26 Sep 2014

USDA Unveils Key New Programs to Help Farmers Manage Risk

By USDA Office of Communications
End of Direct Payments Represents One of the Most Significant Farm Policy Reforms in Decades
USDA Launches Education Efforts to Help Producers Choose New Program Right for Them

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2014 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled highly anticipated new programs to help farmers better manage risk, ushering in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades.

Vilsack also announced that new tools are now available to help provide farmers the information they need to choose the new safety net program that is right for their business.

"The 2014 Farm Bill represented some of the largest farm policy reforms in decades. One of the Farm Bill's most significant reforms is finally taking effect," said Vilsack. "Farming is one of the riskiest businesses in the world. These new programs help ensure that risk can be effectively managed so that families don't lose farms that have been passed down through generations because of events beyond their control. But unlike the old direct payment program, which paid farmers in good years and bad, these new initiatives are based on market forces and include county - and individual - coverage options. These reforms provide a much more rational approach to helping farmers manage risk."

The new programs, Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are cornerstones of the commodity farm safety net programs in the 2014 Farm Bill, legislation that ended direct payments. Both programs offer farmers protection when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices and/or revenues. Producers will have through early spring of 2015 to select which program works best for their businesses.

To help farmers choose between ARC and PLC, USDA helped create online tools that allow farmers to enter information about their operation and see projections about what each program will mean for them under possible future scenarios. The new tools are now available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc. USDA provided $3 million to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri and the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M (co-leads for the National Association of Agricultural and Food Policy), along with the University of Illinois (lead for the National Coalition for Producer Education) to develop the new programs.

"We're committed to giving farmers as much information as we can so they can make an informed decision between these programs," said Vilsack. "These resources will help farm owners and producers boil the information down, understand what their options are, and ultimately make the best decision on which choice is right for them. We are very grateful to our partners for their phenomenal work in developing these new tools within a very short time frame."

Starting Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, farm owners may begin visiting their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices if they want to update their yield history and/or reallocate base acres, the first step before choosing which new program best serves their risk management needs. Letters sent this summer enabled farm owners and producers to analyze their crop planting history in order to decide whether to keep their base acres or reallocate them according to recent plantings.

The next step in USDA's safety net implementation is scheduled for this winter when all producers on a farm begin making their election, which will remain in effect for 2014-2018 crop years between the options offered by ARC and PLC.

Today's announcement was made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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26 Sep 2014

U.S. Soybean Farmers Witness Direct Impact of Soy Checkoff's Efforts

By Rick Martin
Group gets opportunity to see investment in action

ST. LOUIS (September 25, 2014) - Ten U.S. soybean farmers participated in the United Soybean Board's (USB's) 2014 See for Yourself program to learn about their customers beyond the elevator and the soy checkoff's role in marketing U.S. soy to those customers. This year, the farmers visited St. Louis, Panama and Ecuador, from Aug. 14-22. A total of 70 farmers have taken advantage of this unique opportunity over the past seven years.

"Before I went on the See for Yourself program, I knew the checkoff was important, but I really couldn't put a finger on exactly why," says LaVell Winsor, See for Yourself participant and farmer from Grantville, Kansas. "I feel like I have a much greater understanding now of how checkoff dollars are used, and where the investments are both at home and abroad. I think it is money well spent by U.S. farmers."

See for Yourself invites farmers to see their funds and the checkoff's efforts in action. The stops on the program examined domestic and international transportation, high oleic soybeans, biodiesel and the use of soybean meal for animal feed.

Domestic Transportation
The program started with a visit to a barge-loading facility on the Mississippi River. The efficiency and reliability of the U.S. transportation system give U.S. soybean farmers a distinct advantage over other soybean-growing counties. The group heard about the need to upgrade U.S. highways, railways and waterways to keep the infrastructure in good repair and maintain this competitive edge.

High Oleic Soybeans
Next, the group visited Monsanto's research campus outside St. Louis to hear about the checkoff's investment in high oleic soybeans and see other research in action. The checkoff's high oleic commitment allows seed companies DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto to expand breeding programs and bring more varieties to the market in a shorter time frame. High oleic varieties have the ability to recover lost food-oil demand for U.S. soybean farmers. Additionally, these innovative varieties can help gain new customers by expanding into new markets.

Biodiesel
The last domestic stop was Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, which uses biodiesel in much of its on-site equipment. The facility utilizes a B20 blend (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel) in nearly all of its stationary generators, airport equipment, and rescue and firefighting equipment. Soybean oil remains the primary feedstock for U.S. biodiesel production, using the oil from more than 400 million bushels of soybeans in 2013.

