Summary of each Caucus priorities

May 16, 2011

C-FAR Pork-Beef-Dairy Caucus

The caucus members identified three broad areas to submit to the C-FAR board for consideration: Environmental Management, Animal Nutrition, and Animal Health and Welfare. Several subpoints were identified to provide additional insight into the current thinking of the caucus.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

• capitalizing on the "greener" dictate from consumers and regulators
• waste management and improving manure's value as a nutrient
• odor control from livestock operations
• negative impact to animal agriculture from over regulation

ANIMAL NUTRITION

• co-product utilization and development
• improving feed efficiency of livestock though technology , facilities, and management
• precision feeding with emphasis on adding feeds and mixing times in TMR

ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

• animal health, reproduction, vaccine availability and use
• maintaining business continuity in the event of a disaster.
• improving on-farm biosecurity
  

2011 C-FAR Soybean Caucus Research Topics
  
Facilitate research that will accelerate an increased yield trend.  The growing global population will need ever- expanding sources of proteins as their economic outlooks improve.  Illinois soybean research can lead the way as it develops new varieties and agronomic practices with greater yield potential.
 
Increase the value of soybean meal in livestock feed.  Animal agriculture provides the state of Illinois with many revenue streams.  Beef, swine, poultry and aquaculture industries utilize the excellent source of proteins found in soybean meal. Improved soybean varieties can increase the efficiency of nutrition absorption, the quality of each meat product and the profitability to Illinois’ production animal agriculture.
 
Promote soy products that can contribute to better human health.  The soy industry produces a variety of healthy food options for human consumption around the world.  Soy proteins and soy oils, for instance, have greatly improved the lives of many individuals.  Research is still needed to improve the healthy properties of soy, so Illinois can meet the increased needs of the global market.
 
2011 C-FAR Specialty Crops-Wheat Allied Industries Caucus

1. Developing and promoting aquaculture to meet consumer demands
   Priority areas could be identified as:
• research utilizing specialty crops to identify sources of oils
• minimize reliance on marine resources
• maximize the nutritional value of human consumption
  
  
2. Promotion and Development of Wheat as a Consistent High Quality Crop in Illinois
   and Expanding Double Cropping Opportunities
• Improve the yield and quality of wheat through breeding and management.
• Expand double cropping opportunities
• Expanding our knowledge of the economics of having wheat in rotations with corn and soybeans
  
  
3. Expanding Production and Distribution of Local Foods in Illinois
   
   • Identify crop varieties best suited to geographic locations, markets, and production systems.
   • Develop and teach best management practices for high-tunnel systems to extend production seasons.
   • Evaluate new products and practices for pest management in conventional and organic systems.
   • Make 1- to 3-acre tracts of land available for 2 to 3 years for “incubation” of small farm enterprises.
   • Establish demonstration sites for urban farming.
   • Evaluate and teach postharvest storage and transport practices feasible for small farms.
   • Deliver training on food safety plans and certification, business planning, and internet-assisted marketing (MarketMaker).
   • Train community college instructors and vocational agriculture and FFA teachers/leaders in specialty crop production, handling, processing, and marketing.
   • Use our campus farms to better train undergraduate students in food production and demonstrate the direct-market potential for supplying institutional dining services.
     

2011 C-FAR Corn Caucus Priorities

1. Increase corn yields per year by 3.0 bushels/acre.
2. Increase corn usage by 10% by 2016.
3. Reduce the inputs (fertilizer and chemical) needed to produce a bushel of corn on average by 10% by 2016.
4. Increase our transportation capacity and efficiency to handle an additional 15% tonnage of grain by 2016.
5. Reduce the carbon footprint of corn starch ethanol to 50% of gasoline by 2016 through new process technologies and efficiencies.
6. Reduce agriculture’s impact in water of nitrogen by 10% and phosphorus by 5% by 2016.
7. Increase the inclusion of DDGS in pork to 35% on average for all animals by 2016.
8. Reduce the costs of converting corn kernel fiber to ethanol to $3.00 per gallon by 2016.
9. Identify nitrogen fertilization systems that will simultaneously reduce N2O emissions to the atmosphere and nitrates in water supplies by __% per bushel, while still minimizing production costs.
10. Develop two new industrial products from the corn starch fermentation process by 2016.
11. Increase the organic matter and/or health of tillable soil by 10% by 2016.