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Every day an AgriLife 'Earth Day'Texas Water conservation, biofuel, environmentally friendly landscapes, organic vegetable farming: Every day is Earth Day in spirit and practice, say Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas AgriLife Research faculty. AgriLife Extension and AgriLife Research are usually associated primarily with agriculture. But agriculture is all about using resources in wise and sustainable fashion, said Dr. Mark Hussey, interim vice chancellor and interim dean of Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "Agriculture is life; people usually don't realize how much we all depend on agriculture and the life sciences," Hussey said. "Discoveries and innovations in these fields directly impact the quality of the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the homes we live in, and, more and more, even the fuels we pump into our vehicles." Current AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension efforts from around the state back up Hussey's statement: Bio-fuel research AgriLife Research scientists working in bioenergy span the full range of discovery from developing high-tonnage biomass plants at the molecular level to developing more efficient processes to manufacture biofuels, Hussey said. Research involves extensive plant science activities, investigating potential harvest and transportation methods for bioenergy production and comprehensive economic analysis, Hussey said. Sorghum, sugarcane and high oil-content peanuts are crops that will be included in the program. The agency already has pioneered a tall sorghum bioenergy variety, yielding up to 20 tons per acre. Most recent research projects include investigating forms of microalgae to be used as a biofuel source, and an extensive oilseed project that will examine potential new plant varieties to be developed for use in the biodiesel and vegetable oil industries, Hussey said. For a more comprehensive review of the research program, visit http://agbioenergy.tamu.edu. Going organic "It's all about the Earth," said Barbara Storz, AgriLife Extension horticulture agent in Hidalgo County in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. "Where would we be without it? The fertile earth here in South Texas led to the creation in the early 1900s of a massive agricultural industry that led to this area being one of the fastest growing in the nation. We owe the Earth a huge debt of gratitude. It's up to all of us to appreciate and help maintain our environment." Storz recently organized Grow'n Growers, an AgriLife Extension program that teaches low-income citizens how to grow and sell organic vegetables. "The vegetable industry here is not designed to grow their produce organically. But we as citizens and stewards of the land can learn how to grow food without using chemicals, which helps our environment maintain its natural balance while we as consumers of such goods provide safe, stable nourishment to our bodies." How can farmers survive high nitrogen and fuel costs? Texas livestock producers are facing not a "moisture drought" but a "nutrient drought," said Dr.. Vincent Haby, AgriLife Research soils scientist. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think most of you have already heard it," Haby said. Haby was one of the featured speakers at "Adjusting to High Fuel and Fertilizer Prices," a day-long seminar for farmers and ranchers held April 18 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton. Nitrogen fertilizers continue to skyrocket because natural gas is used to produce them, Haby said. Prices of other nutrients, such as phosphorous, potassium and sulphur, also are rising rapidly either because of increased transportation costs, higher world demand or both, Haby said. "Since 1999, the increasing price of natural gas has caused permanent shutdown of 25 U.S. ammonia plants and idled several more," Haby said. "As (U.S.) ammonia plants have shut down, fertilizer imports have increased to more than 50 percent of U.S. usage." Haby and his colleagues gave summaries of the most recent research on: Making the most efficient use of soil using clovers and other legumes to reduce the amount commercial nitrogen fertilizer needed. Using winter pastures and rotation to lengthen the grazing season, thereby shortening the winter feeding period. Using the right feed supplements for cows when forage is of poor quality. And results from an ongoing research project at the center on bermudagrass pastures where there has been no added nitrogen fertilizer since 1984. Two small steps toward being 'Earth Kind' Earth Day provides an opportunity to highlight the merits of Earth Kind, an environmental stewardship program for urban landscapes developed by AgriLife Extension and AgriLife Research horticulturists, said Dr. Steve George, an AgriLife Extension horticulturist based in Dallas. "In my opinion, Earth Kind is the best thing that people can do to help their own landscape and help their community to be truly more kind to the