International Transportation
In Panama City, Panama, the farmers observed the inner workings of the Panama Canal. Soybeans are the No. 1 ag commodity that utilizes the Panama Canal; 560 million bushels of U.S. soybean exports passed through the canal in 2012. Plans for an expansion of the canal, scheduled to be complete in 2015, could make soybean exports even more cost-efficient and beneficial to U.S. farmers' bottom lines.

Animal Agriculture
Ecuador was the final stop in this year's program. There, the group learned how and why soybean meal is used by animal agriculture and aquaculture producers throughout the country. They visited a shrimp farm in Guayaquil, and a poultry producer in Quito. In the United States and abroad, animal agriculture is the largest customer of U.S. soybean meal. In fact, U.S. soybean meal has 85 percent market share in Ecuador, according to the checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council.

"I think our participants received an eye-opening look at the ways the checkoff works for them and how their soybeans are used domestically and internationally," says Keith Tapp, vice chair of USB's Audit and Evaluation Committee, which supports See for Yourself.  "And, as a member of USB, the See for Yourself program allows me to hear firsthand feedback about checkoff investments from farmers located around the country. The program is beneficial for both the farmer-participants and USB."

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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25 Sep 2014

NFFC Disappointed in USDA Support of Dow's 2,4-D Crops; Calls on EPA to Oppose

By Lisa Griffith

Washington, DC (September 24, 2014) - Despite many months of working to the contrary, the National Family Farm Coalition learned last Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had determined that Dow's Enlist corn and soy were safe for release to the public for planting. Enlist corn and soy have been genetically engineered to resist both glyphosate (or Roundup) and 2,4-D, a component of agent orange used to defoliate Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war.

We are extremely disappointed that USDA ignored the concerns of farmers and consumers around these two GMOs that could (and likely will) contaminate fields of non-GMO and organic corn and soy. We are even more disturbed about the likelihood of drift of the pesticides 2,4-D and glyphosate.

2,4-D is especially toxic and volatile. It can drift as a fine mist for miles, destroying non-resistant crops, including fruit, nut and shade trees; grapes, strawberries, melons, tomatoes and beans; and non-GMO and organic varieties of sweet corn and soybeans. There is a huge potential for farmers to lose crops and livelihoods, and consumers and communities to lose access to locally grown foods that define their cuisine and culture.

In addition, more weeds will evolve to resist 2,4-D and glyphosate, encouraging the agrichemical companies to continue engineering crops that tolerate more herbicides. According to the International Survey of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds at weedscience.org, their May 2014 posting indicated that weeds have developed resistance to 155 different herbicides.

These herbicide-resistant seeds will cause havoc in their own right. Those falling into non-GMO and organic fields will contaminate those fields, and farmers selling crops from those fields will miss income in the short-term, and could lose their certification in the long-term. This was a significant problem in the Pacific Northwest just last year when genetically engineered wheat was discovered in a field, shutting down markets to Japan and other countries trying to avoid GMOs. The companies that produce the seeds and their herbicides are not currently liable for contamination, which is difficult to prove and further burdens their victims.

NFFC is also concerned about the health risks for farmers spraying these herbicides, as well as their families and neighbors. Parkinson's disease and some cancer are more common in rural farming communities today than 30 years ago, but proving the connections is difficult.

The USDA's decision on Dow's corn and soy was released the day after NFFC and several allies offered perspectives on genetically engineered crops to the National Research Council at the National Academies of Science, and a few days before NFFC vice president Dena Hoff spoke in New York at the Climate Justice Summit. Thousands of summit participants marched to raise awareness about the connection between genetically engineered crops, chemical herbicides, environmental damage and climate change.

Missouri farmer Margot McMillen, who lost numerous tomato plants to 2,4-D drift this summer, stated earlier this year,

"I believe that in every state of the union, there have been accidental plant deaths from 2,4-D spraying. Most will go unreported, because there's no one keeping track. But if this herbicide overuse continues, I predict it will kill the planet."

We hope that the Environmental Protection Agency hears our concerns and opposes the release of Dow's 2,4-D. The millions of family farmers, ranchers, workers, fishermen and eaters who will be affected by these herbicide-resistant, genetically modified organisms deserve a voice within our federal government.

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NFFC unites and strengthens the voices and actions of its diverse grassroots members to demand viable livelihoods for family farmers, safe and healthy food for everyone, and economically and environmentally sound rural communities.

