Post on 29-Jan-2016
State-of-the-Project ReportYear 2
Debbie Inglis, Co-Project Director
Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers
(SCRI-SREP Reference No. 2009-02484)
June 1-2, 2011 Team Meeting; Lubbock, TX
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/specialty cropresearchinitiative.cfm
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was designed to solve critical agricultural industry issues through
research and extension activities that are multi-state, multi-institutional,
and trans-disciplinary
SCRI participation means teamwork!
o Was it a team effort that made your work possible?
o Are you sharing data and information on a regular basis?
o Are you communicating with WG leader, team and/or advisory members on a regular basis?
o Are you completing your work, data analyses, and writing assignments on time?
o Are you keeping up-to-date on what your team colleagues are doing?
Deb’s A to Z list...
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3
Advisors - Our advisors have good advice—thank you!
- Continue to listen to them
Budget - Most accounts are now 50% expended; if not, see me
- Cost share needs to be documented quarterly
- Effort certification updates
- E-mail messages improved
(per my request last year)
- CC:ing the PDs—Important!
- Regular WG mtgs (leaders)
- More WG Leader + AC interactions/meetings (DI)
Communications
E-mail Etiquette
o Accurate subject line descriptors
o Shorter messages for multiple recipients; longer messages for fewer recipients
o Chain of command ie., relay through WG leaders
o Photos and diagrams are great!
o Read the entire e-mail chain before responding; use care in who is cc:d; remember, not being cc:d does not mean exclusion
o Do not hesitate to pick-up the telephone\
o It is OK to communicate between WGs!
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3- E-mail messages improved
(per my request last year)
- CC:ing PDs—it’s important!
- Regular WG mtgs (leaders)
- More WG Leader + AC interactions/meetings (DI)
- Analyses in progress on most (but not all) Yr 1 data
- Yr 2 coming soon; consult w/university statisticians
- No one ‘owns’ their data; it is the property of the university and the SCRI agency
- More data sharing needed among the team; develop POA this week!
Internal website? Dropbox?
- A few now drafted, but... - Denote as ‘PRELIMINARY’
- Write and review w/authors
FIRST; acknowledge project
- New product being tested this year (thank you Larry)
- Note revisions to treatment content descriptions
Communications
Data analysis
Data mgt / sharing
Industry reports
Mulch treatments
Table 1. BDMs evaluated in SCRI high tunnel project in 2010 and 2011 Mulch Product Company Mulch Content 1 BioBag Ag-Film BioBag; Palm Harbor, FL Cornstarch and non-
disclosed biopolymers, biodegradable & compostable
2 BioTelo Agri Dubois Agrinovation; Waterford, ON, CAN
Cornstarch and non-disclosed biopolymers, biodegradable & compostable
3 Experimental spunbond nonwoven
Saxon, GER; NatureWorks LLC, Blair, NE
100% PLA
4 Black Plastic, 1.0 mil
Pliant Corp.; Schaumburg, IL
Standard polyethylene, agricultural plastic control
5 Weed Guard Plus Sunshine Paper Co. LLC; Aurora, CO
Cellulosic, biodegradable control
6 Non-mulch control
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3
- New product being tested this year (thank you Larry)
- Note revisions to content
- Some have been great ones, and are an expected part of good science
- We must pay attention to our capacity (time and $)
Outreach
(thanks Andrew)
- Our 2010 CRIS report: 65 presentations; 9 abstracts/ proceedings; 17 media interviews; 5,066 people educated; 1.9 M people made aware!
-Team helps in listing all activities, as they occur
-Outcomes/impacts must be on-task w/our logic model
- Always acknowledge the project
New ideas
Mulch names
Desired Long-term
Impacts
Desired Short-term Outcomes
Outputs Planned
andCompleted
ActivitiesPlanned
andCompleted
PriorityIssues
Situation onBDMs* and
High Tunnels
A significant number of growers adopt sustainable mulch components in high tunnel systems leading to reduction in pollution and disposal costs
Tangible and accurate assessment of environmental and economic costs/benefits of BDMs and high tunnel systems are published using many venues
Assess costs under experimental conditions; conduct follow-up focus groups and surveys with growers and BDM manufacturers
Incorporate Life cycle analysis framework into whole systems research; design cost-benefit analysis
Document impacts of BDMs on soil ecology, root and plant health, crop production. Ascertain agricultural and environmental costs/benefits
Understanding and dissemination of ecological and socio-economic information on using BDMs and/or high tunnels is essential to success
Increased productivity of high value specialty crops in high tunnel systems takes place across the three regions
Regional results disseminated during high tunnel field days in WA, TN, TX. Grower association meetings and workshops given. Special symposium at Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. conference organized.
