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Rapid Agricultural Response Fund
World Class Solutions for
Minnesota Agriculture
Rapid Agricultural Response Fund
World Class Solutions for Minnesota Agriculture
The only predictable thing in other for specific legislative funding ■ Project funds are non-recurring
agriculture is that the unpredictable for their priority. The state needed a and intended for short- and
fast track for responses to emerging intermediate-term responses to
will happen. Seldom does a year go by
agricultural problems. current and emerging agricultural
without a drought, flood, new disease, concerns that have economic and
The Minnesota Legislature worked
early frost or troublesome new pest. with the state’s agricultural leaders environmental consequences;
Research-based information is needed to create such a fund dedicated for ■ Funds will be limited to project
emerging agricultural challenges. expenses. Regular faculty salaries
when the unpredictable happens.
“The role of a land grant As a result, since 1998 the Rapid and other long-term commitments
university is to provide research- The University of Minnesota has Agricultural Response Fund has will not be covered although
based information on the a deep well of research-based invested in research answers to project-specific personnel for the
information on disasters that occur all some of the most puzzling and short- and intermediate-term
problems farmers face every year,
too regularly — drought, flood, early unpredictable problems facing will be considered (post-doctoral
the challenges they will face five
frost and the like. The research well is farmers. These projects include researchers, research assistants, etc.);
to ten years from now and the shallower for diseases or pests that are research focused on answers and an ■ The fund will be managed to
emerging problems that nobody new to Minnesota or when changing Extension outreach effort to bring maintain maximum flexibility
predicted. This booklet tells the conditions produce an emerging those answers to the field. The fund to address future short- and
story of how legislators, growers challenge. The Rapid Agricultural itself is guided by these six principles: intermediate-term issues; and
and the University of Minnesota Response Fund quickly develops ■ The fund will provide a readily ■ The fund will be managed to
that research base and brings the accessible source of support for
work together to deal with address as many emerging issues
information to producers. faculty to accelerate research and
the unpredictable — emerging and projects as possible.
The Rapid Agricultural Response Fund associated extension programs to
problems and opportunities.”
was itself a response to a problem. support Minnesota’s agricultural
Beverly R. Durgan Emergencies do not follow the industry;
Director, Minnesota Agricultural
Experiment Station
legislative calendar. A disaster that ■ Identification and clarification
Dean, University of Minnesota Extension
occurred in June often had to wait a of issues and development of
year or more before an initial research proposals must involve appropriate
investment was made. Growers found stakeholder partners;
themselves competing with each
The 2007 Rapid Agricultural Response Fund review committee attending this
evaluation session included: Stakeholders Steve Olson, Minnesota Turkey Growers
Association; Jeremy Geske, Minnesota Farm Bureau; Mike Youngerberg and
Steve Commerford, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council; Doug
Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union; Dave Preisler, Minnesota Pork Producers
Association; University of Minnesota faculty members John Fetrow, Sagar Goyal,
Dale Hicks, Terry Hurley, John Moncrief, Bert Stromberg and Jochum Wiersma;
and Sarah Greening, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station
Stakeholder input is important a specific research effort and an
Extension plan to bring the results
Since 1998, the fund has invested
to growers. Faculty and agricultural decisions on funding. The Minnesota problems; and novel solutions
more than $10 million dollars in
leaders review those proposals Agricultural Experiment Station to challenges facing Minnesota
a wide variety of research projects.
and make recommendations on administers the fund. agriculture. The projects included in
These Rapid Agricultural Response
which projects to fund. The current this publication are only a sampling
Fund projects have reached every
stakeholder advisory committee The fund accelerates results of the more than 170 projects that
corner of Minnesota from the
includes representatives from The rapid response fund provides a affect the major and emerging
limestone bluffs of southeast
Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota readily accessible source of support agricultural sectors in Minnesota.
Minnesota to the wide-open prairies
Farmers Union, Minnesota Pork for faculty to accelerate research and Details on all projects funded by the
of western Minnesota. The projects
Producers Association, Minnesota Extension outreach. Investments Rapid Agricultural Response Fund are
also reflect the diversity of Minnesota
Soybean Research and Promotion target specific research projects at www.rapidresponse.umn.edu.
agriculture and include areas where
Council and Minnesota Turkey and do not cover faculty salaries
Minnesota is a national leader as
Growers Association. The Deans of or other long-term expenses.
