Janie Rice Papers - Accession 37 - M12 (22)

The Janie Rice Papers consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, letters of appreciation, and certificates of awards concerning her career as a teacher at the Winthrop Training School, her work with the Baptist Church in Chester, SC and her establishment of a Janie Carroll Rice scholarship at Winthrop.

RP92-217 #2 Producer Marketing Mangement: Deferred Pricing Alternatives for Grain

Grain producers must make marketing decisions every day. First they must decide whether to price or hold grain. If they decide to price grain, they must then choose the most appropriate method of pricing: cash sale, forward contract, or hedging. If they decide to hold grain (not to price), they must choose the most appropriate method of retaining ownership. This fact sheet presents some guidelines to help producers choose the least costly method of owning grain or speculating on price level changes.

RP92-217 No. 19 Cost of Grain Storage

Grain marketing decisions are among the toughest the farm owner/operator or manager must make. Grain producers store grain to speculate on receiving higher prices, earn a return above storage costs, or to take advantage of government programs. Prices must increase enough to cover the additional costs, or forward contract prices must exceed current prices by more than the cost of storage in order to justify forward pricing. The gain in prices received can come from both changes in price level and changes in basis. This research publication discusses all the areas of the cost of grain storage.

Grain Storage Costs and Rental Rates

Trends in Grain Storage - Commercial grain storage eliminates the need to monitor grain conditions and, hence, offers the peace of mind that unsold grain will remain in condition. There may be a cost trade-off between this reduced storage risk and the cost of on-farm storage.

AGRICULTURAL BIRD PROBLEMS IN THE SOUTHEAST

Our chairman has wisely asked that we not spend all of our time here telling each other about our bird problems. In the Southeast, our difficulties with blackbirds are based upon the same bird habits that cause trouble elsewhere: they flock, they roost and they eat, generally taking advantage of the readily available handouts that today's agricul¬tural practices provide. Those of us on the receiving end of these de¬predations of course think that damage in our own particular area must be far the worst, anywhere. Because of the location of our meeting place today, perhaps it is worthwhile to point out that a report prepared by our Bureau's Washington office this year outlined the problem of blackbird damage to corn in the Middle Atlantic States, the Great Lakes Region and in Florida, and then followed with this statement--"An equally serious problem occurs in rice and grain sorghum fields of Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana." The report also men¬tions that the largest winter concentrations of blackbirds are found in the lower Mississippi Valley. Our 1963-64 blackbird-starling survey showed 43 principal roosts totaling approximately 100 million of these birds in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. We have our own birds during the summer plus the "tourist" birds from up here and elsewhere during the winter, and all of these birds must eat, so suffice it to say that we, too, have some bird problems in the Southeast. I'm sure you're more interested in what we're doing about them. To keep this in perspective also, please bear in mind that against the magnitude of these problems, our blackbird control research staff at Gainesville consists of 3 biologists, 1 biochemist and one technician. And unfortunately, none of us happens to be a miracle worker. I think, though, we have made great progress toward solving the bird problems in the Southeast for the man-hours that have been expended in this re¬search. My only suggestion to those who are impatient about not having more answers is that they examine the budget that has been set up for this work. Only then could we intelligently discuss what might be expected as a reasonable rate of research progress. When I think about what we have accomplished in a short span of time, with very small expenditure, I can assure you that I am very proud of our small research crew at Gainesville--and I say this quite sincerely. At the Gainesville station, we work under two general research approaches to the bird damage problem. These projects have been assigned to us. The first is research on management of birds, particularly blackbirds and starlings destructive to crops or in feedlots, and, secondly, the development and the adaptation of those chemical compounds found to be toxic to birds but relatively safe to mammals. These approaches both require laboratory and field work that is further subdivided into several specific research projects. Without describing the details of these now, I want to mention some of our recent results. From the results, I'm sure you will gather the general objectives and some of the procedures used.