Collect data on environmental parameters, cultivar performance, pest/disease occurrence, production costs of materials, and net economic benefits of adopting BDMs and high tunnels
Establish BDM and high tunnel field sites in Washington, Texas and Tennessee
PNW (wind, cold, pest/disease threats);Mid-South (wind, weed, heat, erosion threats);SE (heat, pest/disease threats)
Three areas of the U.S. would benefit from growing select specialty crops under mulches in/out high tunnel systems
Public awareness of the standards required for materials to be classified as ‘biodegradable’ is heightened
Study results communicated via WSU website for Plasticulture, in order to disseminate information worldwide
First abstract on use of BDMs in organic agriculture submitted to Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. mtg.; others that incorporate standard methods for BDM testing to follow
Evaluate current BDMs and new and emerging BDMs according to ASTM standards
Incorporate ASTM standards into project methodology
As awareness of BDMs becomes more widespread, knowledge of the standards that define bio-degradability and their applicability to BDMs need dissemination
New prototype mulches evaluated for future testing. More efficient utilization of mulches in high tunnel systems occurs across the PNW, SE and M-S
Regional grower/industry groups educated on research findings via conferences such as Focus on Farming, Tilth, Vegetable Assoc., Small Fruit Workshop in the PNW; SSAWG Mtg., TN Horticultural Exposition and TN Organic Growers Assoc. in the SE; High Plains Small Farms conf., TX Produce Conf. in M-S. New scientific information communicated via scientific journals: Applied Environmental Microbiology, HortScience, Vegetable Science, Plant Disease, Weed Technology
Post preliminary research findings for team and AC on Sharepoint website; discuss at annual meeting of team/AC committee where progress is reviewed and evaluated. Submit abstracts and proceedings; organize annual field days for growers at research sites
Identify agricultural specifications for BDMs with stakeholder input; inventory commercially available BDMs; design bench and field experiments for replication across three regions of the U.S.; obtain letters of support from mulch manufacturers
Establish agricultural specifications for BDMs. Inventory BDMs now available commercially in U.S. Select target BDMs and analyze their physical, chemical, biological, and crop production characteristics via bench and field studies. Based on findings, refine studies and lay foundation for new BDM prototypes for testing. Assess economic feasibility, and understand sociological barriers to adoption of new BDM technologies
Given that plastic mulch is not sustainable in agriculture, it makes sense to investigate the use of BDMs in high tunnel systems versus the open field, and then improve on currently manufactured BDMs, accordingly
Industry R&D on BDMs for agriculture increases with on- going stakeholder input
Common base of knowledge compiled; team and industry manufacturers become familiar with stakeholder needs for BDMs in agriculture
Assemble glossary of terms and annotated bibliography. Summarize KI survey results for American Society Plasticulture conf.
Conduct Key Informant Survey across three regions of U.S.
Reduce energy and materials consumption in mulch production. Reduce disposal costs and pollution. Create economical, sustainable high-performance alternatives
Mulches are mostly made from petroleum-based plastics, a non-renewable resource with significant disposal/pollution problems
CAPS proposal for 5-yr project submitted by the team on the next generation of BDMs
SREP grant awarded and research carried out. Monthly and quarterly conference calls and annual site visits held; course corrections made as needed. Years 1, 2, and 3 of project successfully completed
Assign four working groups (crops, materials, socio-economic; soils) with project leaders; work together to submit SREP proposal
Hold project planning meeting at UW-River Falls; follow-up with regularly scheduled conference calls, electronic mail, and shared documents via Sharepoint website
Establish a team of scientific experts in biosystem and textile sciences, soils, horticulture, pests/diseases, sociology, and economics, including stakeholder advisory committee members
Mulches are critical to successful production of specialty fruits and vegetables in high tunnel crop systems
*AC = Advisory committee; ASTM = American Society for Testing and Materials; BDMs = biodegradable mulches; KI = Key informants; PNW = Pacific Northwest; R&D = Research and development; SSAWG (Southern Sustainable Agricultural Working Group). Note: areas shaded in gray have already been completed via SCRI project planning activities.
