Tuesday April 3 Ag News

Considerations of Cash Leasing
Larry F Howard, UNL Extension Educator

There is an element of trust and responsibility that leads to fair, win-win situations. But in these very turbulent times of rapidly changing economic conditions, it is especially critical that both landowner and tenant work to keep their agreements current. In fact, even though the parties may agree to a multi-year rental contract, it is best that rental rate levels be negotiated annually.

As we enter into the 2012 crop season with commodity prices still at high levels, here are some things to consider for sound and ethical leasing.

• Tenants need to keep their landowners informed. Even when leasing on a cash basis, it is no more than right that they share information about the farm during the crop year as well as sharing the harvest yield outcomes.

• Landowners can’t rely on “coffee shop talk,” where market perceptions are based on who can top the latest cash rent high. Many times those reported highs get distorted in the reporting process, and even if they are true, they represent “outliers” that are not a good reflection of the market.

• The year 2012 is staging to be another good income year for crop producers, in large part because of good commodity prices. Many 2012 cash leases were already negotiated before these surges.  And while tenants have the legal right to maintain leases as negotiated, certainly the economic considerations alone may lead tenants to voluntarily raise their rental payments should the income windfall turn out as it now appears. Such a step on the part of the tenant can do much to establish a mutually-beneficial leasing relationship for years to come. But beyond the economic factors, there is also a moral consideration to treat landlords fairly.

• The volatility of the times means that landowners should not think that 2012 is just another step in an ever-upward income trajectory. Since the cash rent tenant carries essentially all the risk, landowners need to heed the fact that negotiated rents need to be able to move in both directions, in order to be fair. It’s a two-way street, and rents in 2013 and beyond may need to be adjusted.

• In cases where cash leases have been left unchanged for several years and are lagging considerably behind the current rates, the landowner and/or the tenant often hesitate to consider a substantial upward adjustment. That involves some confrontation, which neither party may be very anxious to do. But the longer the economic distortion continues, the greater it becomes.

Bottom line: If there ever was a time to realign distorted cash rental rates, it is now.

• The landowner needs to give due consideration to the land stewardship responsibility that the tenant bears. With wise and conscientious management practices, most tenants do farm leased parcels very responsibly. In fact, previous University of Nebraska-Lincoln research suggests that most of them farm rented land the very same way as their own land.

We have amazing agricultural land resources and an efficient land market system that allows diverse ownership and contractual arrangements that can, and usually do, work to the benefit of all concerned. But we’ve moved far beyond the times when a simple gentleman’s agreement and a handshake will suffice indefinitely. Even within family arrangements, the substantial values of the land assets involved as well as the complex dynamics of the economic forces suggest the need for a more deliberate protocol that is current and in writing.



EPA gives green light to higher ethanol blend

In 2009, more than 5,000 Nebraskans voiced their support of E15, a 15 percent ethanol blend, by sending yellow postcards created by the Nebraska Corn Board to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Three years and a lot of hard work later, EPA today approved E15 as registered fuel, helping clear the way for E15 to be used in cars, light duty trucks and SUVs model year 2001 and newer – more than 120 million vehicles across the country.

“This has been a long road, filled with a lot of research, a lot of technicalities and a lot of work by many organizations who support the use of ethanol and biofuels,” said Kim Clark, ag program manager of the Nebraska Corn Board. “The end goal is to increase the amount of renewable fuel available to motorists in the United States, which can help lower fuel costs and reduce our dependence on petroleum-based fuels. Today’s decision by EPA is a milestone, and we are very happy to have reached it.”

The approval by EPA comes at an important juncture for the ethanol industry.

The industry hit a “blend wall” in the last year since a vast majority of the fuel sold in the U.S. is already an ethanol blend, mostly E10, a 10 percent ethanol blend. “The industry has the capability to produce beyond that wall, and we need to take advantage of it, especially since we are producing ethanol for $1 per gallon less than petroleum-based gasoline right now. It’s saving motorists money right now at E10 and can save even more with E15,” she said.

While EPA gave its go ahead for E15 today, it may take some additional time before the higher blend is available at pumps in Nebraska and elsewhere. Labeling for E15 has already been approved, but fuel retailers need to have misfueling mitigation plans on file with EPA and station owners will need to decide if they want to offer the fuel – E15 is not a mandate or requirement; it is simply an option for retailers.

