California Ag Network

Category: Dairy Industry

  • California Dairy Producers Recognized at Sealpro® Forage Contest

    “We had exactly 100 entries – 32 more than last year – in the second annual Sealpro® Forage Contest. Lab results of three categories were placed by an independent nutrition consultant: Alfalfa Haylage, Winter Forage, and Corn Silage. Complete contest results were based 60% on the Rock River Laboratory, Inc. complete lab analysis, 30% on actual sample inspection, and 10% on drive over shape, face management, and safety from a photo of the pile or bunker the sample was taken from.

    “Our goal for the contest was to engage everyone through sight, smell, touch, and science,” said Connie Kuber, Connor Agriscience. “The contest normally would be held at the World Ag Expo, but with no show this year, we conducted it virtually. There is always something new to learn about forage, no matter how long you’ve been making it. Every year Mother Nature presents a different harvest scenario. The better prepared we are to meet that challenge through planning, communicating with our harvest crews, and keeping an eye on harvest method, the more dry matter and nutrients we’ll have. Our winners are great examples of that kind of care and attention to detail.”

    Contest results follow. Winners will receive a plaque and prize money in each category: First place $500, Second place $250, Third place $100.

    ALFALFA HAYLAGE

    First place: Chowchilla South Dairy, Chowchilla, CA

    Second place: John DeGroot and Sons Dairy, Fresno, CA

    Third place: Chowchilla North Dairy, Chowchilla, CA

    WINTER FORAGE

    First place: Milk Made Dairy, Ballico, CA

    Second place: Cloverdale Dairy, Hanford, CA

    Third place: Flint Dairy, Hanford, CA

    CORN SILAGE

    First place: Scheenstra Dairy, Tipton, CA

    Second place: Crossview Dairy, Oakdale, CA

    Third place: Jacobus DeGroot Dairy #1,Visalia, CA

    The Sealpro® YOU be the Judge Contest was also held virtually. Entrants placed four corn silage samples. Twenty-five entries competed for prize money at each level: First place $250, Second place $100, Third and Fourth place $50.

    FFA CHAPTER TEAM

    First place: Ripon Christian FFA, Ripon, CA

    COLLEGIATE TEAM

    First place: Iowa State CVM 2023 Bovine Doctors, Ames, IA

    Second place: Miner Institute, Chazy, NY

    INDIVIDUAL

    First place: Ashlee Cormier, Berwick, ME

    Second place: Laurie Winkelman, Appleton,WI

    Third place: Charlie Leech, Lexington,VA

    Fourth place: Tony Lopes, Gustine, CA

  • Feeding Cattle Seaweed Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions 82 Percent

    A bit of seaweed in cattle feed could reduce methane emissions from beef cattle as much as 82 percent, according to new findings from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The results, published today (March 17) in the journal PLOS ONE, could pave the way for the sustainable production of livestock throughout the world.

    “We now have sound evidence that seaweed in cattle diet is effective at reducing greenhouse gases and that the efficacy does not diminish over time,” said Ermias Kebreab, professor and Sesnon Endowed Chair of the Department of Animal Science and director of the World Food Center. Kebreab conducted the study along with his Ph.D. graduate student Breanna Roque.

    “This could help farmers sustainably produce the beef and dairy products we need to feed the world,” Roque added.

    Over the course of five months last summer, Kebreab and Roque added scant amounts of seaweed to the diet of 21 beef cattle and tracked their weight gain and methane emissions. Cattle that consumed doses of about 80 grams (3 ounces) of seaweed gained as much weight as their herd mates while burping out 82 percent less methane into the atmosphere. Kebreab and Roque are building on their earlier work with dairy cattle, which was the world’s first experiment reported that used seaweed in cattle.

    An open-air contraption measures the methane in the cows’ breath as they eat a treat. UC Davis Professor Ermias Kebreab’s research has found a small amount of seaweed fed to dairy cows can reduce methane emissions (Photo: Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis).