well as agricultural products that
University of Minnesota Extension,
make significant contributions to This brochure provides highlights
the colleges of Veterinary Medicine
Minnesota’s economy. of selected projects that focus
and Food, Agricultural and Natural
Faculty and stakeholders work on: answers to challenges caused
Resource Sciences and the Director
together to identify projects that by invasive species and diseases;
of the Minnesota Agricultural
may qualify for Rapid Agricultural responses to changing situations;
Experiment Station use those
Response Funding. Proposals include new ways to handle long standing
recommendations to make final
In the fall benefitted from the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund
174 projects haveof 2000, a roundtable committee of dairy PRRS has been identified by the National Pork Board as the most
Rapid Agricultural Response Fund projects target the heavy hitters in
producers years. 15 funding often jump starts work and
during the last tennamed Thisissues of concern to the industry to solve an serious infectious — turkey, soybeans, hogs, corn and dairy farm
Minnesota agriculturedisease facing pork producers, with annualas
Johne’s disease guides of way for
emerging problem andwas top thethe list. research funding from other sources. well losses from PRRS estimated at $600 million nationwide.
as the crops that make significant contributions to a specific segment
of our economy — grass seed production, oats, honeybees and more.
When Bad Things Happen, Research Responds
Minnesota is justly proud of its animal but also generated fear that it might construction of a genetic library that
agriculture industry. We’re number cause increased condemnation of is providing the basis for designing
birds and a ban of Minnesota birds new and effective vaccines, drugs and
one in the nation in turkey production,
for foreign markets. This was a key diagnostics for this pathogen.
number three in pork production, impetus for the establishment of the
and our dairy industry produces Rapid Agricultural Response Fund. Tackling a tough cattle
Emergency funding was appropriated infection
$1 billion in milk products each year.
by the Minnesota Legislature and Johne’s disease, a bacterial infection
However, invading animal diseases since then the fund has supported
“Minnesota producers were that causes chronic gastrointestinal
have threatened all three of these more than 30 individual and group inflammation in ruminants (cattle,
experiencing $15 million a
industries in the past 10 years. The research projects and invested close to sheep and goats) reached epidemic
year in losses due to avian
$2 million on APV. proportions in U.S. dairy herds
pneumovirus. The Rapid need to respond to those diseases was
That investment paid off. Since the by 2000. The disease disrupts the
Agricultural Response Fund in large part the impetus for instituting
first year of funding researchers have: animal’s digestion, leading to chronic
has leveraged our dollars and the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund. weight loss and eventual death. Due
■ Developed diagnostic tests to
state dollars to understand The results of that investment show to the ongoing expansion of herds
rapidly identify infected flocks;
the disease, and we’re close
what can be accomplished with an ■ Determined how the disease is
now to eradicating it.”
energetic, focused and concentrated spread, and developed containment
Steve Olson, Executive Director
response to such threats. procedures; and
Minnesota Turkey Growers Association
■ Developed a USDA-approved
Minnesota Turkey Research and
Promotion Council APV meets its match vaccine that protects against APV.
Broiler and Egg Association of Minnesota Now work is focusing on developing
Avian pneumovirus (APV) first
Midwest Poultry Federation
appeared in the U.S. in 1996 in a a second generation of avian
small flock in Colorado and one pneumovirus vaccine followed by
year later it arrived in Minnesota. a test to tell the difference between
The respiratory disease quickly vaccinated and infected birds, which
spread throughout the turkey- will help turkey producers in their
producing areas of Minnesota. The surveillance of the disease.
disease not only was financially At the same time, work on genetic
devastating for turkey producers sequencing of the virus has led to the
and widespread movement of cattle, Researchers have completed particular problem of
the disease was spreading rapidly. sequencing the genome of the the PRRS virus is that it
To complicate the problem, Johne’s bacteria that causes Johne’s disease, frequently mutates into
disease is difficult to detect in its giving them the information needed new strains.
early stages and infected cows could to develop new methods of early The Rapid Agricultural
transmit infection to other cattle diagnosis, and they are also making Response Fund has allocated
before showing signs of disease. progress on identifying potential close to $1.8 million for
Over the last decade 11 individual genetic markers of resistance to 20 projects tackling the disease.
Rapid Agricultural Response Fund Johne’s disease. The ultimate goal is The goals have been to:
projects, with an investment of to eliminate this disease from
■ Develop tools to rapidly diagnose
more than $1 million have been Minnesota cattle herds, in part
and characterize specific infecting
taking a multi-focused approach through selective breeding.
isolates of the PRRS virus; virus and measure the immunity of
to control the disease. the herd.