22 Sep 2014

Secretary Vilsack Reappoints Members to the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the reappointment of four individuals to serve on the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council (NGRAC), a subcommittee of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. The newly appointed and returning members of the NGRAC will meet from Sept. 23 through Sept. 25 in Ames, Iowa.

The NGRAC is made up of nine voting members and eight ex-officio members. Two-thirds of voting members are selected from the scientific community and one-third from the general public. The following members have been reappointed to a 3-year term effective October 1, 2014:

Scientific Members

  • Dr. Jane Dever, Professor of Plant Breeding at Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
  • Dr. Karen Moldenhauer, Professor and Rice Industry Chair for Variety Development, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture.
  • Dr. Mulumebet Worku, Animal Scientist/Professor/Biotechnologist, Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

General Public Members

  • Matthew Dillon, Senior Manager Agricultural Programs and Director of Seed Matters, Clif Bar & Company.

Originally established by Congress in 1992, the NGRAC was re-activated in 2012 as a subcommittee under the NAREEE Advisory Board to formulate recommendations on actions and policies for the collection, maintenance, and utilization of genetic resources; to make recommendations for coordination of genetic resources plans; and to advise the Secretary of Agriculture and the National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP) Director of new and innovative approaches to genetic resources conservation. More recently, the NGRAC was charged with advising USDA on ways to ensure that the NGRP serves the needs of all farmers for high-quality and diverse seed for their particular farming operations and how the department can develop a broad strategy for maintaining plant biodiversity available to agriculture, and strengthening public sector plant breeding capacities.

The Council operates under the auspices of the NAREEE Advisory Board and the USDA Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area.

The NGRAC is holding a publicly open meeting beginning on the afternoon of September 23 through the afternoon of September 25, 2014 at the Seed Science Center, Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The NGRAC will focus the meeting on further formulation and development of advice and recommendations to help ensure that the USDA serves the needs of all farmers by making sure that high-quality and diverse seed is available for farming operations of all types.

The meeting's agenda includes featured experts in genetic sciences within food and agriculture. Among those invited to speak are: Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics (REE); Dr. Michael Schechtman, Biotechnology Coordinator and Executive Secretary Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21); Dr. Charles Brown, Chair, Organic Seed Committee, American Seed Trade Association; and Leslie Wheelock, Director, USDA Office of Tribal Relations.

Meeting Location:

Seed Science Center

191 Seed Science Building

Ames, Iowa 50011

All NGRAC meetings are open to the public.

You must register as an attendee by contacting Shirley Morgan-Jordan at shirley.morgan@ars.usda.gov or calling (202) 720-3684. A draft agenda will be sent upon request. At the end of each meeting day, the floor will be open for public comment, or interested individuals may provide written comment for the public record postmarked by Oct. 9, 2014.

For additional information, please contact Michele Esch, Executive Director, REE Advisory Board Office, Room 332A, Whitten Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0321, Telephone: 202-720-3684, Fax: 202-720-6199, or e-mail: michele.esch@usda.gov.

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22 Sep 2014

OBAMA CABINET SECRETARIES VILSACK, CASTRO, AND FOXX TO HOLD PRESS CALL DISCUSSING NEXT ROUND OF PROMISE ZONES

By USDA Office of Communications

Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania, and Congressman Gary Peters, Michigan, to Deliver Brief Remarks

 

WASHINGTON - TOMORROW, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will join U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx, Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Congressman Gary Peters of Michigan for a press call to discuss the next round of Promise Zone applications.

Promise Zones are part of the President's plan to create a new pathway to the middle class by partnering with local communities and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, improve educational opportunities, and reduce violent crime.

 

In January of this year, the Administration announced the first five Promise Zones located in San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Southeastern Kentucky, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. During the call, Administration officials will discuss the progress being made in these areas and discuss next steps for bringing similar success to high-poverty communities across the country.

22 Sep 2014

PQA Plus© Training Session Set in Cedar County

By Amanda Heitz

The Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are teaming up to provide training for pork producers and others who need certification in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus© (PQA Plus©) program. One certification session has been set for Thursday, September 25th in Cedar County.

Cedar County Office Manager, Joyce Coppes said the session will be held at the Cedar County Extension office, 107 Cedar Street, Tipton, Iowa 52772 and will be taught by ISU Extension and Outreach swine program specialist Tom Miller.

"The PQA Plus© session is set for 1:00?3:00p.m.," she said. "Anyone who plans to attend should let us know as soon as possible to ensure that we have adequate materials for everyone."

Cost for this certification program is $25 per person and is payable at the door. To preregister, contact the Cedar County Extension office at 563-886-6157.

