Inside Ag | September 2019 - College of Agriculture

In this edition

A Message from Kyla McNamara
Upcoming Events
New Faces in the College of Ag
Recent Grants in the COA/MAES
Recent Publications
Notices and Opportunities
COA/MAES in the News

Last May, DAEE professors Eric Belasco, Diane Charlton and Wendy Stock led a group of students on a trip to China. Sixteen students from the College of Ag traveled to Shanghai, the Great Wall and other areas during the two-week trip.

"The intention of the trip was to expose students to the global nature of agriculture by exploring a country that utilizes products made in Montana and has an agricultural system that is substantially different from in Montana," said Belasco. "That was true in China, which is the largest producer of wheat in the world, but we also experienced much smaller farms (the average farm size in China is about half an acre) and a very sophisticated direct-to-consumer marketing channel utilized through smartphones.

"We also visited with faculty and students at Zhejiang University and Sichuan Agricultural University and got to talk with students about living in China and faculty about research issues they are concerned with. We visited Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, traveling sometimes at speeds of over 200 miles per hour on bullet trains, and met with trade representatives, USDA representatives, and industry leaders. It was a great experience."

A Message from Kyla McNamara

**Instead of our usual message from Dr. Bajwa, Kyla McNamara, the new COA/MAES representative to the MSU All-Staff Council, wanted to introduce herself and her position. Congratulations on your election, Kyla!**

Greetings,I am Kyla McNamara, a research associate at the Northern Agricultural Research Center. I was recently elected to the MSUASC and am proud to be representing COA and MAES. I wanted to introduce MSUASC, so everyone is aware of the council's responsibilities and values."MSUASC'S scope of authority includes, but is not limited to: - The role of staff in University concerns - Issues and initiatives that impact all staff - Strategic goals related to staffMSUASC is not a labor organization and is not authorized to engage in activities related to terms and conditions of employment such as wages, union business, promotion, or individual workloads. The MSUASC core values are collaboration, integrity, service excellence and advocacy."-MSUASC ConstitutionI would like to take this space and let you know that I am an open door for all matters from staff members or administrative officers that relate to the policies or roles of University staff. Please feel free to contact me with any staff issues that are related to the values and goals of the council.Thank you very much,Kyla McNamaraNorthern Agricultural Reseach Center3710 Assinniboine Road Havre, MT 59501kyla.mcnamara@montana.edu(406)265-6115

Upcoming Events

September 30: Sreekala Bajwa and Carl Yeoman on Montana Ag Live
October 3: Bair Ranch Foundation Seminar series presents Patrick Wall: "The Use of Carcass Ultrasound in Genetics and Breed Associations," 12 p.m., ABB 134
October 12: 2019 Summit Celebrating Women in Agriculture, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
October 14: MIT economist Daron Acemoglu lecture: "Automation, AI and the Future of Work," 7 p.m., SUB Ballrooms
October 17: Bair Ranch Foundation Seminar Series presents Dr. Bill Fagan: "Spatial Ecology and Animal Movement," 12 p.m., ABB 134
October 23: Deadline for Science as Art Contest. We are looking for visuals that capture some aspect of science, to be displayed during Celebrate Ag Weekend. Submit by email to sfraser@montana.edu

New Faces in the College of Ag

Justin Arntz, Land Resources and Environmental Science

Justin Arntz is the new Student Academic Coordinator for the LRES Department. He is originally from Denver, Colorado where he graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a BA in History and a minor in Environmental Science. He has a passion for history and literature and plans on getting his Master's in History.

Victoria Blake, Plant Science and Plant Pathology

Victoria returned to MSU in 2018 with USDA funding to curate the GrainGenes database, and this summer she joined Li Huang's team to continue that work. This semester she is also co-teaching 'Omics and Online Resources for Plant Scientists'. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she attended UC Davis and received her Ph.D. through the Viticulture and Enology Department. When not in front of a computer, she is busy gardening or learning to properly ride her horse, Rudy.

Deji Owati, Plant Science and Plant Pathology

Ayodeji (Deji) Owati graduated with a Ph.D. in plant pathology from MSU's PSPP department and will continue his post-doctoral research in pulse crop pathology under the supervision of Dr. David Wheeler and Dr. Mary Burrows. Deji's research focuses on identification, characterization and development of rapid detection tools for both laboratory and field detection of pathogens associated with pulse crop diseases.

Recent Grants in the COA and MAES

Kevin Wanner (PSPP): "Insecticide Resistant Alfalfa Weevils in the Western US: Quantifying the Scope of Resistance and Implementing a Plan to Manage the Threat," NIFA.
Kevin McPhee (PSPP): "Pulse Crop Breeding," USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council.
Jason Cook (PSPP): "Development of Montana-adapted FHB-resistant winter wheat varieties," USDA.
Chengci Chen (EARC): "Statewide pea, lentil and chickpea variety evaluation in Montana," USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council.
Frankie Crutcher (EARC): "Effects of cropping systems on root rot of field pea," Northern Pulse Growers Association.
Ed Davis (LRES): "Weed control research in pulse crops," USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council.
Michelle Flenniken (PSPP): "Mechanisms of viral dnRNA detection and antiviral defenses in honey bee," Project Apis m.
Agnieszka Rynda-Apple (MBI): "Understanding the contribution of IFNAR2 to resolution of pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection," American Association of Immunologists.
Megan Van Emon (ARS): "Effects of sainfoin variety and harvest maturity on quality yield and condensed tannin content," Midwest Forage Association.

Recent Publications

VC Blake et al.: "Centralized small grain resources and digital platform for geneticists and breeders."
Note: we accidentally omitted Diane Bimczok as an author of the publication "A Novel Gastric Spheroid Co-culture Model Reveals Chemokine-Dependent Recruitment of Huan Dendritic Cells to the Gastric Epithelium," in last month's newsletter. We apologize, and we recognize Diane for all the excellent work she does!

*Authors in bold indicate MSU researchers connected with College of Agriculture/MAES, not necessarily primary investigators.

Notices and Opportunities

The Year of Undergraduate Research has begun! Tell us about your students' work so we can recognize them.
The Initiative for Regulation and Applied Economic Analysis funds undergraduate research scholarships. Applications are open until October 1 and must be prepared by an MSU faculty member on behalf of the student.
The Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research Plant Protein Enhancement Project's application deadline is October 9.
USDA's Specialty Crop Research Initiative application deadline is October 15.
NIFA's Farmer/Rancher Grant Program proposal deadline is November 11
NIFA's Professional Development internal MSU submission deadline is November 8, with proposals due to NIFA November 13
NIFA's Professional Plus Producer Grant Program internal MSU submission deadline is November 8, with proposals due to NIFA November 13
NIFA's Research to Grass Roots Grant Program internal MSU submission deadline is November 15, with proposals due to NIFA November 20
Montana Water Center's Water Resource Fellowship Program proposal deadline is November 15
Do you have new research, awards or honors, or know someone who does and might be too shy? Email reagan.colyer@montana.edu with news and developments!