter dry-off (QDO), the discontinuation of milking of one udder quarter, has been increasingly employed to manage cows with elevated somatic cell count (SCC) and recurrent clinical mastitis. However, knowledge on its feasibility and consequences is scarce. In this project, we will study the effect of QDO on milk production, udder health and animal well-being in dairy cows.
Dairy Farm Value of Carbon Credits: The Case of Renewable Natural Gas from Anaerobic Digesters
Christopher Wolf, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: The rise of voluntary and mandatory carbon emission programs in places such as California has given rise to carbon credit markets. Dairy farms can generate carbon credits using an anaerobic manure digester to generate renewable natural gas. Digesters are long-term investments and assessing their feasibility requires understanding fair market carbon price. We estimate this value for NY dairy farms.

Animal agriculture

Sustainable Aquaculture Feed Development
Eugene Won, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Identifying sustainable protein sources for aquafeeds is a top prerequisite for growing a much-needed domestic aquaculture industry. To address this, we will evaluate the efficacy and economy of three alternative proteins (invasive carpmeal, insect meal and yeast byproduct) to inform decisions by farms and feed producers about potentially adopting these ingredients for use in fish diets.
Understanding and managing scale and connectivity in inland and marine fisheries as coupled human and natural systems
Peter McIntyre, Natural Resources, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Trout are popular food fish that exemplify the coupling of human and natural systems. To respond to climate change and species invasions, managers increasingly depend on stocking trout. Removing invasive species may help trout to survive warming, yet warming conditions can also create health risks by enhancing toxic mercury. Our project addresses these linkages using Adirondack trout fisheries.
Improving understanding of the pathogenesis of emerging swine diseases
Diego Diel, Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, CVM
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Emerging viral diseases pose a significant threat to the US swine industry. Here we will we will characterize mechanisms used by Senecavirus A (SVA) and African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) to cause disease in swine. The basic scientific knowledge resultant from these studies will allow rational development of safer vaccines or therapeutics to combat these important diseases of swine.
Maximizing feeding values of hempseeds with microalgae and insect protein for sustainable and healthy egg production
Xingen Lei, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: We propose to feed laying hens with hempseeds, microalgae, and insect protein and to explore their synergistic and complementary potential in improving egg production efficiency, enriching eggs with n-3 fatty acids, and decreasing ammonia emission from hen excreta. Our research will help produce low-carbon, healthful, and high-profit eggs and promote adoption of hemp in normal farm crop rotation.
Natural resource use efficiency in controlled environment agriculture
Neil Mattson, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate and Smith-Lever
Project overview: Aquaculture (fish) and aquaponic (fish+plants) is an emerging sector in NY especially in urban locations. These systems produce large volumes of waste solids from fish. This project will develop methods for improving aquaponic and hydroponic plant performance using liquid and solid fish waste. Extension including a short-course, tours, and web resources will support farm and school stakeholders.