The Nebraska Corn Board said some fuel retailers may benefit by installing a blender pump, which will allow them to more easily offer multiple ethanol blends, including both E10 and E15, as well as E85, which is approved only for flex fuel vehicles.

“We have had a grant program over the last couple of years that helps station owners cover some of their costs in installing a blender pump,” Clark said. “Station owners who are interested can contact the Nebraska Corn Board for more information.”

Station owners can also go to NebraskaCorn.org and click on the “Blender Pump Info” icon on the right-hand side.



Economist to Speak April 5 on Climate Change, Biofuels, Food

Michael Roberts, an economist from North Carolina State University, will speak on "Food Commodity Prices: Stylized Facts and Prospects for the Future," at 3:30 p.m. April 5 in the Hardin Hall auditorium, 33rd and Holdrege streets. His talk at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources is free and open to the public, part of a two-day visit sponsored by the school and the Department of Agricultural Economics.

Roberts, who is in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NCSU, will discuss how climate change, biofuel production and other factors may influence supply and demand of rice, wheat, maize and soybeans in coming decades. He said that these four crops cover about half the world's arable land and amount to three-quarters of the caloric base of world food consumption.

Before joining NCSU, Roberts was with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. His research focuses on the intersection of agricultural and environmental economics, and he has published many papers on the effects of U.S. agricultural policies on production, land use, land values and the size of farms. He is also researching how to design simple, cost-effective ways to buy environmental services such as carbon sequestration from farmers and land owners.



Smith Announces Ken Rahjes Joins Staff

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today announced Ken Rahjes has joined his staff as Agriculture Specialist.  “Ken brings a wealth of agricultural experience, and I am pleased to have him on board,” said Smith. “I know Ken will serve the people of the Third District well.”

Ken joins Smith’s office from KRVN, where he was a farm broadcaster for the Lexington-based radio station for the past seven years. Ken has been involved in many phases of agriculture throughout his career, from the family farm to agriculture communications. Ken attended Kansas State University and was a member of Nebraska LEAD XXVII.  He and his wife Lori are the parents of four teenagers. Ken will be based in Smith’s Grand Island office.



The Nebraska Environmental Action Coalition Demands that Nebraska Attorney General Reclaim $100,000 Grant to We Support Agriculture

President of The Nebraska Environmental Action Coalition, Ted Thieman, sent a letter to Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning demanding he reclaim a $100,000 Nebraska Environmental Protection Fund grant he awarded to We Support Agriculture last fall.

According to his own records, Attorney General Bruning granted the largest award ever issued by his office 32 minutes after receiving the request from We Support Agriculture, a 3-month old group with the stated mission of supporting all Nebraska agriculture producers no matter their environmental policies or history of violations.  We Support Agriculture provided no plan for the funds’ use and has no stated conservation goals.

Attorney General Bruning created the Nebraska Environmental Protection Fund without legislative oversight presumably to mitigate damage done by corporations that violate environmental protection laws in Nebraska.  Bruning has stated the fines collected are to be used to educate Nebraskans on how to be better stewards of the land and environment in Nebraska.

According to information on the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality website, between 2006 and 2011, Livestock producers have paid more than $225,000 in fines to this fund due to violation of state laws.

“In making this historically large gift of $100,000.00 to the past Farm Bureau president, on behalf of their organization We Support Agriculture, you have effectively given the money right back to the supporters of the very people you got the money from” said Thieman in his letter to Bruning.  In conclusion Mr. Thieman stated “This money belongs to the taxpayers of Nebraska and you, Mr. Attorney General, should get our money back.”

Bruning has admitted that the award was issued to We Support Agriculture to bolster their attack campaign against The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS), an animal protection group that recently announced formation of an agriculture council to open markets for humane, sustainable livestock producers.  Five humane, sustainable Nebraska livestock producers serve on the council which seeks to increase consumer access to products raised by farmers and ranchers that are responsible stewards of their land and animals.

Bruning’s move has angered Nebraska lawmakers and is now the subject of two pieces of legislation aimed at adding transparency and legislative oversight to Bruning’s grant-giving authority.



Leaf and Stripe Rusts Reported in Kansas: Scout Nebraska Wheat for Early Disease Detection
Stephen Wegulo, UNL Extension Plant Pathologist

On March 28, stripe rust was observed in a grower’s field near Wichita in south central Kansas, and on March 29, leaf rust and stripe rust were observed in research plots in Manhattan in northeast Kansas. These follow reports of these rust diseases in states further south. The detection of leaf and stripe rusts in Kansas indicates that we are likely to see these diseases in Nebraska in the next two to three weeks.

This year the wheat crop in Nebraska is approximately two weeks ahead of normal crop development due to unseasonably warm temperatures in the winter and spring. Above normal temperatures are forecast for the coming weeks. If rainfall occurs, the combination of warm temperatures and moisture can lead to rapid development of foliar wheat diseases including powdery mildew and fungal leaf spots. These have already been observed in southeast Nebraska. There also have been reports of general yellowing of wheat fields. This condition is common at the current growth stage and can be caused by several factors, including inadequate fertilization and virus diseases. If the yellowing is of a general nature with no obvious virus symptoms (stunting and leaf mosaics, mottling, or streaking), it is most likely due to inadequate fertilization. The wheat crop usually grows out of this condition and greens up as the growing season progresses.

Scout Wheat Now to Detect Diseases Early
It is recommended that wheat fields be scouted routinely for early detection of diseases. This will facilitate timely management decisions. Except in fields where disease pressure is high early in the growing season, fungicide application to control foliar fungal diseases should be aimed at protecting the flag leaf. It may be necessary to apply a second spray at early flowering to suppress Fusarium head blight (scab) in scab-prone areas.

The most common virus diseases of wheat in Nebraska are wheat soilborne mosaic, wheat streak mosaic, barley yellow dwarf, and most recently, Triticum mosaic. Virus diseases are characterized by yellowing and/or a mottling or streaking of green and yellow. They are difficult to distinguish and often can be mistaken for nutrient deficiency. Symptoms of wheat soilborne mosaic are prominent early in the season and are more severe in wet, low-lying areas in the field. As the season progresses and day temperatures rise above 68oF, development of wheat soilborne mosaic slows down or ceases and wheat streak mosaic symptoms become more prominent. Because of the above-normal temperatures that have prevailed during the winter and spring, symptoms of wheat streak mosaic may show up earlier than normal. Barley yellow dwarf is characterized by yellowing from the leaf tip down and from the leaf edges to the mid rib.

Virus Diseases are Best Managed Before They Occur
There are no control measures for virus diseases. Do not apply a fungicide to control virus diseases.  Wheat soilborne mosaic is managed by planting resistant cultivars. Wheat streak mosaic and Triticum mosaic are managed by planting resistant/tolerant cultivars, avoiding early planting, and controlling volunteer wheat, especially the volunteer that emerges just before harvesting. All volunteer should be completely dead at least two weeks before planting. Barley yellow dwarf is managed by planting resistant/tolerant cultivars, avoiding early planting, and controlling volunteer cereals. Controlling aphids (the vectors of barley yellow dwarf) can reduce infections. However, viruliferous aphids can still fly in from outside the field and transmit the virus to the wheat crop.



Bilateral relationships strengthened by agriculture, food security
Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Dean Coleman, president, Iowa Soybean Association

We were privileged to lead a trade mission to China March 16-27. The purpose of the trip, sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), was to strengthen relationships with key customers of U.S. soybeans and cultivate new market opportunities for U.S. and Iowa farmers.

Our visit to the world’s most populous country was extremely timely. It occurred just weeks after Iowa hosted China Vice President Xi Jinping for a series of meetings and the signing of the largest one-time soybean purchase. This historic visit arose from a relationship forged nearly 30 years ago between Gov. Terry Branstad and Vice President Xi, who, at that time, was the head of a feed industry group in China.

In addition to reaffirming the importance of personal relationships, our visit to China and Thailand cemented our shared belief that agriculture and food security are fundamental to building and sustaining strong, bilateral partnerships.

Shortly after arriving in China, we were warmly received by Vice President Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. After expressing his heartfelt appreciation for Iowa’s hospitality, he encouraged ISA and the State of Iowa to build deeper relationships with sub-national governments. The Vice President cited the success of U.S. agricultural exports to China (particularly soybeans) as a catalyst in this effort.

Iowa farmers produce more than 460 million bushels of soybeans annually. More than 50 percent of this production is exported. China is the world’s largest soybean importer, consuming one of every four rows of our domestic soybean production. If the United States fulfilled China’s entire demand for soy, it would amount to more than 70 percent of our nation’s 3 billion bushel soybean harvest.

With that example in mind, we shared our desire for China to see Iowa and the United States as partners in their aggressive goals to improve food safety, security and sustainability. Chinese officials embraced our message and encouraged Iowa to join them in meeting these challenges in countries around the globe.

As we reflect on our trip, we’re convinced that success in trade can only be obtained when both sides have something to gain and difficult issues are resolved based on trust and mutual respect.

We have an unprecedented opportunity to help countries meet their need for food and to improve the human condition. Iowa’s investment in nurturing global trade is one reason our state’s economy remains resilient. When we engage the global community, we benefit by selling more agricultural commodities, farm equipment and value added products.

At the same time, we have a responsibility to share the positive outcomes of strong, bilateral relationships. While our nation’s trade deficit with China is well-publicized, agriculture’s positive influence provides a glimpse of what can be achieved when shared areas of need are addressed. 

Our agriculture trade relationship with China is like the ballast in a giant ship moving across the ocean’s rolling waves. From time to time, the waters will become choppy and the ship will list. But with trade, agriculture and sub-national cooperation as its ballast, we’ll stay the course and improve the quality of life for Iowans, the people of China and our neighbors around the world.



Jeff Lautt named CEO of POET

Jeff Lautt was named CEO of POET, the ethanol company announced today. Lautt has been with POET since 2005, serving most recently as President of the company. Company founder Jeff Broin will step down after 25 years as the CEO but will continue managing and leading the company's board as Executive Chairman.

"For the past 25 years, Jeff Broin has led POET and the entire ethanol industry," said Lautt. "He has grown POET from one small plant to a leadership position in the global renewable fuels industry. With the help of the entire team at POET, I will do my best to continue building on the success the company has achieved."

Jeff Lautt has been with POET since early 2005 and has served as its President since 2011. Prior to that, he was the Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations. In that position, Lautt was responsible for all operational business units within POET. Lautt spent fourteen years in the emergency vehicle industry where he served as President of a Midwestern-based fire truck manufacturing company before joining POET. Lautt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Engineering from South Dakota State University.

"After 25 years leading the company, I wanted to spend more time with my family and take on new challenges," Jeff Broin said. "I will continue to be involved in strategic direction for the company as Executive Chairman of the Board, and leave the day-to-day operations to our very capable management team. I would not have done this had I not been convinced that the company would be in good hands. Under the leadership of Jeff Lautt and the entire management team at POET, I have confidence that the company will continue to lead the industry into the future."

In addition to serving as Executive Chairman of POET's Board of Directors, Broin will continue to speak out on behalf of ethanol and agriculture as co-chairman of Growth Energy. He also intends to spend more time guiding the activities of his newly created foundation, "Teach a Man to Fish" which will spread the power of agriculture throughout the developing world.

Broin, who is married with three children, has been the CEO of POET since the company was founded in 1987. In his more than two decades of leadership, POET has grown from 1 million gallons of ethanol that first year to an annual capacity in excess of 1.6 billion gallons.



Senators Introduce Major Components to Farm Bill

Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND), Max Baucus (D-MT), and John Hoeven (R-ND) unveiled the 'Revenue Loss Assistance and Crop Insurance Enhancement Act of 2012,' which is bipartisan legislation that reduces farm program complexity and duplication, strengthens the federal crop insurance program, permanently extends livestock disaster assistance, and serves as a major component of a new farm bill.

"This legislation achieves my two main goals in a new Farm Bill--it maintains a strong safety net for producers while, at the same time, contributing to deficit reduction," Senator Conrad said. "This proposal complements crop insurance, is much easier to administer than current farm programs, and gives our family farmers the support and flexibility they need to succeed."

The legislation creates the Revenue Loss Assistance Program, an initiative that combines Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Average Crop Revenue Election into one simpler and more effective program.

RLAP works in conjunction with crop insurance to provide farmers with assistance for losses between 12 and 25 percent of their average historic revenue.

An eligible loss can be due to any combination of decreased yields, declining prices or quality discounts.

RLAP is based on individual farm performance, rather than an area trigger, and assistance is provided on a commodity specific basis and is designed to address two of the primary shortcomings of the federal crop insurance: program deductibles that greatly exceed the operating margins for a crop and the lack of adequate coverage during multi-year price declines. RLAP provides assistance for farmers who suffered losses on acres planted for harvest at a 65 percent payment rate.

For acreage that was unable to be planted due to adverse weather, the payment rate is 45 percent.

Total acreage covered under RLAP for a producer will not be able to exceed that producer’s total base acres.



Urea Continues Higher, UAN32 Down

As they have for the last three weeks, urea prices continue to climb, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of March 2012. On the other end of the spectrum, UAN32 prices are moving lower.  Urea was the only fertilizer once again to show a price increase. The nitrogen fertilizer was 12% higher compared to the fourth week of February and had an average price of $645 per ton. That's also up more than $150/ton in the last year.

The remaining seven fertilizers were lower compared to a month ago, with just one fertilizer down any significance. UAN32 slid 8% compared to a month earlier and had an average price of $425/ton. DAP averaged $632/ton, MAP $696/ton, potash $657/ton, 10-34-0 $796/ton, anhydrous $766/ton and UAN28 $382/ton.

With urea spiking recently, other nitrogen fertilizers are becoming more attractive. On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.70/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.68/lb.N and UAN32 $0.66/lb.N.

Two of the eight major fertilizers are still showing double-digit increases in price compared to one year earlier. Leading the way higher is urea. The nitrogen fertilizer is 31% higher compared to last year while potash is now 11% higher compared to the fourth week of March 2011.  Four fertilizers have seen just slight price increases compared to a year earlier. 10-34-0 is now 6% more expensive, both anhydrous and UAN28 are 3% higher and UAN32 is 1% more expensive from last year.  Two fertilizers are now actually lower compared to one year ago. DAP is now 7% lower while MAP has decreased 1% in price.



Vilsack Announces Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable

The U.S. Department of Agriculture - along with the Department of Energy, and the Department of Navy - will co-host an Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable in Washington D.C. on May 18, 2012 as the next step in the partnership with the private sector to produce advanced biofuels to power military and commercial transportation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement today during his keynote address to the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference.

"Advanced biofuels are a key component of President Obama's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy to limit the impact that foreign oil has on our economy and take control of our energy future," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "By bringing together farmers, scientists, and the private sector to produce fuel for the American military, we can help spur an industry producing biofuels from non-food feedstocks all over the nation, strengthen our middle class, and help create an economy built to last."

"The Biofuels Industry Roundtable will produce the market and industry expertise necessary to develop a domestic biofuel market capable of producing alternative fuel that is cost-competitive with traditional fuel," stated Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "The Departments of Navy, Agriculture, and Energy are investing in an existing private industry to spur growth, and each department will closely monitor how that investment is used to achieve the president's objectives."

The May 18, 2012 roundtable will focus on efforts to accelerate the production of bio-based fuels for military and commercial purposes. Last year, USDA, and the Departments of Energy and the Navy announced that – through the Defense Production Act – they will collaborate to accelerate the development of advanced, drop-in aviation and marine biofuels and marine diesel to help power our military. Participants in this roundtable will discuss next steps for those interested in pursuing the production of aviation biofuels and marine diesel. Topics will include production, distribution and contracting, and best practices. This roundtable follows a "match making" event hosted last week at USDA headquarters to promote connections between agricultural producers of energy feedstocks, and biorefineries.



Brazil's Celeres Cuts Forecast For Soy Crop, Raises Corn View

The outlook for Brazil's 2011-12 soybean crop has deteriorated in the past month while the forecast for corn improved slightly, local grains consultancy Celeres said Monday in a weekly report.