Mid- to late-Holocene paleoceanographic changes on the southeastern Brazilian shelf based on grain size records

; High-resolution grain size analyses of three AMS (14)C-dated cores from the Southeastern Brazilian shelf provide a detailed record of mid- to late-Holocene environmental changes in the Southwestern Atlantic Margin. The cores exhibit millennial variability that we associate with the previously described southward shift of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) average latitudinal position over the South American continent during the Holocene climatic maximum. This generated changes in the wind-driven current system of the SW Atlantic margin and modified the grain size characteristics of the sediments deposited there. Centennial variations in the grain size are associated with a previously described late-Holocene enhancement of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) amplitude, which led to stronger NNE trade winds off eastern Brazil, favouring SW transport of sediments from the Paraiba do Sul River. This is recorded in a core from off Cabo Frio as a coarsening trend from 3000 cal. BP onwards. The ENSO enhancement also caused changes in precipitation and wind pattern in southern Brazil, allowing high discharge events and northward extensions of the low-saline water plume from Rio de la Plata. We propose that this resulted in a net increase in northward alongshore transport of fine sediments, seen as a prominent fine-shift at 2000 cal. BP in a core from similar to 24 degrees S on the Brazilian shelf. Wavelet-and spectral analysis of the sortable silt records show a significant similar to 1000-yr periodicity, which we attribute to solar forcing. If correct, this is one of the first indications of solar forcing of this timescale on the Southwestern Atlantic margin.

Grain size effect on the structural and dielectric properties of Pb0.85La0.15TiO3 ferroelectric ceramic compound

This paper presents a study of the influence of particle size on the structural and dielectric properties of Pb0.85La0.15TiO3 (PLT15) ferroelectric ceramic samples. The samples were prepared with average grain size of 1.69 +/- 0.08 mu m and 146 +/- 8 nm using, respectively, conventional and spark plasma sintering techniques. A decrease in the tetragonality degree as the crystallite size decreased was explained by an internal stress caused by the existence of a large amount of grain boundaries. The local structure exhibited no significant modification and the dielectric measurements showed a diffuse phase transition and a reduction in the permittivity magnitude at T-m as the average grain size decreased. The nanostructured ceramic sample prepared at a relatively lower temperature and sintering time presented a dielectric constant value of approximately 2000 at room temperature. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

PHOSPHITE AS PHOSPHORUS SOURCE TO GRAIN YIELD OF COMMON BEAN PLANTS GROWN IN SOILS UNDER LOW OR ADEQUATE PHOSPHATE AVAILABILITY

The effects of foliar and soil applied phosphite on grain yield in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in a weathered soil under low and adequate phosphate availability were evaluated. In the first experiment, treatments were composed of a 2 x 7 + 2 factorial scheme, with 2 soil P levels supplied as phosphate (40 e 200 mg P dm(-3) soil), 7 soil P levels supplied as phosphite (0-100 mg P dm(-3) soil), and 2 additional treatments (without P supply in soil, and all P supplied as phosphite). In the second experiment, treatments were composed of a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial scheme, with 2 soil phosphate levels (40 e 200 mg P dm(-3) soil), combined with 3 nutrient sources applied via foliar sprays (potassium phosphite, potassium phosphate, and potassium chloride as a control), and 2 foliar application numbers (single and two application). Additional treatments showed that phosphite is not P source for common bean nutrition. Phosphite supply in soil increased the P content in shoot (at full physiological maturity stage) and grains, but at the same time considerably decreased grain yield, regardless of the soil phosphate availability. Foliar sprays of phosphite decreased grain yield in plants grown under low soil phosphate availability, but no effect was observed in plants grown under adequate soil phosphate availability. In general, foliar sprays of phosphate did not satisfactorily improve grain yield of the common bean plants grown under low soil phosphate availability.

