Wednesday October 21 Ag News

Burt County Farm Bureau Member Kurtis Charling, 2016 Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge Semi-Finalist

The Nebraska Farm Bureau congratulates Burt County Farm Bureau member Kurtis Charling for being selected as a semi-finalist in the 2016 American Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge.

“There were a total of 10 teams selected for the 2016 Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge, four finalists and six semi-finalist,” Audrey Smith, director of youth, collegiate & young leader programs said Oct. 22. “This is the second year for the competition and it is a great way to provide opportunities for individuals to showcase business innovations being developed in rural regions of the U.S. It is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs developing food and agriculture businesses,” she said.

Kurtis Charling of Oakland, entered his business Strategic Management of Agriculture Related Technologies or (S.M.A.R.T.), as an ag tech entry that focused on water conservation systems for farms and ranches. Charling’s irrigation technology incorporates an array of methods to automatically schedule and control irrigation systems. Through the automated control, his S.M.A.R.T. system that guarantees the proper environmental variables are accounted for, eliminating time and management responsibilities associated with agriculture irrigation. The technology also makes sure the correct amount of water is applied and at the right time, reducing crop-water stress and maximizing yields in return.

“There were 165 applications from across the nation and six people from Nebraska applied. Of that group Kurtis Charling was selected as a semi-finalists. We are excited to see Nebraska entrepreneurs showcase their talents. Charling was awarded $10,000, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Farm Credit Council,” Smith said.

“Rural entrepreneurs typically face unique challenges including limited options for startup funding, which Farm Bureau aims to address through the challenge. We would love to see more entries from Nebraska. Farm Bureau is focused on elevating rural entrepreneurs, their ideas, their skills, inspiration and fortitude to make good things happen,” Smith said.



DuPont Pioneer and Nebraska Soybean Board Invest $45,000 for Agriculture Education Curriculum Training

The Nebraska Soybean Board and DuPont Pioneer have collaborated to invest $45,000 for Nebraska’s agriculture teachers to attend the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) and purchase equipment needed to implement the curriculum in their classrooms.

“This is a good effort for industry and a commodity board to further agricultural education in our schools. The program shares the expertise of others to raise the level of agricultural education in our schools,” says Victor Bohuslavsky, Executive Director of the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Participating Nebraska agriculture teachers attend a CASE Institute, which is an 80-hour, intense teacher professional development institute held each summer. The institute equips teachers to elevate student experiences in the agriculture classroom and prepares students for success in college and for careers in science, technology, engineering and math. CASE currently has courses ranging from Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources to Food Safety to Animal and Plant Biotechnology.

“Ensuring there is enough safe, affordable and nutritious food for all will require than more students understand agriculture and become future leaders in food production,” said Mark Deterding, Business Director for DuPont Pioneer’s Western Business Unit. “We know that we cannot do this alone and are working with others in agriculture and education to give teachers the best resources to encourage children to understand agriculture and consider careers in the industry.”

While teachers can attend any Institute, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) hosts an Institute each summer. Matt Kreifels, Assistant Professor of Practice with UNL’s Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication Department says, “we expect our teachers to know everything and teach all areas of agriculture, food and natural resources. The reality is they have very minimal resources to equip both themselves and their classrooms to teach this valuable information. The CASE Institute is unique and very beneficial to a teacher. They can easily implement that curriculum right in their classroom.”



Nebraska Energy Office Director to Speak at Wind/Solar Conference

The Director of the Nebraska Energy Office, David Bracht, will deliver a general session “State of Energy” address to the attendees of the eighth annual Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference at the Omaha Hilton, 1001 Cass St.  He will speak on Wednesday morning, November 4th at 8:45 a.m. about Nebraska State Energy Policy and an overview of the Nebraska Energy Office.

“David’s years of private sector experience with ethanol and wind energy development give him an excellent understanding and insight into the renewable energy industry.   Since the Energy Office is in the middle of several important energy initiatives, we are looking forward to hearing David’s overview of state energy policy and the Energy Office,” said conference co-chairman John Hansen. “The Nebraska Energy Office has been an integral part of our annual wind and solar conferences since 2008, and are important members of our conference planning committee.  In addition to his experience and expertise, we know our audience will appreciate David’s enthusiasm for renewable energy issues, and his good sense of humor.”

Bracht was appointed Director of the Energy Office by Governor Pete Ricketts in January 2015, and serves on the Governor’s Cabinet as principal advisor on energy development and policy.  As Energy Office Director, Bracht is responsible for daily management and leadership of 20 state employees involved in agency operations including administration of $5 million of Federal Weatherization Assistance Program funds, a Revolving Energy Loan Program with over $40 million in total loans and the implementation State Energy Program.