Containing a swine disease ■ Fully protect at-risk farms from new
By 2003 researchers had used strains, and track the movement of Testing of cooperating herds and
Through much of the past decade,
comparative genomics techniques to the PRRS virus between farms; and genetic fingerprinting of all PRRS
Minnesota’s pork producers, along
develop a new, rapid, and low-cost virus isolates has identified one
with the rest of the U.S., have faced ■ Understand risk factors for PRRS
diagnostic test for Johne’s disease reason why the problem has proven
a stubborn disease problem known virus infection and regional patterns
which received USDA approval. so intractable: sow herds can contain
as PRRS, which stands for Porcine of viral spread.
Results from environmental sampling multiple genetically diverse PRRS
Reproductive and Respiratory Basic genetic research has been
pinpointed the most common viruses. Another puzzling thing
Syndrome. The viral infection causes one focus of the work, while on-
contaminated areas on farms, giving about the disease is that many of the
reproductive failure in sows and farm research has helped to better
producers the information to break infections occur in herds with high
pneumonia in young pigs. Outbreaks understand how PRRS arrives on a
the in-herd cycle of infection through standards of biosecruity. Intervention
among herds have been unpredictable farm, how it spreads among pigs,
management. strategies to prevent the transmission
and varied. Even herds that had been and how pigs resist infection. Better of PRRS have been developed.
considered purged of the disease have diagnostic tools help track the PRRS
experienced recurrent outbreaks. One
In the fall of 2000, a roundtable committee of dairy PRRS has been identified by the National Pork Board the most
PRRS has been identified by the National Pork Board asas the most
producers named 15 issues of concern to the industry and serious infectious disease facing pork producers, with annual farm
serious infectious disease facing pork producers, with annual farm
Johne’s disease was top of the list. losses from PRRS estimated $600 million nationwide.
losses from PRRS estimated atat $600 million nationwide.
Aerial Assaults that Damage Plants
University research cannot stop beneficial insect could greatly reduce consultants use this information to
wind from blowing, but through the the amount of pesticides growers make management decisions about
need to use. The initial field test dealing with aphids and the diseases
rapid response funds research can
of this natural control came after they carry. Other rapid response
provide solutions for the pests that government approval based on six projects have provided more insight
get a free ride. years of research showing the species into PLRV and PVY. A recently
being tested will harm only soybean funded project seeks to identify ways
One of the most devastating crop aphids and a few of its close relatives. to produce potato varieties with
pests to blow into the state in recent resistance to aphids and viruses.
“Research is extremely Soybean growers are not alone in
years is the soybean aphid. The insect
important. Without the suffering from aphids. Minnesota
is native to eastern Asia and first Rust busters
rapid response funds, critical once was a thriving producer of seed
appeared in Minnesota soybean fields
potatoes, but an army of aphids Rust is a devastating plant disease
research wouldn’t have in 2001. An unsuspecting tourist
landed and infected the crop with that is no stranger to Minnesota.
gotten started on rust and probably carried the pest from China
potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and Agricultural historians talk about a
aphids as fast as it did, to the U.S. The soybean aphid has
potato virus Y (PVY). Rapid response catastrophic epidemic of wheat stem
few natural enemies in the U.S. and
and that provided a quick helped fund a regional aphid-trapping rust that cut yields in the Northern
quickly spread. It causes an estimated
payback to farmers.” network to track the flight and spread Great Plains by 300 million bushels
$200 million of lost crop yields and
of these aphids. Growers and crop in 1916. University of Minnesota
Rob Hanks spraying costs for Minnesota soybean
Leroy, Minnesota farmer scientists wrote the book on
growers each year.
Chair, Minnesota Soybean Research classifying these dangerous fungi
& Promotion Council Rapid response funds provided almost a hundred years ago and in
the initial dollars that launched a the 1920s discovered the pathway by
comprehensive program to help which rust spores blow from Texas
growers. This included a sophisticated and Mexico into Minnesota.
computer model that guides growers
Wheat leaf rust is likewise an
with research-based information on
aggressive foe. Plant breeders develop
decisions about managing aphids.