To learn more about PQA Plus© please see the National Pork Board Web site at http://www.pork.org/certification/default.aspx

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22 Sep 2014

Export Customers Commit to Buy $2.3 Billion of U.S. Soy

By United Soybean Board
USB chairman commends U.S. soybean farmers for meeting customer demands for high-quality crop

MILWAUKEE (Sept. 17, 2014) - Buyers from China at the second-annual, soy-checkoff-funded U.S. Global Trade Exchange have agreed to buy $2.3 billion of U.S. soy totaling 176 million bushels of U.S. soybeans, marking the second consecutive year that the gathering has generated significant export sales for U.S. soybean farmers in their own backyard.

"This is very exciting news for U.S. soybean farmers," says Jim Call, soybean farmer from Minnesota and United Soybean Board (USB) chairman. "This shows that we continue to meet the needs of our international customers, and they've certainly taken notice."

The event - where foreign buyers gather in the heart of the American Soybean Belt to make deals and learn about U.S. soy - is co-sponsored by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the Midwest Shippers Association and the American Soybean Association (ASA). It continues through Thursday, Sept. 18.

"This week is really a great example of the whole picture of U.S. soy's work with our export partners," says Randy Mann, USSEC chairman and soybean farmer from Kentucky. "Of course the new sales are a boon for farmers, but we're also laying groundwork for future sales by helping our current and prospective customers learn more about the sustainability and quality advantage of American soybeans."

During the event, international representatives will meet with U.S. soy farmer-leaders and will also attend a variety of presentations to learn about the sustainability and quality of U.S. soybeans.

"This event is a great opportunity for U.S. farmers to interface with our customers overseas," says Ray Gaesser, ASA president and soybean farmer from Iowa. "They continue to demand the soybeans we produce, and we continue to innovate to bring higher quality and better beans for them. The relationships we're strengthening here in Milwaukee are a huge part of why soybeans are the leaders in U.S. farm exports."

In the most recent marketing year, U.S. soybean farmers exported more than 1.7 billion bushels of U.S. soy to customers beyond our borders. The value of these exports set a record of more than $28 billion. Representatives from China committed to buy $2.8 billion worth of U.S. soy during last year's U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa.

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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19 Sep 2014

Soybean Exports Brewing in Milwaukee

By United Soybean Board
Second annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange brings in soy buyers from around globe

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 15, 2014) - "Brew City" recently became "Soy City" as more than 270 representatives of major international companies interested in importing U.S. soy came together for the second annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Milwaukee. Areas represented included China, the Middle East, Vietnam and many others.

"Every other row of U.S. soybeans is exported, so it is imperative to build and retain strong relationships with our international customers," says Jim Call, soybean farmer from Minnesota and United Soybean Board (USB) chairman. "The Global Trade Exchange gives U.S. soybean farmers a great opportunity to meet face to face with these valuable customers and prospective buyers as they commit to buying millions of bushels of our soybeans."

International representatives committed to buy $2.8 billion worth of U.S. soy during last year's U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa.

In the most recent marketing year, U.S. soybean farmers exported more than 1.7 billion bushels of U.S. soy to customer beyond our borders. The value of these exports set a record of more than $28 billion.

The event, which is co-sponsored by USB, the American Soybean Association (ASA), the checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Midwest Shippers Association, continues through Thursday, Sept. 18. Besides meeting with U.S. soy farmer-leaders, attendees will also attend a variety of presentations to learn about the sustainability and quality of U.S. soybeans.

"This event offers a taste of American ag that they don't get every day," Call says. "This experience should give them a better understanding of the pride we take in our farms and product and how U.S. soybeans will benefit them for the long haul. Choosing U.S. soy is a win-win situation for all of us."

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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19 Sep 2014

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief to Highlight Conservation Projects to be Announced on Monday by Secretary Vilsack

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2014 - TODAY, Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller will host an embargoed media conference call from Washington to discuss conservation projects to be announced later in the day by Secretary Tom Vilsack. Chief Weller's comments will be embargoed until after the Secretary's announcement. The embargo will lift at 3 p.m. Eastern time. The projects will help develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate innovation in conservation of natural resources.

States receiving funding include :

Ala., Alaska, Miss., Wis., Calif., S.C., Minn., Ariz., Fla., Kan., La., Iowa, Ill., Neb., Ohio, N.C., Ga., Wash., Okla., Texas, Ind., Ark., Mo., N.Y., N.D., Penn., Tenn., Hawaii, Idaho, Mont., Vt., Utah, Va., W.Va., Colo., Ore., and also the District of Columbia.