Prior to his appointment, David co-founded and co-lead the renewable energy and biofuels practice groups at two midwestern-based law firms advising clients involved in renewable energy development including biofuels, biomass and wind energy, as well as agribusinesses and businesses involved in production and processing of agriculture products.  He has more than 30 years experience in business, government and law, including private legal practice and senior executive experience in private industry and federal and state government agencies.

Registration is $160 until October 25th and student Registration is $65. Rooms are still available at the Hilton Omaha, which includes free parking. Those not staying at the hotel will receive a reduced daily parking rate of $5. Standard and student registration includes the Consumer Energy Showcase, Tuesday, November 3rd from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at the Hilton Omaha.  The event is open to the general public for a $5 admission fee and includes parking.  Registration and hotel registration information is available at the conference website http://nebraskawindandsolarconference.com/.

To view last year’s presentations, go to http://www.neo.ne.gov/renew/wind-working-group/2014conference/2014conference.htm.



Iowa Soybean Association enhances environmental services offerings

To build on progress and further advance environmental and water quality, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) enhanced its Environmental Programs and Services (EPS) offerings to align with conservation needs by creating new positions and promoting existing staff.

                For 15 years, ISA has been dedicated to building expertise and capacity on its EPS team. The new positions announced this week, coupled with personnel experience, will enable the organization to better serve farmers in a project-focused manner.

“We focus on collaboration and use data to help farmers implement resource management solutions in watersheds across the state,” said Roger Wolf, ISA EPS director. “Our excellent team and new structure better enable us to prioritize and leverage our skills — generating positive impact and achieving the value and progress our farmers expect.”

                Within the new capabilities, Adam Kiel has been promoted to operations manager of water resources. Kiel will provide oversight and management of watershed planning, assessment and monitoring activities. His role will include working with farmers to improve resource conservation, environmental performance and farmer profitability at the watershed level.

Heath Ellison also has taken on a new role as operations manager of ag and natural resources, which will allow him to provide leadership, operational support and staff management for a variety of resource conservation and environmental projects, action plans and research.

                Keegan Kult has been promoted to environmental scientist with specific focus on successful implementation and management of grant and contract funded natural resource, watershed and environmental projects and research.

Anthony Seeman has stepped into the role of environmental research coordinator where he will implement and maintain water monitoring project work and help oversee the ISA water quality lab.

                Todd Sutphin has advanced to senior operations manager for EPS ensuring coordination of programs, projects and staff as well as internal and external collaborations.

                “This structure gives us an opportunity for more definition and focus,” said Sutphin. “I commend our staff and look forward to seeing additional progress as we are equipped to work within the developing need of projects, grants and programs.”

Enhancing this new structure, the EPS team also includes Diane Ercse, watershed coordinator/resource management specialist; Karl Gesch, watershed coordinator/resource management specialist; Theo Gunther, resource management specialist; Dave Graham, water field technician; Chris Hay, senior environmental scientist; and Michelle Jones, environmental communications specialist.



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND PATHFINDERS RC&D RECEIVE $227,400 GRANT TO ESTABLISH MONARCH HABITAT

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Pathfinders RC&D have received a $227,400 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to establish monarch habitat on 3,311 acres of privately owned land in Iowa. The Department and Pathfinders RC&D will provide $227,500 in matching funds to support the project.

The funds will be used in partnership with four current programs to establish monarch habitat as part of conservation efforts.  The programs that will be part of the grant are the Buffer Initiative Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Abandoned Mine Land Program, and Urban Conservation Program.

“These funds will allow us to better incorporate habitat into our existing conservation programs that will benefit monarchs and other pollinators,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

In 2015 the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) established the Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for these insects and other pollinators.  The Fund supports efforts for growth of monarch butterfly population numbers, with a goal of stabilizing the population and continuing its migratory phenomenon.



PigWise™ Offers a Modern Solution for Tracking Herd Health in Real Time

Swine veterinarians, production managers and pig caregivers can now share real-time herd health data within their own networks using the PigWise™ barn management tool from Zoetis.

With its Web-based dashboard and reporting platform, PigWise provides veterinarians and production managers with daily herd health information they need to help stay ahead of disease outbreaks. PigWise can help producers and their veterinarians track a number of health statistics including signs of illness observed, treatment dosage, administration and outcomes, such as mortality rates.

“Prior to PigWise, standard record keeping in pig care has relied on paper systems, which limits the ability of producers and veterinarians to share health information quickly,” said Michael Senn, DVM, senior manager, Pork Technical Services, Zoetis. “The ability to access performance data in real time helps veterinarians assess any disease outbreaks quickly resulting in better treatment outcomes.”

Pig caregivers can use the PigWise mobile app to enter health data as it is observed. Working in conjunction with Individual Pig Care training, caregivers identify sick pigs using a classification system based on their symptoms. The information is saved onto and immediately available within a secured Web-based platform that can be accessed only by designated production managers and veterinarians within a particular system.