Fig 3. General logic model for SREP project planning, implemen-tation, and evaluation to ensure effective outreach (see grant proposal)
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3
- New product being tested this year (thank you Larry)
- Note revisions to names
- Some have been great ones, and are normal part of science
- We must pay attention to our capacity (time and $)
(thanks Andrew)
- Our 2010 CRIS report: 65 presentations; 9 abstracts/ proceedings; 17 media interviews; 5,066 people educated; 1.9 M people aware!
-Team helps in listing all activities, as they occur
-Outcomes/impacts must be on-task w/logic model
- Acknowledge the project
Protocols - Good baselines established during Yr 1 which are excellent for M&M sections in upcoming manuscripts
- Need constant review, revision and re-posting on internal website (with the revision date = mo + yr)
Pubs - Lots of nice abstracts and technical reports (see our ‘portfolio’!
- Refereed journal articles—POA to review and complete
- Questions on authorship
New ideas
Mulch names
Outreach
SCRI-SREP Project CRIS Report Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers Year 1, October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010 D. Inglis1, C. Miles2, and Corbin5, A.; and, E. Belasco3, M. Brodhagen4, A. Espinola-Arredondo6, D. Hayes7, R. Jones8, J. Lee7, K. Leonas9, H. Liu9, T. Marsh6, J. Moore-Kucera10, L. Wadsworth7, R. Wallace11, T. Walters2 and A. Wszelaki12, (1) Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, (2) Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, (3) Agriculture and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, (4) Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, (5) Snohomish County, Washington State University Extension, Everett, WA, (6) School of Economic Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, (7) Biosystems Engineering & Soil Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, (8) Sociology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, (9) Apparel, Merchandizing, Design & Textiles, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, (10) Plant & Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, (11) Texas A&M University, Lubbock, TX, (12) Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN ACCESSION NO: 0219841 SUBFILE: CRIS PROJ NO: WNP03375 AGENCY: NIFA WN.P PROJ TYPE: OTHER GRANTS PROJ STATUS: NEW CONTRACT/GRANT/AGREEMENT NO: 2009-51181-05897 PROPOSAL NO: 2009-02484 START: 01 SEP 2009 TERM: 31 AUG 2012 GRANT YR: 2009 GRANT AMT: $1,999,002 OUTPUTS
Some Important SCRI Team Outputs in 2011 (presentations and media interviews not included):
Tennessee:D. G. Hayes, L. C. Wadsworth, A. Wszelaki, J. Martin, T. Washington, C.T. Pannell, R. Wallace, K.K. Leonas, H. Liu, C. Miles, and D.A. Inglis. Poly(Lactic Acid)-Based Biodegradable Mulches for “Green” Agriculture. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASAEBE) Annual Meeting, 7-10 August 2011, Louisville, KY (Hayes = speaker, oral presentation, 75 people anticipated)Hayes will be the PI for UTs NSF-IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program) proposal, "CERCLE Graduate Training Program: "Customized Energy and Renewable Carbon through Lignocellulosic Engineering," $3.5 Million, due 01 July 11.Jones, R., Cook, A., Lamphere, J., Corbin, A., Wszelaki, A., Wallace, R., Malayter, E., Basinger, A., Inglis, D., Miles, C., and Beus, C. 2011. Identifying the barriers and bridges to high tunnel/BDM production systems among specialty crop producers and stakeholders. June 4-8. 17th International Symposium for Society and Natural Resource Management, Madison, WI (abstract/presentation; x people anticipated). Jones, R., Kirschner, A., Lamphere, J., Corbin, A., Wszelaki, A., Wallace, R., Malayter, E., Basinger, A., Inglis, D., Miles, C. 2011. Identifying the barriers and bridges to high tunnel/BDM production systems among specialty crop producers and stakeholders. 18th International Symposium for Society and Natural Resource Management, Koto Kinabalu, Malaysia (abstract/presentation/xx people anticipated). Wadsworth, L.C.,Tommy L. Washington, Douglas G. Hayes, Annette L. Wszelaki, Jeffery Martin, Jaehoon Lee, C. Tyler Pannell, Carol Miles, and Debra Inglis, 2011, Study of Biodegradable Mulch Materials in a Greenhouse Environment—Part 1, Cellulosic and Melt-spun 100% PLA Nonwovens, in preparation (Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics)Texas:Belasco, E., Chen, C., Ponnaluru, S., Marsh, T. and Galinato, S. 2011. An Assessment of the Interaction between High Tunnels and Crop Insurance for Specialty Crop Producers. Selected Paper Presentation at Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s 2011 AAEA & NAREA Joint Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 24‐26, 2011. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/103896Moore-Kucera, J., M. Davinic, L. Fultz, J. Lee, C.A. Miles, M. Brodhagen, J. Cowan, R.W. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, J. Martin, J. Roozen, B. Gundersen and D.A. Inglis. 2011. Biodegradable Mulches: Short-term degradability and impacts on soil health. HortScience 46(8): Abstract in press AND SSSA in press.Wallace. Russell W., Carol Miles, Annette Wszelaki, Debra A. Inglis, Jonathan Roozen, Jeffrey Martin and C. Joel Webb. 2011. High tunnel lettuce variety yield and quality when grown in different US climates. HortScience 46(8): Abstract in press.Washington:Gundersen, B., Inglis, D., Miles, C., Wallace, R., and Wszelaki, A. 2011. Control of late blight on tomato in western Washington using high tunnels. Phytopathology Supplement (in press). (Abstract/poster; 1200 estimated attendees).Inglis, D., Miles, C., Gundersen, B. and Roozen, J. 2011. Evaluation of high tunnels in western Washington for growing three specialty potato cultivars. WSPC Potato Progress Newsletter May 9. Vol. XI, No. 4.Inglis, D., Gundersen, B., Miles, C., Roozen, J., Wallace, R., Wszelaki, A., and Walters, T. 2011. Evaluation of late blight on tomato cultivars grown in high tunnel vs. open field plots, 2010. Plant Disease Management Reports 5: VO71.Inglis, D., Gundersen, B., Miles, C., Roozen, J., Wallace, R., Wszelaki, A., Walters, T. and Evans, M. 2011. Evaluation of physiological leaf roll on tomato cultivars in a high tunnel production system, 2010. Plant Disease Management Reports 5: VO72.Inglis, D., Gundersen, B., Miles, C., Roozen, J., Wallace, R., Wszelaki, A., and Walters, T. 2011. Evaluation of gray mold and Verticillium wilt on strawberry cultivars grown in high tunnel vs. open field environments, 2010. Plant Disease Management Reports 5: accepted May 2011.Leonas, K.K., Liu, H., Cowan, J., Hayes, D.G., Wadsworth, L, Wallace, R., Miles, C., Wszelaki, A., and Inglis, D. 2011. Degradable mulch for agriculture: Year 1 evaluation of a field study. Beltwide Cotton Conference: Nonwovens Symposium. January 4–7, Atlanta, GA. (Abstract and oral presentation; xx estimated attendees)Leonas, K.K., Liu, H., Cowan, J., Hayes, D.G., Wadsworth, L.C. (Speaker), Wallace, R., Miles, C., Wszelaki, A., Martin, J. and Inglis, D. 2011. Degradable mulch for agriculture: Year 1 comprehensive analysis of a field study. The Fiber Society Spring 2011 Conference, May 23-25, 2011, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong (Abstract and presentation; 350 estimated attendees).Leonas, K.K., Wadsworth, L., Liu, H., Hayes, D., Wallace, R., Miles, C., Cowan, J., Wszelaki, J., Martin, J., and Inglis, D.A. 2011. Degradable Agricultural Mulch, a Technical Textile: Year 1 of a Comprehensive Field Study. Proceedings of the 2011 International Textile and Apparel Association, Inc. 68th Annual Meeting, Nov. 2-6, Philadelphia, PA (accepted; xx estimated attendees). Miles, C., Marsh, T., Inglis, D., Corbin, A., Espinola-Arredondo, A., Leonas, K., Walters, T., Hayes, D., Jones, B., Lee, J., Wadsworth, L, Wszelaki, A., Belasco, E., Moore-Kucera, J., Wallace, R., and Brodhagen, M. 2011. Glossary of Terms for Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under High Tunnels. Http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/HighTunnels/Glossary.pdf
Guidelines on Authorship Substantial participation in
conception AND design of the study, and/or in analysis AND interpretation of data
Final approval by EACH author of the manuscript or report is REQUIRED
Ability to explain AND defend the study in public and/or scholarly settings
Must actively participate in the writing AND the timely AND accurate review of the document
Contributions that do not satisfy authorship (ie., supervision of people, funding assistance, technical support; ideas; info) should be acknowledged separately
All faculty should safeguard the rights of graduate students to publish the results of their research
The senior author is the person who actually leads the study and/or makes the major contribution; all authors at the onset of a publication, should participate in establishing authorship order and responsibility
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3
Always acknowledge the project in all publications!