    Less Gassy, More Sustainable

    Greenhouse gases are a major cause of climate change, and methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Agriculture is responsible for 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and half of those come from cows and other ruminant animals that belch methane and other gases throughout the day as they digest forages like grass and hay.

    Since cattle are the top agricultural source of greenhouse gases, many have suggested people eat less meat to help address climate change. Kebreab looks to cattle nutrition instead.

    “Only a tiny fraction of the earth is fit for crop production,” Kebreab explained. “Much more land is suitable only for grazing, so livestock plays a vital role in feeding the 10 billion people who will soon inhabit the planet. Since much of livestock’s methane emissions come from the animal itself, nutrition plays a big role in finding solutions.”

    In 2018, Kebreab and Roque were able to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by over 50 percent by supplementing their diet with seaweed for two weeks. The seaweed inhibits an enzyme in the cow’s digestive system that contributes to methane production.

    In the new study, Kebreab and Roque tested whether those reductions were sustainable over time by feeding cows a touch of seaweed every day for five months, from the time they were young on the range through their later days on the feed lot.

    Four times a day, the cows ate a snack from an open-air contraption that measured the methane in their breath. The results were clear. Cattle that consumed seaweed emitted much less methane, and there was no drop-off in efficacy over time.

    This red seaweed, asparagopsis taxiformis, was mixed with the steer’s normal feed in order to reduce methane emissions from the cattle (Timothy McConville/UC Davis).

    Next Steps

    Results from a taste-test panel found no differences in the flavor of the beef from seaweed-fed steers compared with a control group. Similar tests with dairy cattle showed that seaweed had no impact on the taste of milk.

    Also, scientists are studying ways to farm the type of seaweed — Asparagopsis taxiformis — that Kebreab’s team used in the tests. There is not enough of it in the wild for broad application.

    This steer at the UC Davis beef barn was fed a small amount of seaweed with his feed to reduce methane emissions (Breanna Roque/UC Davis).

    Another challenge: How do ranchers provide seaweed supplements to grazing cattle on the open range? That’s the subject of Kebreab’s next study.

    Kebreab and Roque collaborated with a federal scientific agency in Australia called the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, James Cook University in Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Blue Ocean Barns, a startup company that sources, processes, markets and certifies seaweed-based additives to cattle feed. Kebreab is a scientific adviser to Blue Ocean Barns.

    “There is more work to be done, but we are very encouraged by these results,” Roque said. “We now have a clear answer to the question of whether seaweed supplements can sustainably reduce livestock methane emissions and its long term effectiveness.”

    Support for the research comes from Blue Ocean Barns, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Grantham Foundation. — By Diane Nelson, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, UC Davis

  • Growers Refine Date Palm Irrigation with UCANR Research

    California’s $86 million date industry produces more than half of the nation’s dates. Most of the fruit is grown in the arid Coachella Valley. Despite efforts by growers to conserve water, data was lacking on date palms’ actual water use to refine the best irrigation management for the crop until a recent research project led by Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial and Riverside counties.

    New research provides data California date growers need to apply a more precise amount of irrigation water to meet the trees’ needs to produce a healthy crop (photo by Ali Montazar).

    “California dates are grown in the hottest and most arid climate in North America and require substantial amounts of water in order to bring a successful crop to fruition,” Albert Keck, Coachella Valley date grower and chairman of the California Date Commission, wrote in a letter of support for this project. “In addition, there is scant modern research specifically and technically focused on growing dates in North America.”

    Montazar said there is a lack of irrigation management information on date palms worldwide.

    “The information developed in this study is expected to have a worldwide impact,” he said.

    To determine the evapotranspiration rate and crop coefficients for California date palms, Montazar teamed up with scientists at UC Davis, California Department of Water Resources, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and USDA Salinity Laboratory.

    The experiment was carried out in six date orchards in the Coachella and Imperial valleys. The sites represent various soil types and conditions, irrigation management practices, canopy characteristics, and the most common date cultivars in the region.

    “The findings of the project indicate that there is considerable variability in date palm consumptive water use, both spatially and temporally,” Montazar said. In other words, the amount of water the trees use varies considerably depending on each site’s growing conditions.