The 2014 Farm Bill is our country's biggest investment in land and water conservation and has been called the most significant conservation legislation in generations. Voluntary partnerships between agricultural and conservation groups help farmers conserve soil health, protect water quality, and restore wildlife habitat.

12 Sep 2014

Corn Spots: Study Finds Important Genes in Defense Response

By Mick Kulikowski

When corn plants come under attack from a pathogen, they sometimes respond by killing their own cells near the site of the attack, committing "cell suicide" to thwart further damage from the attacker. This cell sacrifice can cause very small, often microscopic, spots or lesions on the plant.

But up until now it's been difficult to understand how the plant regulates this "spotty" defense mechanism because the response is so quick and localized.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified a number of candidate genes and cellular processes that appear to control this so-called hypersensitive defense response (HR) in corn. The findings, which appear in PLOS Genetics, could help researchers build better defense responses in corn and other plants; HR is thought to occur in all higher-order plants, including all trees and crop plants, and is normally a tightly regulated response.

The 44 candidate genes appear to be involved in defense response, programmed cell death, cell wall modification and a few other responses linked to resisting attack,  says Dr. Peter Balint-Kurti, the paper's corresponding author and a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) professor who works in NC State's plant pathology and crop science departments.

To arrive at the finding, the NC State researchers joined researchers from Purdue University in examining more than 3,300 maize plants that contained a similar mutation: They all had exaggerated HR because one particular resistance gene, Rp1-D21, doesn't turn off.

"It's similar to a human having an auto-immune response that never stops," Balint-Kurti says. "This mutation causes a corn plant to inappropriately trigger this hypersensitive defense response, causing spots on the corn plant as well as stunted growth."

The researchers examined the entire corn gene blueprint - some 26.5 million points in the 2 to 3 billion base pair genome - to find the genes most closely associated with HR. Balint-Kurti said the top candidates made sense, as they mostly appear to be linked to defense or disease resistance.

"All of the processes associated with the top candidate genes have been previously associated with HR," Balint-Kurti said. "Hopefully this work provides an opening to really characterize this important defense response and learn more about it in other plants."

USDA plant geneticist and breeder Jim Holland co-authored the paper along with first authors Bode Olukolu and Guan Feng Wang, who are post-doctoral researchers at NC State. Vijay Vontimitta, a post-doctoral researcher at Purdue working in a group headed by Guri Johal, is also a first author.

The research was funded by USDA, the National Science Foundation, NC State and Purdue University.

- kulikowski -

Note: An abstract of the paper follows.

"Multivariate Analysis of Maize Disease Resistance Suggests a Pleiotropic Genetic Basis and Implicates a Glutathione S-transferase Gene"

Authors: Bode A. Olukolu, Guan Feng Wang, Adisu Negeri, Dahlia Nielsen, James Holland and Peter Balint-Kurti, North Carolina State University; Vijay Vontimitta, Bala Venkata, Sandeep Marla, Jiabing Ji, Emma Gachomo, Kevin Chu and Gurmukh Johal, Purdue University; Jacqueline Benson, Rebecca Nelson and Peter Bradbury, Cornell University

Published: Aug. 28, 2014, in PLOS Genetics

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004562

Abstract: Much remains unknown of molecular events controlling the plant hypersensitive defense response (HR), a rapid localized cell death that limits pathogen spread and is mediated by resistance (R-) genes. Genetic control of the HR is hard to quantify due to its microscopic and rapid nature. Natural modifiers of the ectopic HR phenotype induced by an aberrant auto-active R-gene (Rp1-D21), were mapped in a population of 3,381 recombinant inbred lines from the maize nested association mapping population. Joint linkage analysis was conducted to identify 32 additive but no epistatic quantitative trait loci (QTL) using a linkage map based on more than 7000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genome-wide association (GWA) analysis of 26.5 million SNPs was conducted after adjusting for background QTL. GWA identified associated SNPs that colocalized with 44 candidate genes. Thirty-six of these genes colocalized within 23 of the 32 QTL identified by joint linkage analysis. The candidate genes included genes predicted to be in involved programmed cell death, defense response, ubiquitination, redox homeostasis, autophagy, calcium signalling, lignin biosynthesis and cell wall modification. Twelve of the candidate genes showed significant differential expression between isogenic lines differing for the presence of Rp1-D21. Low but significant correlations between HR-related traits and several previously-measured disease resistance traits suggested that the genetic control of these traits was substantially, though not entirely, independent. This study provides the first system-wide analysis of natural variation that modulates the HR response in plants.

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