Rice oil as a soybean oil replacement in weanling pig diets

The motivation for including oils in the diets of weanling pigs is to increase dietary energy density to meet the pigs' energy requirements. The purpose of this study was to determine the digestible and metabolizable energy values of semi-refined rice oil (RO) and refined soybean oil (SO) for weanling pigs (Experiment 1), as well as to evaluate how replacing SO with RO in weanling pig diets affects performance, intestinal histology, organ morphometry and the occurrence of diarrhea (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1,21 barrows, averaging 19.63 +/- 0.37 kg body weight (BW), were used in a randomized complete block design experiment, with seven replications per treatment and one pig per experimental unit (metabolism cage). The treatments consisted of a reference diet and two test diets. The test diets were obtained by using 90% of the reference diet and 10% of RO or SO. The experimental period consisted of a 7 days adaptation period, followed by a 5 days collection period of feces and urine. The values of the apparent digestible energy, apparent metabolizable energy and N-corrected apparent metabolizable energy of the oils were, respectively, 26.24, 25.78 and 26.01 MJ kg(-1) for RO and 31.74, 31.35 and 31.51 MJ kg(-1) for SO. In Experiment 2, 120 weaned pigs, castrated males and females, averaging 6.74 +/- 0.42 kg BW, were used in a randomized complete block design experiment, with eight replications per treatment and three pigs per experimental unit (pen) to evaluate the effects of five replacement levels of SO with RO in isonutritive weanling pig diets. The treatments were as follows: 4:0 basal diet with 4% of SO; 3:1 basal diet with 3% of SO and 1% of RO; 2:2 basal diet with 2% of SO and 2% of RO; 1:3 basal diet with 1% of SO and 3% of RO; and 0:4 basal diet with 4% of RO. No effects of the replacement levels were observed in the weanling pigs' performance, organ morphometry or in their occurrence of diarrhea. However, a quadratic effect on the villus width and a cubic effect on the villus height:crypt depth ratio were observed in the duodenum. Therefore, if the determined values of energy are used in the feed formulation, refined soybean oil can be replaced with semi-refined rice oil in weanling pig diets without affecting their growth performance. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interaction between toxigenic fungi and weevils in corn grain samples

This study investigated the ability of weevils to transmit Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides fungal spores and the consequent production of mycotoxins. For this purpose, corn grain samples were stored in flasks connected to a hose to form a closed system (flasks A and B). Flasks A were inoculated with the following groups: group 1 (corn + weevil); group 2 (corn + A. flavus); group 3 (corn + A. flavus + weevil); group 4 (corn + F. verticillioides); group 5 (corn + E verticillioides + weevil), and group 6 (corn + A. flavus + E verticillioides + weevil). Flasks B contained sterile grains. The samples were incubated for 10, 20 and 30 days, posteriorly, weight, water activity, mycoflora, aflatoxins and fumonisins. The corn grain samples were also submitted to scanning electron microscopy. Our results showed that weevils could enhance corn grains contamination by these fungi, hence, could increase mycotoxins production. These findings demonstrate the importance of weevils as fungal vectors and the need for good manipulation and storage practices of grains. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genetic variation of germination cold tolerance in Japanese rice germplasm

Low temperatures at the initial stages of rice development prevent fast germination and seedling establishment and may cause significant productivity losses. In order to develop rice cultivars exhibiting cold tolerance, it is necessary to investigate genetic resources, providing basic knowledge to allow the introduction of genes involved in low temperature germination ability from accessions into elite cultivars. Japanese rice accessions were evaluated at the germination under two conditions: 13 degrees C for 28 days (cold stress) and 28 degrees C for seven days (optimal temperature). The traits studied were coleoptile and radicle length under optimal temperature, coleoptile and radicle length under cold and percentage of the reduction in coleptile and radicle length due to low temperature. Among the accessions studied, genetic variation for traits related to germination under low temperatures was observed and accessions exhibiting adequate performance for all investigated traits were identified. The use of multivariate analysis allowed the identification of the genotypes displaying cold tolerance by smaller reductions in coleoptile and radicle lenght in the presence of cold and high vigour, by higher coleoptile and radicle growth under cold.