The PigWise dashboard is an important tool for analyzing herd health data. The dashboard generates reports allowing veterinarians to quickly compare and contrast treatment outcomes along with signs of illness so that any herd health issues can be resolved in a timely manner. Users have the option to set alerts giving them immediate notification regarding specific health data. These real-time insights allow for immediate decision-making and appropriate allocation of resources.

PigWise also serves as an efficient tracking system for medication use. It’s a useful tool for pig producers who face increased pressures regarding the use of antibiotic products. The app allows caregivers to select what injectable anti-infectives or water soluble products can be used as treatments. It then provides approved dosages, routes of administration and withdrawal times. The new tool reinforces the commitment from Zoetis to encourage the responsible use of antibiotics and provide producers with whole-herd solutions to addressing disease outbreaks.

“Properly identifying and treating sick animals with the correct medications are keys to helping maintain the effectiveness of these important resources,” Dr. Senn said. “A practical means of recording treatment can help producers use antibiotics responsibly and adhere to withdrawal times.”

Ask your local Zoetis representative how PigWise can help you track herd health. The free PigWise mobile app is available for iOS 4, 5, and 6 and Android® devices. The dashboard access is available for download by request. You will then receive a unique username and password to log on to the dashboard. Zoetis also provides user support and training.

For more information on PigWise, visit GetPigWise.com or speak with your local Zoetis representative.



EIA: Ethanol Stocks Decline

Ethanol inventories eased during the week-ended Oct. 16 while domestic production and demand both increased, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The report showed ethanol stocks fell by about 100,000 barrels (bbl) to 18.9 million bbl while up 5.2% versus a year ago. 

The report showed domestic ethanol production rose 2,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 951,000 bpd while up 6.0% year-on-year.

Blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, increased 10,000 bpd to 897,000 bpd while up 21,000 bpd, or 2.4%, versus a year earlier.

EIA reports implied demand for gasoline gained 20,000 bpd in the week-ended Oct. 16 to 9.157 million bpd, 3.6% higher than the same week a year ago.



NCGA Urges Action on National Food Labeling Standard

The National Corn Growers Association urged the Senate to act quickly to pass a uniform, national food labeling standard in light of today’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, highlighting the safety of genetically modified ingredients and the importance of biotechnology.

“NCGA and Congress agree: consumers should have access to food choices that are safe, nutritious, abundant and affordable,” said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair John Linder, a farmer from Edison, Ohio. “Congress, and only Congress, can now prevent a costly and confusing patchwork of state labeling laws from taking effect next year. The Senate must act now to avoid the negative consequences inaction will surely bring for consumers and farmers across the country.”

Experts told the Committee that the overwhelming scientific consensus is that genetically modified organisms are safe for consumers and the environment. Experts also testified on the vital role biotechnology plays in modern agriculture, allowing farmers to produce higher yields on less land, using fewer pesticides and water, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Today’s testimony underscored the fact that biotechnology is not only safe, but an important part of creating an efficient, affordable and reliable food chain. NCGA urges the Senate to move forward on common-sense legislation for a uniform, national food labeling standard,” said Linder.

In July, legislation passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support that would create uniform national food labeling standards. If the Senate does not follow suit, Vermont’s GMO labeling law will go into effect next July. Meanwhile, other states and localities have passed or are considering state-level labeling mandates. Such a patchwork of state and local laws will create upheaval in our national food supply, hurting consumers and farmers alike.



USDA Announces Lanon Baccam as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced Lanon Baccam as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, overseeing the Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison. Baccam, a U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard veteran, takes the positions following the departure of Karis T. Gutter.

"Throughout his career in military and public service, Lanon has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding opportunity in rural communities. Lanon brings to his new position strong management skills and a deep knowledge of USDA programs, policies and priorities. His leadership skills will be invaluable to USDA and rural communities across the nation," said Vilsack.

Baccam, a native of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is a military veteran and spent eight years in the U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2004-2005. During his time in the Army, Baccam held leadership roles as a unit movement officer and served as a combat engineer in charge of explosive demolitions. Baccam previously served as the director of scheduling and advance in the Office of the Secretary at USDA. Prior to his role as director, Baccam served as a special assistant in the Foreign Agricultural Service and as executive assistant to the Secretary. Prior to joining USDA, Baccam worked in the Iowa state government and for several state and national political campaigns.

Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse made the following statement on the announcement:

"Lanon was my top choice for this position. He is a flexible, capable leader who will bring a strategic, innovative approach to implementing USDA's priorities and goals. I believe he will do an outstanding job on behalf of farmers, ranchers and rural communities as the Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services," said Scuse.