- Good work to date on investigating the BDMS with lots and lots of analyses
- Reconciling our BDM performance measures between WGs-POA!
Team - Welcome graduate students!
- Our team has perseverance!
(floods, high winds, tornados, baseball hail....)
- Watch-out for ‘silo’ effect!
- It has been a pleasure... - Unusual number of changes... but, life happens
Team members
Taxing task
Debbie Ingliswith
Carol MilesWSU-NWREC
Stakeholder Advisory
Committee
Econ WG LeaderTom Marsh
WSU-Pullman
Dr. Ashley BasingerTX
Elizabeth MalayterTN
ManufacturingRobert GreeneNatureWorks;Terry PhillipsBioBag USA
AMST StandardsDr. Ramani Narayan
MSU
University/ExtensionDr. Lewis Jett, WVU
Ben Craft;Tom Thornton
WA
Specialty Crop Growers Science/Industry
Crops WG LeaderAnnette Wszelaki
UTK
Soils WG LeaderJennifer Moore-Kucera
TTU
Materials WG LeaderDoug Hayes
UTK
Materials ScienceDr. John Dorgan
CSM
Karen LeonasHang Liu (RI)WSU-Pullman
Larry WadsworthUTK
Suzette Galinato (RI)Sasi Ponnaluru (PDoc)
WSU-Pullman
Russ WallaceTAM
Jeffrey Martin (GS)UTK
Tom WaltersWSU-NWREC
Marion BrodhagenUSDA/OSU
Andrew CorbinWSU-Extension
Eric BelascoTTU
Carol MilesWSU-NWREC
Jaehoon LeeUTK
CSU = Colorado School of Mines TAM = Texas A & M TXT = Texas Tech University WSU = Washington State University GS = Grad student; RI = Research intern; Pdoc = PostdocKSU = Kansas State University TN = Tennessee UTK = University of Tennessee, Knoxville WSU-NWREC = Washington State University Northwestern Washington Research & Extension CenterMSU = Michigan State University TX = Texas WA = Washington WWU = Western Washington University
Updated May 2011
Sociology WG LeaderRobert Jones
UTKwith
Annabel KirschnerWSU
SathishkumarDharmalingam (GS)
UTK
Debra InglisWSU NWREC
Chenhui Li (GS)TTU
Marianne Powell (GS)WSU NWREC
Chen Chen (GS)TTU
Jeremy Cowan (GS)WSU-NWREC Rob Raley (GS)
UTK
Outreach CoordinatorAndrew CorbinWSU-Extension
Mark WilliamsBioBag USA, Inc.
Eric MenardDubois
AgrinovatrionsDick MathesCrown Films
Ad Hoc Interest Groups
Mike GallagherSunshine Paper
Debra InglisWSU NWREC
SCRI Team Revised Organizational Chart for SREP Project onBiodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3
- Good work to date on investigating the BDMS with lots and lots of analyses
- Reconciling all BDM performance measures between WGs--POA!
Team
- Welcome graduate students!
- Our team has perseverance!
(floods, high winds, tornados, baseball hail....)
- Watch-out for ‘silo’ effect!
- It has been a pleasure... - Unusual number of changes... but, life happens
Timeline - We are over 50% there;
Sep 1, 2009 to Aug 30, 2012
- Review proposal timeline!