Celeres cut its forecast for Brazil's soybean production to 67.97 million metric tons, down from an early-March forecast of 69.83 million tons. The updated estimate implies a 9.2% decline from a year earlier, as a drought in southern states drastically reduced yields from 2011 levels.

Celeres raised its estimate Monday for Brazil's 2011-12 corn crop to 60.71 million tons from 60.4 million tons forecast a month ago. Total corn production from the summer and winter harvests should exceed last year's output by 13%.

Brazil's soybean harvest, as of last Friday, was 76% complete, compared with 67% a year earlier, Celeres estimates.

Of the acreage planted with summer corn, 61% had been harvested, up from 53% a year earlier.

Faster harvesting of the summer corn and soybean crops has allowed Brazilian farmers to get a slight head-start on their winter-corn planting, Celeres said. Around 96% of the expected acreage had already been planted with winter corn as of last Friday, up five percentage points from a week earlier.



Argentina Soy Crop Hit Hard by Drought

A prolonged drought hit Argentina's 2011-12 soybean crop hard, causing yields in the northern fields to slide more than expected and production prospects have dipped to 43.1 million metric tons, the Rosario Grains Exchange said Tuesday. The Rosario exchange's new forecast is down 1.4 million tons from its earlier estimate.

Argentina leads global soyoil and soymeal exports and ranks third in soybean exports. Global soy prices have been buoyed in recent weeks by signs that the soybean crops in both Argentina and Brazil will come in much lower than initial expectations due to the drought blamed on the La Nina weather phenomenon and an early arrival of cold weather.

A severe drought battered the 2011-12 soy crop in December and January, cutting yields and leading many farmers to put off planting. That means that a much larger share of the crop is late-planted soy, which is still developing and is vulnerable to cold. Farmers are beginning to harvest the early soy, but much will remain in the fields through as late as July.



Gene Helps With Multiple Leaf Diseases in Corn

Corn is one of the most widely grown crops in the United States, which produces 40% of the world crop. But as with all crops, diseases threaten corn production.

Three diseases — southern corn leaf blight, northern leaf blight, and gray leaf spot — all cause lesions on corn leaves. In the Corn Belt, northern leaf blight and gray leaf spot are significant problems.

USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists and university colleagues found a specific gene in corn that seems to confer resistance to all three of these leaf diseases. This discovery, published in the 2011 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could help plant breeders build disease-resistance traits into future corn plants.

The researchers examined 300 corn varieties from around the world, making sure to have a genetically diverse representation. No corn variety has complete resistance to any of these diseases, but varieties differ in the severity of symptoms they exhibit.

“We set out to look for maize lines with resistance to these three leaf diseases. But what we really wanted to know is which genes underlie disease resistance,” says ARS plant geneticist Peter Balint-Kurti, who is in the Plant Science Research Unit in Raleigh, North Carolina. Also on the research team were ARS plant geneticists Jim Holland and Matt Krakowsky and scientists with the University of Delaware, Cornell University, and Kansas State University.

When they tested the lines for resistance to these three diseases, they found that if a corn variety was resistant to one disease, chances were favorable that it was also resistant to the other two. So the search was on for the gene or genes responsible for that multiple disease resistance.

The researchers applied a statistical analysis technique called “association mapping” to identify regions of the genome associated with variation in disease resistance.

“We knew there was a strong correlation between resistance of one disease and the other two. So we postulated that some resistance genes conferred resistance to two or more different diseases,” says Balint-Kurti.

“We identified a gene that seemed to confer multiple resistance,” he says. “This gene, a GST (glutathione S-transferase), is part of a family of genes known for their roles in regulating oxidative stress and in detoxification. Both of these functions are consistent with a role in disease resistance.”

“While we know the DNA sequence variation of the gene in all the different lines, the function of the genes tested is often unknown. But by putting together the information on which varieties carry specific sequence variations and also exhibit better resistance, we could identify a gene that appears related to multiple disease resistance,” explains Holland.

This study represents a departure from the standard process of gene association mapping. “Usually, you are looking for something that causes the change in one trait. We modified the technique so that we can find gene variants that are associated with variation in multiple traits, such as resistance to multiple diseases,” says Holland.