|
K-State professor reappointed to USDA Air Quality Task ForceKansas Chuck Rice, professor of agronomy at Kansas State University, has been reappointed to serve a second two-year term as a member of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force. Ed Schafer, U.S. secretary of agriculture, made Rice's reappointment Nov. 6. The role of the task force, which has 25 members from 12 states, is to advise the agriculture secretary on issues related to agricultural air quality, including strengthening and coordinating U.S. Department of Agriculture air quality research efforts and identifying cost-effective ways in which the agriculture industry can improve air quality. "The 2008-2010 task force will tackle diverse air quality issues such as greenhouse gas mitigation, the reduction of certain pollutants, ozone and ammonia emissions, and the enhancement of opportunities for environmental trading markets for agriculture," Rice said. "These are all issues of increasing concern to the general public in Kansas and elsewhere." Members of the task force are noted scientists and other experts in agriculture, industry, health and science, Rice said. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service also will participate on the task force. Rice, a soil microbiologist, has conducted long-term research on soil organic dynamics, nitrogen transformations and microbial ecology. Recently, his research has focused on soil and global climate change including C and N emissions in agricultural and grassland ecosystems and soil carbon sequestration and its potential benefits to the ecosystem. His research has been supported by more than $15 million in grants from the Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy and others. Rice earned his bachelor of science degree from Northern Illinois University and his doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky. He joined K-State in 1988, was promoted to associate professor in 1993 and to professor in 1998. Additional information on the task force is available online at http://www.airquality.nrcs.usda.gov/AAQTF/. 11/24/08 Date: 11/20/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