- No cost extensions this Dec
Team members
Taxing task
Table 1. Gantt Chart on Timeline of Activities/Tasks(see grant proposal)
M
M
M & SE
SE
SE
SE
C & SE
C & SE
C & M
C & S
C & S
M & S
S
S
M & S
M
M & S
M
M
All
WGs
ConcludeTM in TNCCCCTM in TXCCCCCCTM in WACCCCInitiate via CCKey Team and AC communications
V A
V B
V C
V D
Develop socio-economic data and outreach materials regarding BDMs for use in extension activities
2012
Oct-Dec
2009
Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec
2010
Jan-Mar Apr-Jun
II A
II B
II C
Analyze a spunbond and a new melt-blown PLA-based BDM in soil assays via bench and greenhouse
III A
III B
III C
III D
III E
III F
Evaluate core BDMs in the field, and study effects on soil ecology, weed competition and root health
Oct-Dec
VI A
VI B
Compound PSA and PHA blends for production of melt-blown fabric
IV A
IV B
Characterize production, performance, and costs and returns of primary high tunnel crops (tomato, lettuce, strawberry) in high tunnel vs. open fields
I A
I B
Conduct performance assessments on core BDMswhich will include a new PLA-based mulch prepared from commercially available feedstocks via SB nonwoven technology
Jul-SepApr-JunJan-MarJul-Sep
2011
TaskActivity
M
M
M & SE
SE
SE
SE
C & SE
C & SE
C & M
C & S
C & S
M & S
S
S
M & S
M
M & S
M
M
All
WGs
ConcludeTM in TNCCCCTM in TXCCCCCCTM in WACCCCInitiate via CCKey Team and AC communications
V A
V B
V C
V D
Develop socio-economic data and outreach materials regarding BDMs for use in extension activities
2012
Oct-Dec
2009
Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec
2010
Jan-Mar Apr-Jun
II A
II B
II C
Analyze a spunbond and a new melt-blown PLA-based BDM in soil assays via bench and greenhouse
III A
III B
III C
III D
III E
III F
Evaluate core BDMs in the field, and study effects on soil ecology, weed competition and root health
Oct-Dec
VI A
VI B
Compound PSA and PHA blends for production of melt-blown fabric
IV A
IV B
Characterize production, performance, and costs and returns of primary high tunnel crops (tomato, lettuce, strawberry) in high tunnel vs. open fields
I A
I B
Conduct performance assessments on core BDMswhich will include a new PLA-based mulch prepared from commercially available feedstocks via SB nonwoven technology
Jul-SepApr-JunJan-MarJul-Sep
2011
TaskActivity
Characterize core BDMs for Yr 1 in lab
Core BDMs into Yr 1 tunnels/fields
New PLA/PHA polymer feedstocks
Product evaluation by users
Prepare PLA-based spun-bond nonwoven
GH soil tests w/PLA SM & MB nonwovensBench tests w/PLA SM & MB nonwovens
BDM biodegradation studies at MSU
Yr 1 soil quality assessments
Yr 1 primary crops in tunnels
Yr 1 env/pest/disease monitoring
Yr 1 net benefits of using BDMs
Cost-benefit comparisons of BDMs vs. plastic
Weather resistance of BDMs as needed
Yr 1 BDMs and plant diseases
Yr 1 BDMs and weeds
Yr 1 mulch biodegredation
BDM production cost budets
Characterize core BDMs for Yr 2 in lab Characterize core BDMs for Yr 3 in lab
Core BDMs into Yr 2 tunnels/fields Core BDMs into Yr 3 tunnels/fields
Yr 2 BDMs and plant diseases Yr 3 BDMs and plant diseases
Yr 2 BDMs and weeds Yr 3 BDMs and weeds
Yr 2 mulch biodegredation Yr 3 mulch biodegredation
Yr 2 soil quality assessments Yr 3 soil quality assessments
Yr 1 BDM-degrading microbes Yr 2 BDM-degrading microbes Yr 3 BDM-degrading microbes
Yr 2 primary crops in tunnels Yr 3 primary crops in tunnels
Yr 2 env/pest/disease monitoring Yr 3 env/pest/disease monitoring
Yr 2 net benefits of using BDMs Yr 3 net benefits of using BDMs
Growers’ knowledge and application, Yr 1, 2,3
Characterize core BDMs for Yr 1 in lab
Core BDMs into Yr 1 tunnels/fields
New PLA/PHA polymer feedstocks
Product evaluation by users
Prepare PLA-based spun-bond nonwoven
GH soil tests w/PLA SM & MB nonwovensBench tests w/PLA SM & MB nonwovens
BDM biodegradation studies at MSU
Yr 1 soil quality assessments
Yr 1 primary crops in tunnels
Yr 1 env/pest/disease monitoring
Yr 1 net benefits of using BDMs
Cost-benefit comparisons of BDMs vs. plastic
Weather resistance of BDMs as needed
Yr 1 BDMs and plant diseases
Yr 1 BDMs and weeds
Yr 1 mulch biodegredation
BDM production cost budets