    He estimated the water needs for date palms planted in different soil types in the low desert region.

    “Growers will be able to use the science-based information and tools developed by this project to determine their date palm water needs and optimize the efficiency of water and fertilizer use in their groves,” Montazar said.

    Fruit bags protect date from insect damage and dust and prevent the fruit from falling to the ground (photo by Ali Montazar).

    The peer-reviewed article “Determination of Actual Evapotranspiration and Crop Coefficients of California Date Palms Using the Residual of Energy Balance Approach” is published in the journal MDPI Waterat https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/8/2253.

    “With a large quantity of new date plantings in the region, coupled with increasingly limited water resources in the Colorado River Basin Watershed, the knowledge anticipated to be developed by this research project has the potential to yield large dividends through not only improved water use efficiency, but also best management practices and crop quality,” said Keck of the California Date Commission.

    Although the research focused on Coachella Valley dates, Montazar said the results are likely to be useful to growers who have orchards with similar varieties, irrigation practices, and canopy and soil features in other locations.

    Montazar’s co-authors are Robert Krueger of the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates; Dennis Corwin of USDA-ARS U.S. Salinity Laboratory; Alireza Pourreza UC Cooperative Extension specialist based at UC Davis Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering; Cayle Little of California Department of Water Resources; Sonia Rios, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Riverside County; and Richard L. Snyder UC Cooperative Extension specialist emeritus in the UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources.

    The date palm irrigation project was funded by the CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. — By Pamela Kan-Rice, UCANR

  • Dairy Producer Diversifies and Innovates with Beef Subscription Company

    Tony P. Lopes is a 4th generation dairyman and farmer, following in his family’s footsteps of producing food while caring for their land and cattle. In addition to raising sustainiBeef’s Angus Crossbred steers, the Lopes family farm also produces Real California Milk, Corn, Oats, and Alfalfa. Ever since the family’s patriarch Manuel immigrated from the Azores Islands in search of work, the Lopes family has been dedicated to dairying and farming as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

    “My grandparents and parents have been tremendous examples for me to emulate. Everything I know about the value of hard work, and how to care for the cows and the land, came as a result of watching and learning from them.”

    With experience in the dairy side of the family business, Tony decided to take his livestock knowledge and the skills he had learned over the years and diversify into beef operations. sustainiBeef is proud to provide locally-raised, harvested, processed, and shipped beef subscription boxes throughout the United States.

    “I believe that we all have a role to play in making our world a sustainable one. It is incredibly important for people within the food industry to start acknowledging that our consumers are demanding more sustainable practices and a food industry that more closely aligns with their values,” says Lopes. “When launching sustainiBeef, my primary goal was to share this message to not only businesses within this industry, but to consumers as well.”

    Over the last 4 generations a lot has changed for the Lopes Family Farm, but Tony’s commitment to environmental stewardship and animal welfare has never faltered. Today, he works daily alongside his parents Paul and Darlene, and siblings Alexandria, Selina, and Joseph, to produce wholesome, nutritious food for the world.

    Built around the simple idea of making a difference in the world, sustainiBeef is proud to practice environmental stewardship, while effectively producing high-quality, direct-to-your-doorstep beef that delivers all the savory, healthy proteins and fats, with 50% lower carbon footprint emissions, according to supply-chain research conducted at UC Davis.

    “By combining elite Angus genetics with our highly-efficient Holstein cowherd, we can create a high-performance crossbred steer with a tremendously lower net carbon footprint. Our cattle can achieve the same level of marbling and tenderness that consumers have come to expect from Angus beef, but are much more carbon-efficient when it comes to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) climate research. While traditional cow calf operations play a critical role in rangeland management and the carbon cycle, many of our consumers are demanding a lower net emission alternative. sustainiBeef achieves that.”

    sustainiBeef’s core value is sustainability. Not only does sustainiBeef practice environmental stewardship, but they also ship their beef in 100% recycled boxes with biodegradable box insulators. sustainiBeef is dedicated to fighting the unprecedented food waste issue by providing consumers with frozen beef, which means never having to throw out fresh beef. sustainiBeef can be easily thawed and cooked whenever the consumer is ready for it. Until then, all sustainiBeef is safely preserved in the freezer. The family dairy and sustainiBeef herd share over 2,000 acres of open farmland with a vibrant ecosystem of local wildlife, and pay their employees a progressive living wage. Tony’s focus is on farming the r​ight​ way – for his consumers, community, and the world.