Earth," George said. Earth Kind employs research-based techniques for gardening and landscapes that help preserve and protect the environment, George said. For information, visit http://earthkind.tamu.edu/. Homeowners can immediately make small changes such as manually controlled sprinkler systems and mulching to take the first steps on the path of being more kind to the Earth, George said. Environmental stewardship from a frog's perspective Before heading to the garden this season, take the online Earth-Kind Challenge offered by AgriLife Extension, said Dr. Don Wilkerson, AgriLife Extension horticulturist and Earth Kind advocate. The site scores answers--from one piddly frog to a hopping five--and gives feedback about how to be a better steward of the land through gardening and landscape practices, Wilkerson said. "The more frogs you score, the more you are doing to help preserve and protect the environment in which we live," he said. "And the other thing that's cool is that for each response you give, the test responds with ideas of what you might do to be even better at environmental http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/EarthKind/EKChallenge.html. The test asks about a person's landscape design, mulching habits and use of irrigation. It also queries one's practices in fertilizer and pesticide use, composting, rainfall harvesting and provisions for wildlife habitats. Wilkerson said the Earth-Kind test is but one tool for people who want to learn ways to beautify living spaces while not harming the environment. The Earth Kindsite, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/EarthKind/, also has links to beneficial insects, rainfall harvesting, Earth Kind roses and Texas urban landscapes. Singing the song of water management Texas AgriLife Extension and AgriLife Research are also significantly involved in efforts to conserve the state's most precious natural resource--water, said Dr. Giovanni Piccinni, AgriLife Research scientist. Piccinni manages the Precision Irrigators Network, a multi-county effort to reduce irrigation water use. In Bexar County, the AgriLife Extension office collaborates with San Antonio Water System, the area's largest metropolitan water supplier, to reduce water consumption. Program participants request and receive weekly e-mail and phone updates letting them know the proper amount to water their lawns based on grass type, rainfall, evapotranspiration data and other factors. The information also appears each Sunday in the San Antonio Express-News. According to administrators, the program saves the county tens of million of gallons annually. The Precision Irrigators Network doesn't stop at the city limits. Piccinni and his fellow researchers, agricultural producers, area water authorities and others are testing ways to irrigate more precisely while maintaining crop quality and yield. "The largest single use of water in this region and throughout the state is the water used to irrigate crops," said Piccinni. "Initial research and actual farm-site testing of the PIN project has shown that with proper management we can reduce irrigation water use up to 20 percent of current usage without negatively affecting crop quality or yield." Piccinni said that throughout the Texas Wintergarden area of South Central Texas, this would mean a potential reduction in water use by as much as 60,000 acre-feet or about 20 billion gallons per year. Captured by an idea "There are close to a billion people in the world who do not have sufficient safe water to drink," said Billy Kniffen, AgriLife Extension water resource specialist "The impact we have by being here and producing food, shelter and clothing causes many ripples in the world of water." Conserving water doesn't have to involve huge, billion-dollar public projects, Kniffen said. Home rainwater harvesting systems can be as simple as capturing water from the roof and channeling it through a downspout into a collection barrel. Systems also can be as elaborate as 10,000-gallon-plus systems for long-term water storage for both non-potable and potable usage. A basic, "no-frills" 50-gallon home rainwater-harvesting system generally costs about $50 in materials, Kniffen said. These materials, which typically include gutters, piping, fittings and a collection barrel are available at most home improvement centers. Rainwater is being harvested all over the world, said Kniffen, who is recognized as one of the state's top experts. "TV ads are full of green wording," Kniffen said. "It is a time when there are so many that see the impact we are having on this world's natural resources. The green revolution may be one of conservation, care and concern for the Earth and its inhabitants. Agriculture and the green revolution of not so many decades ago was to feed the world, now it seems to be to save the world from itself." More information on rainwater capture can be found at http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/index.html. 4/28/08 Date: 4/24/08
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