Diversity of propanil-degrading bacteria isolated from rice rhizosphere and their potential for plant growth promotion

The herbicide propanil has long been used in rice production in southern Brazil. Bacteria isolated from contaminated soils in Massaranduba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, were found to be able to grow in the presence of propanil, using this compound as a carbon source. Thirty strains were identified as Pseudomonas (86.7%), Serratia (10.0%), and Acinetobacter (3.3%), based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA. Little genetic diversity was found within species, more than 95% homology, suggesting that there is selective pressure to metabolize propanil in the microbial community. Two strains of Pseudomonas (AF7 and AF1) were selected in bioreactor containing chemotactic growth medium, with the highest degradation activity of propanil exhibited by strain AF7, followed by AF1 (60 and 40%, respectively). These strains when encapsulated in alginate exhibited a high survival rate and were able to colonize the rice root surfaces. Inoculation with Pseudomonas strains AF7 and AF1 significantly improved the plant height of rice. Most of the Pseudomonas strains produced indoleacetic acid, soluble mineral phosphate, and fixed nitrogen. These bacterial strains could potentially be used for the bioremediation of propanil-contaminated soils and the promotion of plant growth.

Functional characterization of sugarcane mustang domesticated transposases and comparative diversity in sugarcane, rice, maize and sorghum

Transposable elements (TEs) account for a large portion of plant genomes, particularly in grasses, in which they correspond to 50%-80% of the genomic content. TEs have recently been shown to be a source of new genes and new regulatory networks. The most striking contribution of TEs is referred as "molecular domestication", by which the element coding sequence loses its movement capacity and acquires cellular function. Recently, domesticated transposases known as mustang and derived from the Mutator element have been described in sugarcane. In order to improve our understanding of the function of these proteins, we identified mustang genes from Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays and performed a phenetic analysis to assess the diversity and evolutionary history of this gene family. This analysis identified orthologous groups and showed that mustang genes are highly conserved in grass genomes. We also explored the transcriptional activity of sugarcane mustang genes in heterologous and homologous systems. These genes were found to be ubiquitously transcribed, with shoot apical meristem having the highest expression levels, and were downregulated by phytohormones. Together, these findings suggest the possible involvement of mustang proteins in the maintenance of hormonal homeostasis.

Rice husk derived waste materials as partial cement replacement in lightweight concrete

In this study rice husk ash (RHA) and broiler bed ash from rice husk (BBA), two agricultural waste materials, have been assessed for use as partial cement replacement materials for application in lightweight concrete. Physical and chemical characteristics of RHA and BBA were first analyzed. Three similar types of lightweight concrete were produced, a control type in which the binder was just CEMI cement (CTL) and two other types with 10% cement replacement with, respectively, RHA and BBA. All types of similar lightweight concrete were prepared to present the same workability by adjusting the amount of superplasticizer. Properties of concrete investigated were compressive and flexural strength at different ages, absorption by capillarity, resistivity and resistance to chloride ion penetration (CTH method) and accelerated carbonation. Test results obtained for 10% cement replacement level in lightweight concrete indicate that although the addition of BBA conducted to lower performance in terms of the degradation indicative tests, RHA led to the enhancement of mechanical properties, especially early strength and also fast ageing related results, further contributing to sustainable construction with energy saver lightweight concrete.

Effects of the extraction conditions on the yield and composition of rice bran oil extracted with ethanol-A response surface approach

Rice bran oil was obtained from rice bran by solvent extraction using ethanol. The influence of process variables, solvent hydration (0-24% of water, on mass basis), temperature (60-90 degrees C), solvent-to-rice bran mass ratio (2.5:1 to 4.5:1) and stirrer speed (100-250 rpm) were analysed using the response surface methodology. The extraction yield was highly affected by the solvent water content, and it varied from 8.56 to 20.05 g of oil/100 g of fresh rice bran (or 42.7-99.9% of the total oil available) depending on the experimental conditions. It was observed that oryzanol and tocols behave in different ways during the extraction process. A larger amount of tocols is extracted from the solid matrix in relation to gamma-oryzanol. It was possible to obtain values from 123 to 271 mg of tocols/kg of fresh rice bran and 1527 to 4164 mg of oryzanol/kg of fresh rice bran, indicating that it is feasible to obtain enriched oil when this renewable solvent is used. No differences in the chemical composition of the extracted oils were observed when compared to the data cited in the literature. (C) 2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.