    “It is my hope to one day be able to pass down the same legacy of environmental stewardship to my future sons or daughters, the same way it was passed down to me,” Lopes says. “My goal is for sustainiBeef to usher in a new era of beef consumption for climate-conscious consumers.”

  • Annual CDFA Crop Report Shows Dairy on Top

    In 2019, California’s farms and ranches received more than $50 billion in cash receipts for their output. This represents a slight increase over reported cash receipts compared to the previous year.

    California agricultural exports totaled $21.7 billion, an increase of 3 percent from 2018.  Top commodities for export included almonds, pistachios, dairy and dairy products, wine and walnuts. California’s agricultural export statistics are produced by the University of California, Davis, Agricultural Issues Center.

    California organic product sales totaled more than $10.4 billion in 2019, an increase of 3.5 percent from the prior year.  Organic production encompasses over 2.5 million acres in the state and California is the only state in the U.S. with a USDA National Organic Program.

    California’s agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. Over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California. California’s top-10 valued commodities for the 2019 crop year are:

    • Dairy Products, Milk— $7.34 billion
    • Almonds — $6.09 billion
    • Grapes — $5.41 billion
    • Cattle and Calves — $3.06 billion
    • Strawberries — $2.22 billion
    • Pistachios — $1.94 billion
    • Lettuce — $1.82 billion
    • Walnuts — $1.29 billion
    • Floriculture — $1.22 billion
    • Tomatoes — $1.17 billion


    Read the full Report HERE

    Note: The 2019 Crop Year Report was assembled in late 2020.

  • CA Dairy Districts Seek Ambassadors to Serve as 2021 Dairy Princesses

    Each year, a special group of young women are selected to represent the state’s dairy farm families who contribute to making California number one for milk production in the U.S. These Dairy Princess ambassadors and alternates are selected during events at Districts throughout the state, where they showcase speaking skills, knowledge of dairy and desire to represent the industry during the one-year term. The 2021 contests kick off in April and will run through June.

    California Dairy Princesses serve as industry advocates in their home district and throughout California, supporting the reputation of milk and dairy products through appearances at various events. Dairy Princesses and alternates participate in a mandatory orientation/training where they receive professional development coaching.

    The California Dairy Princess Program has been in effect since 1958. Currently eight districts hold local contests, which cover 48 counties in the state of California. The California Dairy Princess contest is supported by California dairy producers through the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). Information and application forms can be accessed at https://www.californiadairypressroom.com/ca-dairy-princesses.  Additional questions can be directed to Tiffany Nielsen, California Dairy Princess Director, at dairyprincess@cmab.net.

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Real California dairy products can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms by California dairy farm families.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB is celebrating 50 years of promoting California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • FARM Program 2020 Year in Review

    The National Dairy FARM Program (FARM) has published its 2020 Year in Review. Serving as the annual summary of the achievements and program developments of the FARM Program, the Year in Review showcases successes and challenges during a year of change and uncertainty.

    “As the industry shifted with the pandemic, we adapted the program to fit farmer’s and program participant’s needs,” says Emily Yeiser Stepp, vice president for the FARM Program at the National Milk Producers Federation, which administers FARM. “We were still able to provide value, develop helpful resources and provide assurances of on-farm social responsibility for the dairy supply chain despite the rollercoaster of 2020.”