Nutrition & food

Assessing the Food Security Benefits and Food Safety Risks of Fish from The Great Lakes
Kathryn Fiorella, Public & Ecosystem Health, CVM
Funding source: Hatch
Improving Quality and Reducing Postharvest Losses in Specialty Fruit and Vegetable Crops
Robin Dando, Food Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Consumers do not base their food choices merely on price and taste, but generate complex opinions based on any information they acquire. The Wild Twist apple is a promising variety based on a cross between the already popular Honeycrisp and Pink Lady. We will investigate the Wild Twist's differing regional appeal, its sensory changes with novel storage, and consumers opinions of such storage technology.
Obesity and the taste system: food choices, emotions, and the microbiome
Robin Dando, Food Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Obesity is one of the most important health-related issues of our time, with more than half of all US adults considered overweight or obese. Taste function is altered in those suffering from obesity. We will characterize how taste is lost with obesity, and how it can be regained with dieting, using the mouse model, and study how taste function can govern food selection, using human sensory panels.
Engineering for food safety and quality
Ashim Datta, Biological and Environmental Engineering, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Ensuring the microbial safety of food manufacturing processes through microbial testing is complex and expensive, making it a major barrier to innovation for small companies. We propose developing a smart and user-friendly software tool for industry, food safety professionals, and regulators that dramatically reduces the time and costs of new product/process development involving drying.
Enhancing Microbial Food Safety by Risk Analysis
Julie Goddard, Food Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Post processing contamination by pathogens persisting on elastomeric sealings (e.g. gaskets) remains a threat to food safety. We propose a method to produce a gasket material with antimicrobials bound throughout, unable to leach. Working with commercial reagents, approved antimicrobials, and a translatable process enhances the innovation and pragmatism of this approach to improving food safety.
Optimizing dietary fiber eating patterns to prevent obesity and related diseases
Angela Poole, Food Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Dietary fiber consumption decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, but people are not eating nearly enough. Studies conflict on whether whole grains (WG) or fruits and vegetables (FV) are more beneficial, and there is evidence that it largely depends on a person's microbiome. We aim to compare the effects of FV and WG on gut bacteria, body weight, and fat percentage.
Improving the reuse of food industry digital assets: an under-utilized tool to reduce food waste
Abigail Snyder, Food Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: The food industry generates extensive production data that is notoriously under-utilized. Processors generate and store data, but most have limited capacity to analyze and re-use this information to drive improvements. This is due to difficulty in developing data management systems and training staff. We will improve these systems for microbial testing data to drive reductions in food spoilage.

Youth, family & communities

Food security and private and public food assistance dynamics in New York
Chris Barrett, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Working with multiple partners in state, federal and private not-for-profit agencies, we use advanced econometric methods and novel, newly-created, linked administrative data on private and public food assistance programs to generate empirical insights on food assistance programs serving upstate New York State residents and their food security dynamics.
Purpose Grows Here: Professional Development for Extension Educators
Anthony Burrow, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, CHE
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: PRYDE will develop a "Growing Purpose" training to empower educators to use the science of purpose to advance their youth programs. In this professional development experience, 4-H educators will explore the "why" of their work and generate strategies to invite youth to explore their own sense of purpose. This framework aims to enrich the impact of 4-H offerings across diverse domains.
Parental Approaches to 'Play': Creativity or School Readiness?
Kimberly Kopko, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, CHE
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: This project examines parental approaches to play to promote creativity or mathematical thinking. We observe play at home and in a museum setting, favorite toy selections, and parent-child interactions during play. Results will inform the ways in which parents facilitate play in different settings and for different purposes and the implications for child development and learning.
Supporting Implementation of a Social Media Literacy Educational Program for Youth
Deborah Sellers, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, CHE
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Social Media TestDrive (SMTD) is an online educational program which simulates digital dilemmas and scenarios to teach social media literacy to youth ages 9-13. In this project, research will inform the development of resources to support implementation of SMTD by parents, 4-H educators, and other youth serving professionals. A pilot study will evaluate the effectiveness of the materials.
Two-Generation Parenting Education: Piloting and Evaluating a New Curriculum
Laura Tach, Brooks School for Public Policy, CHE
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: A two-generation (2Gen) approach to family and community development focuses on supporting and empowering the whole family, spanning multiple generations. In this project, we will pilot a new 2Gen parenting education curriculum designed by CCE Educators for both caregivers and children together. We will then evaluate its impacts relative to single generation programs that focus only on parents.