new varieties with resistance to the
In 2007, University of Minnesota
most common types of rust. That
scientists began field testing a minute
resistance is short lived because
(1/25 of an inch) stingless wasp from
usually one or more of the 60
China that naturally controls soybean
different races of leaf rust identified
aphids. Controlling the aphids with a
in the U.S. every year raises up to out of Minnesota is one more year
overwhelm the resistant plants. for scientists to prepare using rapid
Rapid response funds aid researchers response funds. A key part of this
in finding resistance genes that can preparation is a system of early
be used to develop wheat varieties warning fields across the state called
with increased resistance to leaf rust the sentinel plot system. Accurate
and Fusarium head blight, another diagnosis of soybean rust is difficult
damaging small grain disease. and the sentinel plot program includes
weekly appraisal of sentinel plot Bugs that flee to trees Rapid response research also is
Asian soybean rust is a potential tracking a pathogen related to the
enemy in Minnesota. It first showed samples. This close surveillance has Minnesota’s forests also face threats
one that causes Sudden Oak Death.
up in the U.S. in 2004 and by late also led to increased knowledge about from outside invaders and rapid
This species causes serious losses on
2007 had blown as far north as Iowa. the full spectrum of soybean diseases. response research has supported early
woody ornamentals and quarantines
The same winds that have blown Another rapid response project aims to response to several forest threats.
imposed on Minnesota’s nursery
wheat stem rust north develop a sophisticated soybean The Douglas-fir beetle is indigenous
products could cost growers millions
to Minnesota for a rust forecasting system to western North America, but until
of dollars. The research has confirmed
hundred years may for Minnesota to allow early 2001 had not been found east
the Phytophthora pathogens causing
eventually bring preemptive management of the Rocky Mountains. Laboratory
serious disease in Minnesota have
Asian soybean of this disease if and studies indicated the beetle can
larger host ranges than previously
rust to Minnesota when needed. Other develop in the tamarack/white cedar
known. The study expanded
fields. Scientists projects focus on that represents about one-quarter of
understanding of the species to
expect yield losses developing science-based Minnesota’s coniferous growing stock.
aid selecting and propagating
of 10 percent to answers to managing rust As a result of research, the regulatory
Phytopthora-resistant varieties of
40 percent when it and even the possibility and resource management community
woody ornamentals such as lilac and
gets here and increased of developing rust-resistant accepted that the Douglas-fir beetle
sumac that are now highly susceptible
expense for applying fungicides soybean varieties. is established in Minnesota and
to the species.
to Minnesota fields. The good news developed guidelines for the safe
is that every year soybean rust stays importation of western conifer logs.
In the fall of 2000, about 20 percent of the of dairy
Minnesota farmers raise a roundtable committee organic soybeans grown PRRS blowing identified by the National Pork Board as a most
Summer winds has beenfrom the south give corn earworm mothsthefree ride into
producers named 15 issues of concern to option for protecting these
in the U.S. Beneficial insects will provide a new the industry and Minnesota is a leading state for pork corn grown for processing
our state. serious infectious disease facing sweetproducers, with annual farmand
Johne’s from soybean of the list.
organic acresdisease was topaphid damage, since spraying insecticides to losses from PRRS sweet corn $600 A rapid response project tracks the
this pest enjoys feasting onestimated atplants.million nationwide.
control soybean aphids is not allowed on organic acres. arrival of corn earworms and provides data that helps growers deal with this pest.
New Challenges, New Opportunities
The emerging issues facing Minnesota This project included a feasibility Combining two makes a meal
agriculture are not always specific study for a pilot scale bio-refinery to
Minnesota’s leadership in the
produce cellulosic ethanol, bio-diesel
insects or diseases. Sometimes the renewable fuels revolution has ripple
and bio-hydrogen energy along with
effects. The process of using home
challenge is finding new economic other bio-products. Also included
grown crops to produce fuels also
opportunities and ways to use in the project was wind assessments
produces a mountain of byproducts.
and economic modeling of wind and
agricultural resources. Sometimes it The ethanol plants use part of the
wind/biofuel systems to plan for a
is being nimble and staying ahead of corn kernel to produce fuel and the
“The foundation of the wind turbine.
remaining part forms the basis for
problems; sometimes it is thinking The wind resource data was useful
Minnesota wine industry is dried distiller’s grains with solubles
dependent on grapes that outside the box. in bringing the Renewable Energy (DDGS). The biodiesel plants produce
Research and Demonstration Center glycerin as a byproduct. Glycerin is
are happy to grow here.