    The Year in Review details the resources and tools developed across all program areas to help farmers become more fully engaged with the program. It also shows how aspects of FARM were brought into a virtual environment. Events like the annual Evaluator Conference, monthly Evaluator Engagement Hours and the program’s Quick Convosseries gave FARM staff the ability to connect with stakeholders online as 2020 presented unrivaled challenges.

    The Review also summarizes changes made to the FARM Program Areas in 2020. FARM Animal Care Version 4 went into effect on January 1 with updates supporting closer farmer-veterinarian relationships, requiring continuing education for all employees and adding a new standard for pain management when disbudding animals. FARM also launched Version 2 of the Environmental Stewardship program which includes updated crop emissions factors, a breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions by gas type, a metric on the use of nutrient management plans, and the ability to capture the benefits of solid-liquid separation, and solar and wind energy. Additionally, Version 1 of the Workforce Development evaluation became available and focuses on human resources and safety best practices. It provides assurances to the supply chain and helps farmers identify what will be most useful to implement within their operation and track improvement over time.

    Download the 2020 Year in Review here. For a printed copy, please contact dairyfarm@nmpf.org

    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

    Created by the National Milk Producers Federation in partnership with Dairy Management Inc, the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) works with all U.S. dairy farmers, co-ops and processors, to demonstrate to dairy customers and consumers that the dairy industry is taking the very best care of cows and the environment, producing safe, wholesome milk and adhering to the highest standards of workforce development.

    View online

  • U.S. Dairy Exports Volume Sets All-Time High Mark in 2020

    Despite significant disruptions in trade throughout 2020, the United States exported nearly 2.4 million metric tons of dairy goods last year–a record-setting mark, according to data released today by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) issued the following statement:

    “Last year was yet another banner year for U.S. dairy exports, a testament to the resilience, innovation, and growth of the U.S. dairy industry. While logistical issues challenged the industry in 2020 and some continue today, U.S. dairy exports maintained an accelerated pace throughout the year. Export volumes were boosted by 10 percent over 2019, setting an all-time record for export volumes in one year and pushing export values to more than $6 billion for the first time since 2014.

    “A look at the United States’ top markets shows positive trends with trading partners new and old. Export volumes and value are up over 2019 levels in 9 of our top 10 markets. Some Asian markets—China, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia—saw increases between 40-50% in value over 2019, with correlating increases in volume to those markets. In fact, the few countries in the top 20 export markets that did decline by volume all have known tariff and non-tariff barriers in place, on which IDFA has been advocating with our U.S. government colleagues.

    “Two decades ago, U.S. dairy was almost completely a domestic market. But the past 20 years have been transformational. During that time, U.S. dairy exports increased 5X, and the United States became the world’s third-largest dairy product exporter. Now, we export approximately 15% of U.S. milk production.

    “With more than 95 percent of potential customers living outside the United States, expanding access to international markets is essential for the future America’s dairy industry. We cannot achieve this growth alone—we need the Administration’s support and the support of our elected officials to continue growth in U.S. dairy exports.”

    Additional Background on USDA’s Export Data Release

    USDA today released U.S. agricultural export data for December 2020, completing the full picture for exports in 2020. In total, dairy exports were $6,452,903,000, up 9% from 2019. Here are the top five markets and products:

    Top 5 markets (value):

    • Mexico: $1,415,827,000 – down 8% from 2019
    • Canada: $675,993,000 – up 1% from 2019
    • China: $539,059,000 – up 45% from 2019
    • Philippines: $409,855,000 – up 50% from 2019
    • S. Korea: $370,481,000 – up 12% from 2019

    Top 5 products (value):

    • Milk powder, <1.5% fat (0402.10): $2,011,058,000 – up 22% from 2019
    • Fresh cheeses (0406.10), cheese all kinds (0406.20), and cheeses mixed (0406.90): $1,304,763,000 total – down 2% and up 21% and 5% from 2019, respectively
    • Milk albumin, including concentrates of whey proteins (3502.20): $355,917,000 – up 6% from 2019
    • Lactose (1702.11): $317,326,000 – up 10% from 2019
    • Infant formula (1901.10): $292,813,000 – down 6% from 2019

  • CDFA Seeks Public Comments on New Alternative Manure Management Program Practices

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) is seeking public comments on recommendations for proposed new manure management practices to be potentially included in its Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP).

