Agricultural Research Congressional Exhibition & Reception

Washington, DC — As Congress considers the Farm Bill and agricultural appropriations, agricultural researchers from a variety of disciplines will update members of Congress and their staff on research covering current challenges and emerging threats in agriculture, food, and natural resources. The Capitol Hill reception and exhibition taking place tonight will demonstrate how multiple types of USDA funding (intramural, extramural, competitive, and capacity) work together to bolster American innovation.

Hosted by APLU, AFRI Coalition, National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NC-FAR), and Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR), 36 exhibits from more than 20 universities; numerous scientific professional societies; USDA agencies; and others will help show members of Congress and their staffs the importance of funding agricultural research.

“Research and education in food, agriculture, and natural resource issues has become more critical in solving many societal challenges. If we want to decrease obesity and malnutrition, control invasive species, improve the vitality of our rural communities, and provide clean water, healthy forests, abundant fish and wildlife, and sustainable energy, then the U.S. needs to invest far more in the agricultural research, education, and Extension system,” said Ian Maw, APLU vice president of food, agriculture and natural resources. “The research shared at this event represents only tiny fraction of the incredible work being carried out in the U.S. and an even smaller fraction of what could be accomplished with increased funding,”

Full List of Exhibits:

Agricultural & Applied Economics Association
Improving USDA Agri-Environmental Programs through Farmer and Landowner Decision-Making
Presenter: Kent Messer, University of Delaware

Agricultural & Applied Economics Association; Council on Food, Agriculural and Resource Economics
Big Data in Agriculture: Opportunities and Risks
Presenters: Terry Griffin & Shannon Ferrell, Kansas State University & Oklahoma State University

Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies
Using Sensors and Data to Optimize Irrigation
Presenter: Susan A. O’Shaughnessy, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

American Phytopathological Society
Detecting and Managing Blast Diseases
Presenter: Barbara Valent, Kansas State University

American Society of Plant Biologists
Using High-Resolution 3D Imaging Techniques in Plant Research
Presenter: Mon-Ray Shao, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Association of 1890 Extension Administrators and the Association of 1890 Research Directors
1890s Research and Extension Innovations
Presenter: Alton Thompson, 1890s

Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Recruitment and Support of Veterinarians in Underserved Rural Areas of Kentucky
Presenter: Dan Givens, Auburn University

Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Damage to Berry and Cherry Crops from Spotted Wing Drosophila and Management Strategies to Overcome the Pest
Presenter: Greg Loeb, Cornell University

Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Pressure Induced Transformations of Food Proteins for the Creation of New Textures and Improved Food Quality
Presenter: Carmen Moraru, Cornell University

Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics
The Changing Organization of U.S. Agriculture—A Look at Structural Changes and Consolidation
Presenter Jim MacDonald, USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)

Entomological Society of America
The Spotted Lanternfly: A New Pest, Grave Risks, and Potential Avenues for Control
Presenters: Julie Urban and Erica Smyers, Pennsylavnia State University

Iowa State University
A Look at Iowa State University’s Local and National Impacts
Presenter: Brian Meyer, Iowa State University

Kansas State University
Novel Fire Mangement Strategies to Control Sericea Lespedeza; and Potential for Novel Feeds to Reduce Systemic Inflammation on Milk Yields
Presenters: KC Olson & Barry Bradford, Kansas State University

Kansas State University
Stakeholder-Driven Research on Wheat and Sorghum to Support Sustainable, Water-Efficient Agriculture and Systems-wide Approach to Accelerating Wheat Quality Improvement
Presenters: Geoffrey Morris & Jesse Poland, Kansas State University

Michigan State University
Decision-making Tools for Protecting Pollinators while Eliminating Pests
Presenter: Rufus Isaacs, Michigan State University

National Plant Diagnostic Network
The Critical Work of the National Plant Diagnostic Network
Presenter: Neil McRoberts, University of California Davis

Non-land-grant Agriculture and Renewable Resources Universities (NARRU)
Successes and Impacts from the Non-land-grant Capacity Building Grant Program
Presenter: Rob Rhykerd, Illinois State University

North Carolina A&T State University
Developing Agricultural Products with Health Benefits while Supporting Small and Limited Resource Farmers
Presenter: Leonard Williams, North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina State University
Protecting the Queen: Interdisciplinary Research to Decrease Queen Loss in Beehives
Presenter: David Tarpy, North Carolina State University

Purdue University, College of Agriculture
Birdseye View of Forest Health: A Comprehensive Look at the Impacts of Invasive Plants, Insects, and Pathogens on U.S. Forests
Presenter: Songlin Fei, Purdue University

Purdue University, College of Agriculture
Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency: A Key to Healthier air and Stronger Corn Harvests
Presenter: Tony Vyn, Purdue University

The Ohio State University
Securing a Stop to the Summer Setback: Policy and Programmatic Solutions to Addressing the Problem of Poor Nutritional Health During the Summer among Children Residing in Low-Income Households
Presenter: Carolyn Gunther, The Ohio State University

Union of Concerned Scientists
Great Plains Grazing: Cattle, Climate, Culture and Change
Presenter: DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University

University of California, Berkeley
Understanding Complex Interactions in Diversified Farming Systems to Attain Better Policy Decisions
Presenters: Amber Sciligo, David Gonthier & Patrick Baur, University of California, Berkeley

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
Reducing the Risk of Childhood Obesity through Education
Presenter: Karla Shelnutt, University of Florida

University of Idaho
Carbon Cycle Impacts of Thinning Western Forests
Presenter: Tara Hudiburg, University of Idaho

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Agroforestry for Food – The Next Generation Conservation Technique?
Presenter: Sarah Taylor Lovell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Healthy Soils: The Role of Microorganisms
Presenter: Anthony Yannarell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Food, Fiber, and a Healthy Gut
Presenter: Hannah Holscher, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Missouri
The National Program for Genetic Improvement of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle
Presenter: Jerry Taylor, University of Missouri

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Developing an Undergraduate Professional Development Program in Agriculture and Natural Resources
Presenter: Martha Mamo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Role of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Agricultural Research
Presenters: Representatives from USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Role of Economic Research Service (ERS) in Agricultural Research
Presenters: Representatives from USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)

U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Role of National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in Agricultural Research
Presenters: Representatives from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Role of National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in Agricultural Research
Presenters: Representatives from USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture

Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (WAAESD) & Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA)
The Western Perspective and Agenda
Presenters: Bret Hess, University of Wyoming, and Roxie Dinstel, University of Alaska-Fairbanks