Empowering the countryside in Morris into being and provided the portion of the fat molecule that
And, the University keeps
information to individual producers
watch for potential threats Minnesota’s windy prairies generate
and groups interested in developing
to their well-being.” a lot of plant material with the
wind farms in west central Minnesota.
potential to be used in biomass and
The seed money used to establish
Paula Marti renewable energy efforts. Rapid
Owner/employee this unique renewable energy center
response funds helped harvest the
Morgan Creek Vineyards at Morris has led to more than $14
opportunities that renewable energy
New Ulm, Minnesota million in funds to support the Morris
offer to rural Minnesota. The fund
renewable energy project including
supported a cooperative project
the Minnesota Legislature awarding
between the West Central Research
$2.5 million to construct a unique
and Outreach Center at Morris,
research system that converts wind
the local ARS-USDA unit, the
energy to hydrogen and use
University of Minnesota-
that hydrogen to produce
Morris and farmers
anhydrous ammonia, a
and rural leaders
commonly used crop
to develop a
fertilizer.
renewable
energy center.
contaminate or degrade
wine quality. The Rapid
Agricultural Response
Fund supported research
that found two practical
sampling methods that can
be used to monitor infestations.
remains after the removal of fatty acid farm products. Minnesota wine These sampling methods have
in the conversion to biodiesel. production is undergoing a mini- minimal cost and allow plenty of
Combining ethanol and biodiesel boom thanks to a large extent to time for growers to decide to apply
byproducts may result in a viable feed University of Minnesota developed insecticide or not, prior to harvest.
for turkeys. High levels of DDGS in cold-hardy hybrid grapes such as Testing tracked varietal susceptibility
turkey diets decrease diet energy, but Frontenac, Frontenac Gris and to the lady beetle and the impact on poor disease resistance. Developing
the addition of glycerin could add LaCrescent. However, this small, juice/wine quality. Based on a unique new varieties of Kentucky bluegrass
necessary energy. Newly funded rapid but important Minnesota-grown sensory-response threshold developed would have the projected economic
response research aims to provide industry has been threatened by the from wine taste panels, a new field- impact of up to $4.5 million
turkey producers with guidelines on multicolored Asian lady beetle, first based threshold was developed to annually and the economic impact
the use of these new products and a discovered in Minnesota in 1994. help growers determine when beetle of seed production of new perennial
way to help decrease or slow the trend Particularly high infestations occurred treatment is necessary. ryegrass varieties is estimated at $5
in skyrocketing feed costs. At the in nearly all Minnesota vineyards million annually. Rapid response
same time, the results of the feeding during 2003. The beetle has a unique Keeping the grass greener funding supported accelerating the
trials can help ethanol and biodiesel ability to locate ripening fruit, with development and release of these new
Northern Minnesota’s turf grass seed
plants market their new products. infestations in grapes building just varieties to rebuild this industry. The
production contributes millions
before harvest. income from the production of forage
of dollars to the region’s economy.
Protecting Minnesota wine Historically, there have been only However Park Kentucky bluegrass, the
and turf grass seeds has often meant
a few options available, and there the difference between success or
Ethanol is not the only type of basis of Minnesota’s seed industry, has
were concerns that insecticides may failure of local farming operations.
alcohol being made from Minnesota dramatically lost market share due to
In the fall of 2000, a the U.S. from Asia in 2002 and
The emerald ash borer arrived in roundtable committee of dairy by 2007 it was PRRS high quality turf seed the National dramatically the most
Demand for has been identified by has increasedPork Board asin the
for the death of over issues of concern to Before it arrives
responsible producers named 15 20 million ash trees. the industry andin Minnesota, years and Minnesota-produced seed has advantages annual farm
last 30 serious infectious disease facing pork producers, with over seed
Johne’s disease was top of is working to develop a screening test and
a newly funded rapid response projectthe list. losses from PRRS estimated at $600 million nationwide.
produced in Washington and Oregon.
provide recommendations to control and prevent damage.
Solutions That Don’t Fit Into a Bottle
How Minnesota farmers raise pork frequently involve multiple pathogens The Minnesota Legislature’s Rapid
has changed greatly in the last twenty — primarily PRRS virus, Mycoplasma Agricultural Response Fund is crucial
hypopneumoniae (M. hyo) and to this systems model work. Not only
years. And so has the way they treat
porcine circovirus type 2. These have rapid response funds helped
hog diseases. Twenty years ago co-infections cost the U.S. swine provide initial seed money to jump
disease treatment focused on one-shot industry more than $560 million a start research on these diseases, but
year. The University of Minnesota a recently funded project helps build
solutions for things like stomach and
Swine Disease Eradication Center a systems approach that could lead
respiratory diseases in swine. Now is developing a systems model that to eventual elimination of these
“Five years ago we didn’t
disease treatment tends to focus on a may help limit those losses. The troublemakers. Eradicating disease
know about circovirus.