    Proposals for new practices were accepted through a Request for Proposals (RFP) between July 6, 2020 and September 4, 2020. There were several important requirements needed to submit a manure management practice for consideration in AMMP.  Submitted proposals were reviewed by subject matter experts within CDFA, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the AMMP Technical Advisory Committee. Recommendations for practices for potential inclusion under AMMP are now available for public comments through March 1, 2021. Comments must be submitted via email to cdfa.oefi_ammp_tech@cdfa.ca.gov by 5 p.m. PT on March 1, 2021.

    To further assist those interested in submitting public comments, CDFA OEFI staff will provide information regarding the process and requirements, and answer stakeholder questions in a webinar workshop on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 from 10 a.m. to noon (PT). Registration information for the workshop is available on the AMMP webpage: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/.

    Interested stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

    AMMP is part of California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. CCI projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the CCI website.

  • Wheat Resistant to Devastating Rust Fungal Diseases

    Nature Biotechnology has published research—partially funded by The 2Blades Foundation—on the development of a new wheat variety that shows exceptional resistance to wheat stem rust.

    Stem rust is among the world’s most devastating plant diseases, with records of stem rust pandemics dating back over 2000 years. The stem rust pathogen Puccinia graminis is capable of completely destroying a crop of wheat in a matter of weeks.

    The most effective and environmentally benign way to control wheat rust is through the use of genetic resistance. The recurring threat to the wheat crop had been managed successfully in the 1960s through Norman Borlaug’s breeding of the wheat varieties introduced in the Green Revolution. But rust pathogen races have now evolved to overcome that resistance and once again the disease threatens harvests.

    Resistance genes “stacked” to ensure durable resistance to wheat stem rust disease

    The research team developing the new resistance to wheat rust was led by Dr. Mick Ayliffe at the Canberra laboratories of Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, who used genetic technologies to build and insert a “stack” of five rust resistance genes into a single location in the genome of a common wheat variety. The resulting new wheat variety shows exceptional resistance to stem rust.

    The result represents an advance over conventional wheat breeding methods where the development of an equivalent disease-resistant wheat would require a long succession of crosses, and the resulting resistance could be lost in subsequent crosses.

    In this new approach individual resistance genes are assembled rapidly into a single stack and introduced into a chosen wheat line. This not only eliminates time-consuming breeding efforts, it also ensures that the desirable trait (determined by multiple genes) will not be lost in subsequent breeding. This study targeted wheat stem rust, but the same technology is being used to create durable resistance for wheat stripe and leaf rust diseases which also attack wheat crops.

    In future, gene stacks could be prepared with genome-editing tools to develop improved crops that may be considered non-GM (non-genetically modified) in some countries, such as the U.S.

    In addition to the CSIRO group, the international consortium working on this program has included researchers from University of Minnesota, Aarhus University, The John Innes Centre in the UK, USDA, and Xinjiang University.

    Research could help address critical global food security challenges

    Wheat provides roughly 20 percent of calories and protein for human nutrition worldwide and is the third largest crop grown in the United States.

    The most effective and environmentally sound way to defend against wheat rust diseases is through the deployment of resistance genes in wheat varieties. This is particularly important in developing countries where the fungicides used to combat rust disease may be expensive or unavailable.

    International adoption of rust-resistant wheat varieties is essential since rust fungi produce trillions of spores that can be carried by winds for thousands of miles—even across oceans—thus infecting vulnerable wheat crops.

    Dr Ayliffe’s research was supported The 2Blades Foundation’s continuing program on the control of wheat diseases which was started in 2008.

    The 2Blades Foundation, based in Evanston, Illinois, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the discovery, advancement, and delivery of durable disease resistance in crops. 2Blades establishes and manages development programs addressing significant unsolved crop disease problems in collaboration with leading research institutions around the world and at the 2Blades Group in The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK.