Station News

In a letter to the editor in the current issue of Nature Biotechnology, professor of entomology Tony Shelton and colleagues make an argument for the rigorous evaluation of studies on genetically engineered plants—before they impact regulations.

“Results from poorly constructed scientific studies can enter the popular press and become urban legends,” said Shelton. “This has certainly been the case with issues on the environmental and human safety of products produced through biotechnology. Unfortunately, these instances have compromised the public’s opinion about the value of biotechnology.”

To read more, click here.

Masanori Seto, a postdoctoral associate in Tony Shelton’s  lab, was honored by the Asian/Pacific Islander/American Association of Greater Rochester for pushing the boundaries of Taiko, a traditional Japanese percussion instrument, and breaking stereotypes about people with disabilities. For more about Masa’s innovations as a Taiko drummer, philanthropist, and entomologist, click here.

North Country Public Radio reporter David Sommerstein interviewed senior extension associate Tim Martinson and University of Minnesota grape breeder Peter Hemstad M.S. ’85  about the Northern Grapes project for a segment that aired on today’s Morning Edition.

Researchers Don’t ‘Wine’ About The Cold, Their Grapes Thrive

A dozen universities are collaborating on a sort of extreme winemaking project: How cold a climate can a grape survive and still make good wine? The Northern Grapes Project is inventing wines the world has never seen before, winning wine awards and creating a new crop for struggling rural economies.To listen to the full story, click here.

The Station Club Golf Tournment is coming up so SAVE THE DATE!

Join us on July 19, 2013 at Big Oak Golf Course

Save the date and look for more details and registration form soon.

Just read the leaves. Regularly testing leaf tissue for nutrient levels may significantly enhance the profitability of New York vegetable crops, say Cornell researchers.

“Hungry” crops are a common sight in vegetable fields and high tunnels across New York state, says Stephen Reiners, Cornell professor of horticulture and the project leader of the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program’s vegetable fertility project.

“A tomato can look perfectly fine, but when you cut into it at harvest you discover the unseen problem that foliar testing would have alerted you to in time to take corrective measures,” Reiners said.

Working with tomatoes and peppers planted in 30×96-foot-high tunnels at Cornell’s Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, N.Y., Cornell researchers demonstrated how effective regular leaf tissue sampling (foliar testing) is for assessing plants’ nutrient status so that growers can adjust management practices accordingly to optimize crop yields

To read more, click here

Associate Chair Susan Brown has been named a 2013 winner for the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.

The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are conferred by the State University of New York to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

 These programs underscore SUNY’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good.

Sarah Zhang of Mother Jones recently posted an excellent article highlighting the Apples of New York volumes as important contributions to science (and art).  Take a look at her article by clicking on the image:

This post can also be accessed from our facebook page!

Arbor Day is next Friday, April 26. Everyone is invited to participate in our annual tree-planting ceremony. It will be held at 3:30 pm on the east side of Barton Hall.  We will have a few remarks from Director Burr and members of the Geneva Arboretum Association.

This year, the tree is  a paperbark maple (Acer griseum), a medium sized tree that will help frame the entrance to Barton and make it a welcoming approach from Castle Street.

The paperbark maple (Acer griseum) is an Asian native that has found much landscape value in the Northeast. It is generally a small or medium-sized tree with visual interest in every season as it displays green leaves, fruit, fall color, and attractive exfoliating bark.
Photo courtesy Instant Plants.

Gregory Jaffe, the Director of the Project on Biotechnology for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, will present a seminar on April 9 at 3pm in the Jordan Hall Auditorium at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.  The title of the talk is “Busting the Myths About Genetically Engineered Foods” and is based on his February 2013 article in The Atlantic. The talk is free and open to the general public.

Jaffe is a recognized international expert on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety, and has published numerous articles and reports on those topics. He has worked on biosafety regulatory issues in the U.S. and throughout the world. Jaffe earned his BA with High Honors from Wesleyan University in Biology and Government and then received a law degree from Harvard Law School.

At the recent International Fruit Tree Association annual meeting in Boston MA, Dr. David Rosenberger of Cornell University was awarded the 2013 IFTA researcher of the year award. Dave  grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania and then received his PhD degree from Michigan State University.  He then moved to Cornell University and took a research and extension position at Cornell’s Hudson Valley Lab where he has spent his entire career. His research has focused on both pre- and post-harvest disease control of apple but he has also done significant work with stone fruit diseases.  Over the years his work has focused on practical problems that have an impact on the farm.  His work has guided growers for 30 years in how to control the most important apple diseases including apple scab and summer diseases. He also became the world’s expert on post harvest diseases which occur during apple storage and has become the primary source for information on these important post harvest problems. Whenever growers have problem with trees dying or some problem with the fruit, Dave is the person they call.  He is one of the best at diagnosing problems with trees and fruit even if the problem was not caused by a pathogen.  In addition to his primary research responsibilities Dave has served as the superintendent of the Hudson Valley Lab for the last 15 years and has served as the leader of the entire Cornell Fruit Team for the last 6 years.  In his extension role Dave has become a master at translating research information into practical recommendations for growers.  His presentations to growers are always well received and greatly appreciated.  Dave was accompanied to the awards ceremony by his wife Carol who was also recognized for her support of Dave that has allowed him to make such important contributions to the Eastern North American Fruit Industry.

Could the state’s valuable apple crops be saved from the region’s unpredictable weather by… wind machines? According to an article in the Albany Times-Union, enormous propane-powered fans outfitted with 12-foot blades are being installed on orchards across the state. They pull rising warm air in and push it down to the ground, forcing the temperature around the trees to rises enough to keep the delicate cell walls of the blossoms from bursting. It cites research from horticulture professor Terence Robinson, “The most viable means of frost protection seems to be these wind machines,” said Robinson. “A lot of growers have taken up our advice and run with it.”