systems approach where veterinarians systems model will provide answers helps improve animal health and also
Today we hear horror stories
to producers and veterinarians about improves profits on farms.
about herds breaking develop solutions that factor in the
how these pathogens interact and
out with circovirus and entire operation. which biosecurity steps may prevent Tags that tell a story
35 percent of the finishing losses in growing and finishing swine. Perhaps one of the longest eradication
Land grant university research is key
pigs being affected. Rapid to the systems approach that livestock efforts is the bovine tuberculosis
response is needed for producers need today. Pharmaceutical eradication campaign that began in
situations like this where a companies are responsible to their 1917. Minnesota’s optimism about
disease develops quickly.” investors and focus their research eradicating this disease struck a
on specific solutions that result in a sour note when the USDA revoked
David Starner Minnesota’s bovine TB-free status in
product that can be sold. Biosecurity
Hoffman, Minnesota
systems and management solutions January 2006 because of an outbreak
pork and crop producer
often do not fit in a bottle or in a in the northwest part of the state.
Member, Minnesota
PRRS Eradication Task Force marketing plan that satisfies investors. That was the first outbreak in
34 years and loss of bovine TB-free
University research provides these
status meant Minnesota producers
out-of-the-bottle research solutions.
shipping cattle had to spend more
A good example is the work of
time and money on testing cows.
University of Minnesota veterinary
The disease is not seen as a human
researchers on complex growing
health threat, but does cause
and finishing swine diseases that
respiratory ailments in cattle.
10
The technology for tuberculosis
testing has not changed much from
when the bovine TB eradication
program began in 1917. A rapid
response project is looking into
improving the test by using DNA and
serum protein biomarker discovery.
A key component of the national Such a test would be cheaper to give
bovine TB testing program is an and provide quicker results. The
official metal ear tag with a 12-digit combination of a better test and an with solutions. Phosphorus poses which is used by agricultural
number. This is read every time the easier way to identify the cattle being troubling environmental questions for professionals to identify high risk
animal is tested. Reading the small tested will provide better tools to Minnesotans. The essential nutrient agricultural sites and by farmers in
numbers on those tags accurately is control and monitor is needed for successful crop and choosing management options to
not quick and can even sometimes be bovine TB. livestock production, but reduce the risk of phosphorus losses.
dangerous. Through a rapid response excess phosphorus in The index aids users in understanding
project, researchers are working to Greener lands lakes and streams how phosphorus moves from fields to
simplify bovine TB testing by using and bluer can cause algae waterways and how various practices
a radio frequency (RFID) tag to waters blooms and low impact this threat. This knowledge
replace the standard metal ear tag. Animal diseases water quality. improves agricultural productivity
An electronic wand reads the unique are not the and watershed quality.
The Rapid
frequency of an animal’s tag and only place Agricultural
matches information to the bar code where rapid Response Fund
label on a test sample. This electronic response projects contributed to
identification will be easier to track produce research the development
and more accurate than the information of the Minnesota
metal tags. that can help Phosphorus Index,
Each year, Minnesota pork producers market over Livestock is a big business in Minnesota. Minnesota’s livestock
15.8 million hogs. In addition to providing food, pigs also cash receipts total about $5 billion a year and livestock production
provide fiber, pharmaceuticals and high value soil fertilizer. contributes about half of Minnesota’s total agricultural income.
11
Novel Answers to Old and New Problems
Minnesota agriculture is in a continual industry, led to a $300,000 laboratory Good news for chili lovers
state of change. New producers, like being built, equipped and USDA
Root rot disease in Minnesota kidney
accredited within two months.
recent Hmong immigrants, invigorate bean fields was causing nearly 20
As a result more than 15,000 percent yield losses early in the
our local food system and need new
chronic wasting disease samples decade and was also affecting other
kinds of support. Minnesota’s honey were tested. The response helped beans. The usual control tactics
bees pollinate crops across the U.S. save the 2003 deer hunting season weren’t working. With rapid response
vital to Minnesota’s rural economy funding, researchers documented the
and a threat to them means danger
“Our apiaries use the bees and quality of life. The advanced ability of the root rot pathogens to
to food crops inside and outside our laboratory didn’t sit idle when the
bred by (University of survive in previous crop residue, and
Minnesota researcher) borders. Tracking a wild animal disease deer hunters left the forest. The also demonstrated the ineffectiveness
has implications not just for meat laboratory was approved for scrapie of available chemical seed treatments.