Economic vitality

Agricultural and Rural Finance Markets in Transition
Wendong Zhang, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: This project first analyzes the trends and determinants of foreign ownership of NYS agricultural land, especially those owned by foreign energy companies, using transaction-level data. Second, we will assess the location and quality of agricultural land taken by utility-scale solar farms, evaluate their investment strategies, and quantify the impacts of these solar farms on nearby farmland prices.
Cost-offset community supported agriculture (CSA) to improve food security and expand agricultural systems in NYS
Karla Hanson, Public & Ecosystem Health, CVM
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: NYS farms can improve food security and human nutrition through community supported agriculture (CSA) that is affordable and offers the sizes, contents, and distribution frequency desired by low-income (LI) consumers. This study will identify cost-offset (reduced-price) CSA share options that are feasible and profitable for NYS farms, and in which LI households will readily participate.
Numeracy and Financial Literacy
Valerie Reyna, Psychology, CHE
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: New York youth need financial literacy skills to avoid faulty financial decisions. Fuzzy-Trace Theory enables individuals to better recognize potential risks embedded in financial decisions. In collaboration with CCE financial educators, this gist-enhanced curriculum will provide the visual aids and principles needed to interpret fractions, decimals and percentages to achieve financial well-being.
Collecting Better-Quality Data on Farmland Values and Rents in New York State to Inform Decision Making
Wendong Zhang, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: Credible and consistent information on farmland values and land rents in New York State (NYS) and the US Northeast is limited. This research and extension project will allow us to collect annual high quality data on farmland value and rents, through collaboration with ASFMRA Northeast Chapter. We will produce annual publications on Northeast farmland trends report and conduct research on farmland.

