State-of-the-Project Report Year 2 Debbie Inglis, Co-Project Director Biodegradable Mulches for...

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



- 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)



- 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


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



- Reconciling all BDM performance measures between WGs--POA!

Team

- Welcome graduate students!





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.



- Reconciling all BDM performance measures between WGs--POA!

Team - Welcome graduate students!





- 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

[email protected]

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!

State-of-the-Project Report Year 2 Debbie Inglis, Co-Project Director Biodegradable Mulches for...

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Transcript of State-of-the-Project Report Year 2 Debbie Inglis, Co-Project Director Biodegradable Mulches for...