Marla Spivak because
testing and is now being used to help Then they demonstrated the
they’re resistant to viruses. producers, but also for Minnesota
the USDA and Minnesota Board of economic and biological effectiveness
We beekeepers really hunters. Using rapid response funding Animal Health eradicate scrapie from of using biocontrols.
appreciate the cutting wisely keeps our agricultural system Minnesota sheep flocks.
Biocontrol seed treatments
edge research.”
healthy in many ways. significantly reduced root rot in
Jeff Hull greenhouses and fields in small
Owner, Hull’s Apiaries
Saving the hunting season and large grower demonstration
Battle Lake, Minnesota plot studies. Test plots showed
When chronic wasting disease was
yield increases of up to 31 percent
detected in an elk in Aitkin County
with these seed treatments. Also,
in late summer of 2002, the discovery
application of these biocontrols cost
spread fear that the disease would hit
less than the ineffective chemical
wild deer in Minnesota, just in time
seed treatments.
for hunting season. Rapid Agricultural
Response Funds provided the seed
Best options for
money to develop a world-class
livestock housing
laboratory to test for the disease. This
funding, combined with matching Animal health and welfare are
funds from the Department of important to Minnesota’s livestock
Natural Resources, USDA, and private producers. Sometimes the data is
1
not available A matter of resist both diseases
for producers to survival and mites and that is
make research- commercially available.
The essential work
based decisions With the support of rapid
of honey bees is
on animal health response funding, researchers
threatened. During
and comfort in have shown that this honey bee
the winters of
housing systems for dairy and swine. also resists the bacterial disease
2004 through 2006 an estimated
Rapid response funds are helping American foulbrood, and the fungal
50 percent of the honey bee colonies
fill that information gap through disease chalkbrood. Researchers are
in the U.S. died from the effects of
research that compares types of helping beekeepers reduce pesticide
the parasitic mite, Varroa Destructor.
livestock housing systems. On the use through a combination of the
During the winter of 2007 there were
dairy front, researchers are comparing use of resistant bee stocks and sound
wide-spread reports of honey bee for offering farm safety information
health, productivity and comfort management and treatment decisions.
colonies disappearing. The cause of in a new way. Hmong have an oral
of cows housed in compost-bedded They are currently developing
this bee loss is not clear. Researchers tradition; spoken stories are used to
pack barns, cross-ventilated free stall standard sampling procedures to help
think it is due to a number of factors, teach. So Rapid Agricultural Response
barns and naturally-ventilated free beekeepers make educated treatment
including mites, viruses and other Fund support was used to develop
stall barns. The project will provide decisions allowing them to reduce
disease, drought, poor nutrition, safety messages through storytelling.
practical information that will help pesticide use.
stress from transportation of colonies Researchers found that storytelling,
producers make day-to-day decisions
across the U.S. and pesticide use, both done by a Hmong person and in
about managing their herds and Storytelling for farm safety
in the environment and within bee the Hmong language, made the
make better decisions when building Many Hmong refugees in Minnesota
colonies. The only general consensus information personal and convincing.
new barns. Researchers in another continue their cultural tradition
is that the immune system of bees is It proved that using Hmong folktales
rapid response project evaluated of farming and the fruits of their
compromised. to communicate health and safety
the strengths and disadvantages of labor support Minnesota Farmers
conventional gestational stalls and The research program in apiculture information was also a way to
Markets and local produce outlets.
different housing systems for swine. at the University of Minnesota is the reconnect Hmong people with their
Hmong children are often included
only research team in the nation that traditions and history.
in farming work, creating a need
has bred a bee that can physically
Minnesota grows 60 percent of the dark red kidney beans in the The value of honey bee pollination to U.S. agriculture is $14 billion, and this
U.S. and has set the standard world-wide for kidney bean quality. does not include the benefit to home gardens and native ecosystems. Minnesota
is the central hub from which bee colonies are transported nationwide.
1
Research Muscle Fuels Our Drive to Discover
A strong infrastructure is vital to PRRS disease in swine received initial corners of the earth.
research that provides answers to funding from the rapid response fund This threat of foreign invaders has led
and now receive major USDA grants to a mini-building boom of biosafety
emerging agricultural questions. The
to continue the effort. facilities on the St. Paul campus. No
University of Minnesota agricultural
other Midwest land grant university
research infrastructure has three key Global protection has the combination of quarantine
parts: the expertise of researchers; Agricultural problems go global and biosafety laboratories to study
quickly. Winds blow rust spores emerging agricultural problems.