Characterize core BDMs for Yr 2 in lab Characterize core BDMs for Yr 3 in lab
Core BDMs into Yr 2 tunnels/fields Core BDMs into Yr 3 tunnels/fields
Yr 2 BDMs and plant diseases Yr 3 BDMs and plant diseases
Yr 2 BDMs and weeds Yr 3 BDMs and weeds
Yr 2 mulch biodegredation Yr 3 mulch biodegredation
Yr 2 soil quality assessments Yr 3 soil quality assessments
Yr 1 BDM-degrading microbes Yr 2 BDM-degrading microbes Yr 3 BDM-degrading microbes
Yr 2 primary crops in tunnels Yr 3 primary crops in tunnels
Yr 2 env/pest/disease monitoring Yr 3 env/pest/disease monitoring
Yr 2 net benefits of using BDMs Yr 3 net benefits of using BDMs
Growers’ knowledge and application, Yr 1, 2,3
No cost extensions
WSU will not process no-cost extensions until early 2012
WSU can do in one of two ways: Assume all subcontractors will need a no-cost extension
and process one no-cost extension amendment Send each subcontractor a letter requesting a no-cost
extension, and then process a no-cost extension amendment to each sub-award
Subcontractors cannot assume a no-cost extension until WSU sends an amendment to the agreement, extending the agreement end date (for a limited amount of time)
Additional time spent on the project during the no-cost extension counts towards match.
Accomplishments Challenges for Yr 3
- Good work to date on investigating the BDMS with lots and lots of analyses
- Reconciling all BDM performance measures between WGs--POA!
Team - Welcome graduate students!
- Our team has perseverance!
(floods, high winds, tornados, baseball hail....)
- Watch-out for ‘silo’ effect!
- It has been a pleasure... - Unusual number of changes... but, life happens
- We are over 50% there;
Sep 1, 2009 to Aug 30, 2012
- Review timeline in proposal!
- No cost extensions this Dec
Websites(thanks Carol)
- New public site launched
- Internal team website has lots of new info and potential
- Use them in all of your SCRI outreach and research activities!
Team members
Taxing task
Timeline
Alison Foren
aforen@earthlink.net
YEAR !!!
Include 2009, 2010, or 2011 on each and every document and photo date!
Deb’s A to Z list...
WG Sessions Today...
• ‘Hot’ topics needing attention• Data management, data analysis• Outline of manuscripts, with writing
assignment and completion dates• New advances/new literature;
potential issues in the near future• WG accomplishments to date
WG leaders will be reporting back
Plans of action need for...
Sharing of large data sets Integrating and interpreting data
between WGs Reviewing and completing manuscripts
and extension bulletins, both within and between WGs
Group discussions, and the Round Robin
Round Robin session at 1 pmMitigating the silo effect...
o Crops + Soils• Environmental monitoring—data collection and sharing• Mesh bag study review• Rating disease incidence and severity—new protocols OK?• Work/writing w/other WGs, possibly needed
o Materials + Economics• Clear definition of bio-degradable• Progress on life cycle analysis• Modeling BDM degradation and/or (bio)degradation• Work/writing w/other WGs, possibly needed
o AC + Sociology/Outreach• Distributing information from focus group study• Conducting the next surveys on project impact (and IRBs)• Communicating ‘biodegradability’ to the public• Work/writing w/other WGs, possibly needed
Round Robin Session at 2 pmMitigating the silo effect...
o Crops + Materials + Sociology/Outreach• BDMs and the organic agricultural community—the zero tolerance
issue• Becoming familiar w/other HT & BDMprojects in the country/world• Future directions for HTs and BDMs in agriculture
o Soils + Economics + AC• Value of soil quality indicators (SMAF framework), and ways to
utilize it in our project• Modeling BDM degradation and/or (bio)degradation
Round Robin Session at 3:15 pmMitigating the silo effect...
o Crops + Economics + Sociology/Outreach• Crop budget(s)—published (by state? pub format?)• HT construction costs (by state? pub format?• Extension bulletin(s) on risk management (state? format?)
o Soils + Materials + AC• Combining data sets across WGs• Upcoming work in Ramani’s lab• Potential issue w/copper fungicide
Please take good notes this week
Thanks for Russ and Jenn for hosting, and to everyone for coming!