Climate change & sustainability

Optimizing field margin management to minimize agricultural weed problems and enhance ecosystem services
Antonio DiTommaso, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: The management of agricultural field margins can affect weed pressure within the field. Field margins can also support biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially if sown with beneficial native plant species. This research will develop strategies for field margin management that minimize weed/crop competition and maximize ecological benefits for NY growers.
The Value of Conversation for Conserving Habitat for Agriculturally Important Wildlife and Increasing Sustainability
Poppy McLeod, Communications, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Common domestic lawn maintenance practices (e.g., using gas-powered tools) decrease environmental sustainability and damage habitat for agriculturally important wildlife. Although such practices are relatively easy to change, resistance is widespread, due largely to socio-cultural factors. This project studies measurable effects of community-based conversation on lowering this resistance.
Agrochemical Impacts On Human And Environmental Health: Mechanisms And Mitigation
Brian Richards, Biological and Environmental Engineering, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: We have measured substantial glyphosate herbicide transport in crop field runoff. Little attention is given to glyphosate release from crop residues or cover crops that intercept much of applied spray in well-managed fields. We will integrate field measurements of washoff from surface biomass with concurrent edge-of-field runoff loss measurements to better understand and mitigate runoff losses.
Assessing Landowner Willingness to Host Agrivoltaic Systems in New York State
Richard Stedman, Natural Resources, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Siting large solar projects on agricultural land can create land-use conflicts that impede energy transition. Agrivoltaics (AV), where land is used for both energy and agriculture, may mitigate these conflicts, but we know very little about how landowners perceive AV and their willingness to engage in it. Using mixed methods, we will assess landowner beliefs, interest and priorities related to AV.
Biofilters for fugitive methane emissions from NY dairy farms: Evaluation and outreach
Jason Oliver, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Dairy farms generate odorous, hazardous and greenhouse gas emissions (NH3, H2S, CH4) with local, regional and global implications. Biofilters are low-cost systems that can mitigate these emissions to various degrees. To encourage wider adoption on NY dairy farms, I will evaluate the only two biofilters on farms in NY, showcase a pilot biofilter at CURC and develop supporting extension materials.
Agricultural Floodplain Rice Farming as Adaptation to Climate Change in New York State
Chuan Liao, Global Development, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: We propose rice farming on agricultural floodplains as a potential adaptation to increasing flood risk in NYS while enhancing the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production. By facilitating the transition towards climate-resilience agriculture, we will enhance rural economies through empowering farmers' capacity to adapt to climate change through informed decision-making.
Grow-As-You-Go: Raised-bed gardening while co-composting underutilized organic resources
Rebecca Nelson, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: To support urban growers facing contaminated soils and expensive fertilizers and potting mixes, we are developing horticultural methods that use urban wastes and by-products of rural growers. "Grow as you go" horticulture can provide low-cost alternatives while reducing environmental burdens. We will develop methods, assess benefits and risks, and work with growers to find pathways to impact.
Management Systems to Improve the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Dairy Enterprises
Thomas Overton, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Funded in part by previous Multistate awards, the PI has established the relevancy of key blood biomarkers of dairy cattle health after calving. Furthermore, the prevalence of elevated biomarkers related to energy and inflammation is high on many farms. The proposed work will evaluate two putative causes contributing to these challenges on commercial farms in New York, Illinois, and Michigan.
Understanding and managing scale and connectivity in inland and marine fisheries as coupled human and natural systems
Peter McIntyre, Natural Resources, CALS
Funding source: Hatch Multistate
Project overview: Trout are popular food fish that exemplify the coupling of human and natural systems. To respond to climate change and species invasions, managers increasingly depend on stocking trout. Removing invasive species may help trout to survive warming, yet warming conditions can also create health risks by enhancing toxic mercury. Our project addresses these linkages using Adirondack trout fisheries.
Enhanced Rock Weathering for Carbon Management in Central NY Forests
Christine Goodale, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, CALS
Funding source: McIntire-Stennis
Project overview: This research will examine the potential for enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to increase organic and inorganic carbon sequestration in central NY forests. ERW is a new, low-tech approach for increasing carbon dioxide removal through weathering, enhanced by applying ground silicate rocks also rich in other nutrients. To date ERW has been studied in agriculture, but it also has potential in forestry.
Maximizing feeding values of hempseeds with microalgae and insect protein for sustainable and healthy egg production
Xingen Lei, Animal Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: We propose to feed laying hens with hempseeds, microalgae, and insect protein and to explore their synergistic and complementary potential in improving egg production efficiency, enriching eggs with n-3 fatty acids, and decreasing ammonia emission from hen excreta. Our research will help produce low-carbon, healthful, and high-profit eggs and promote adoption of hemp in normal farm crop rotation.
Avian pest control in New York apple orchards: an assessment of ecological and economic services
Irby Lovette, Lagoratory of Ornithology, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: With almost half of Earth's land devoted to agriculture, there is a growing need to integrate food production with biodiversity preservation. Research suggests that birds can provide real agricultural benefits while simultaneously benefiting from agro-ecological practices. This study will measure the ecological services of birds via their important roles in pest control in New York State orchards.
NY Rice: Seeding for the Future
Susan McCouch, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch and Smith-Lever
Project overview: Climate adaptation can provide opportunities for farmers to transition into more economically and ecologically sustainable farming practices. The increasing frequency of intense precipitation events continues to alter floodplain agriculture in NYS. The proposal focuses on rice as a flood tolerant crop that can be established as part of a diversified farming system to strengthen rural economies.
Strategic Tillage and Amendment Management for New York Farms
Harold Van Es, School of Integrative Plant Science, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: Tillage impacts soil health, organic carbon losses, yields, nutrient runoff and GHG emissions. Both conventional and organic farmers in NY struggle with tillage decisions. GHG losses (NO2, CH4 and CO2) are minimal under cold weather conditions but this is unexplored as a management approach. Strategic tillage and amendment management can greatly reduce negative environmental outcomes.
Dairy Farm Value of Carbon Credits: The Case of Renewable Natural Gas from Anaerobic Digesters
Christopher Wolf, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, CALS
Funding source: Hatch
Project overview: The rise of voluntary and mandatory carbon emission programs in places such as California has given rise to carbon credit markets. Dairy farms can generate carbon credits using an anaerobic manure digester to generate renewable natural gas. Digesters are long-term investments and assessing their feasibility requires understanding fair market carbon price. We estimate this value for NY dairy farms.