state-of-the-art facilities; and strong
“These laboratories are from Africa to South America to the New facilities on the St. Paul campus
external partnerships. United States. Insects and other pests allow scientists to find solutions to
inexpensive insurance
hitchhike with international travelers deal with soybean aphids and other
to protect agriculture in Facilities do not make discoveries
and trade. Migratory birds carry invading insects, emerging dangerous
Minnesota.” by themselves. Scientists do. At the
diseases across international borders. pathogens like soybean rust and
University of Minnesota, faculty
Jim Collins We live in a global village and need to devastating livestock diseases. These
members lead teams of graduate
Veterinary Population Medicine respond rapidly to pests from the far secure laboratories meet exacting
Professor and Director of the
students focused on discoveries that
improve agricultural crops and federal standards to assure that
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
livestock. The Rapid Agricultural scientists can examine dangerous
Response Fund works because pests without threat to local crops,
world-class researchers and animals or the researchers themselves.
sophisticated scientific equipment
are ready to quickly respond to
Plant pest power
challenges. The Plant Growth Facility project
on the St. Paul campus is a powerful
The initial response is often the
tool in researching plant diseases,
first step of a long-term effort.
preparing students to make a
Partnerships with producer
difference and increasing agricultural
organizations, neighboring
productivity. The $24 million Plant
universities and government
Growth Facilities project includes
funding organizations often expand
classrooms, 15,000 square feet of
research that was first funded as
growing space in state-of-the-art
a rapid response project. Projects
greenhouses, an Insect Quarantine
like Johne’s disease in cattle and
1
Facility Livestock disease
and a Plant expertise
Pathology
A $2.5 million
Maximum
Biosafety Level 3
Containment
(BSL-3) addition to
Facility.
the Veterinary Diagnostic
The Insect Quarantine Laboratory will provide a safe
Facility allows researchers to analyze working environment for researchers
the potential usefulness of beneficial in the event of an outbreak of
insects in the control of soybean serious diseases including the highly
aphids, buckthorn, garlic mustard pathogenic avian influenza virus (bird Zhishan Wu and Mary Hanks of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and
and other pests. The $6 million Plant flu) in the U.S. The BSL-3 necropsy Plant Pathology Head Carol Ishimaru outside the Plant Pathology Maximum
Pathology Containment Facility will laboratory will also be used for Containment Facility on the St. Paul campus.
provide the University USDA and containing other high-risk pathogens
state agency researchers with the associated with diseases such as
necessary high security for research bovine tuberculosis, chlamydiosis,
the Research and Outreach Centers of Minnesota faculty members.
on economically and ecologically tuleramia, anthrax, West Nile and
throughout the state. Our strong Partnerships with advisory boards and
important plant pathogens affecting rabies. This new research tool
agricultural research infrastructure researchers in other states help build
crops, horticultural plants and forests. will help veterinarians protect
of working laboratories and our capacity to discover solutions.
The facility is expected to receive and promote animal and human
gifted researchers did not happen The task of maintaining infrastructure
approval from USDA-APHIS in 2008. health through early detection and
by accident. It is the result of a is never finished, but with continued
Currently only three similar facilities monitoring of animal diseases.
cooperative effort between the cooperation we can make it even
in the U.S. are allowed to work with
These research facilities help provide Minnesota legislature, Minnesota
and conduct research on exotic plant stronger. Investing in agricultural
the basic scientific knowledge that agricultural leaders, federal research
pathogens. research yields benefits for our farmers,
drive applied research on crops, funding agencies and University our economy and our quality of life.
livestock and renewable fuels at
Investing in agricultural research earns big dividends not only on farms, but Partnerships pay the bills for agricultural research. The Rapid
also in the entire economy. Recent University studies show the benefits of Agricultural Response Fund provides an initial investment that
investing in research increase over time as new technology is adopted. is multiplied by dollars from producer organizations, the state
government and federal research programs. 1
Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station
240 Coffey Hall
1420 Eckles Avenue
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
To find a new way of problem solving
in the 21st century, in 1998 the
Minnesota Legislature worked with
the state’s agricultural leaders to
create resources to tackle emerging
agricultural challenges. The result was
the Rapid Agricultural Response Fund.
Since that beginning it has helped
develop research answers to some of
the most puzzling and unpredictable
problems facing our farmers.
Find more at: www.rapidresponse.umn.edu
The University of Minnesota, including the Minnesota
Agricultural Experiment Station, is committed to the policy
that all persons shall have equal access to its programs,
facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability,
public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation.
For Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations, please
call (800) 876-8636.