NFU Urges Nation’s Ag Leaders, Organizations to Support Voluntary COOL as Easiest, Best Option to Resolve WTO Trade Dispute Quickly

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to a recent letter from dairy industry organizations to the U.S. Senate on Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), offering Voluntary COOL as the best option available:

“The Hoeven-Stabenow compromise for COOL provides a voluntary label that both retains the integrity of food labeling for consumers and resolves the current dispute over COOL at the World Trade Organization (WTO). NFU urges the nation’s Ag leaders and organizations who are seeking a quick resolution to the WTO dispute over COOL to support voluntary labeling as the easiest and best option forward.

“Canadian and Mexican officials have both suggested the adoption of a voluntary system in the 2012 WTO Appellate Body Report, and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) noted that repealing the mandatory requirement and replacing it with a voluntary system would constitute compliance with the WTO. Canadian pork producers have even publicly stated their satisfaction with allowing the U.S. to engage in a voluntary system, which makes perfect sense given Canada has a voluntary system already in place.

“This is truly a compromise that doesn’t have a real down side. Consumers who want to purchase labeled food will be able to do so, farmers who are proud of the food they produce and want to label it will be able to do so, and participation by food processors and packers is completely voluntary. With voluntary COOL, everybody wins.

“While the level of possible retaliation against the U.S. has been grossly overstated, it’s not an outcome that any of us want to see happen. It’s important that the WTO dispute be resolved quickly and fairly, and voluntary COOL is the vehicle that can make that happen. We urge our fellow Ag organizations to throw their support behind voluntary COOL.”



Wide Range of Foreign Dairy Subsidies Limits U.S. Farmers’ Ability to Sell Products Overseas, NMPF Says

While the United States has reduced support mechanisms for dairy farmers in recent years, a wide range of foreign dairy subsidies remain, limiting the U.S. industry’s ability to sell more of its products overseas, the National Milk Producers Federation said today.

In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee, NMPF said these foreign dairy support programs impede an industry that has gone from exporting less than $1 billion in dairy products in 2000 to $7.1 billion last year.

“Trade agreements have helped make this possible by lowering and removing barriers to our exports,” said Jaime Castaneda, NMPF’s senior vice president. “However, they have done little to constrain the use of domestic supports in the dairy sector or agriculture as a whole.”

Foreign dairy subsidies take different forms, ranging from direct aid, to import protections and regulatory measures designed to give foreign dairy producers an advantage over U.S. competitors.

According to Castaneda, the 28-nation European Union is the biggest provider of direct dairy support, offering cash payments, storage subsidies, price supports and, most recently, emergency aid to producers to counter low prices. In addition, the EU is attempting to limit dairy imports further by blocking the use of commonly used product names outside prescribed areas.

For example, Castaneda said, an American producer of feta or parmesan cheese can no longer sell those products within the European Union, even though the names have been widely used for many years. “What better way to impede or prevent imports of a given product than to ban the use of its name?” he said.

Other major countries providing direct support to their dairy farmers include Canada, India, New Zealand, and Japan, among many others, Castaneda said.

“While the United States has reduced its dairy subsidies and support mechanisms, other countries have maintained and expanded theirs,” Castaneda said.

In addition to his NMPF role, Castaneda works closely with the U.S. Dairy Export Council in promoting the U.S. dairy industry’s interests globally.



National Geographic and Bayer CropScience Release “Top Crop: Farming for the Future"

National Geographic and Bayer CropScience announce the release of “Top Crop: Farming for the Future,” an interactive online game that aims to increase national agricultural literacy through educating students on the basics of what it takes to produce crops. Through a series of virtual growing seasons, game players will experience the various in-season challenges farmers face, such as pests, disease and weather, as well as learn about the multiple modern technologies available to farmers that can help them overcome those challenges.

“At National Geographic, we’re committed to educating tomorrow’s explorers, scientists, engineers and farmers about the world and how it works, and this ‘Top Crop’ game is a great example of how we can teach kids about the challenges and solutions farmers face in the real world through a fun and interactive game,” said National Geographic Chief Education Officer Melina Bellows.

“Top Crop” introduces a scenario where the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wishes to experiment with new technologies to support sustainable farming, and wants student game players to lead the way. If the student players can successfully grow crops, the USDA will provide the technology and equipment necessary to run a virtual modern agricultural operation. Throughout the course of the “Top Crop” story, game players help agricultural leaders figure out the best way to provide more healthy food and sustainable agriculture techniques to feed a growing global population.

By 2050, global food demand will increase by 60 percent, and meat consumption will increase by 70 percent. These demands must be met by cultivating more food on the same or fewer arable acres than exist today, in the face of a shrinking water supply, evolving pest pressures and a changing climate. “Top Crop” helps game players devise ways to best utilize their available resources to grow healthy crops and maximize overall crop yield.

“Bayer CropScience is proud to work alongside National Geographic to educate students on the role modern agriculture plays in our everyday lives,” said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP. “In order to produce enough safe, healthy food for the 9 billion people that will inhabit our Earth by 2050, these students and so many other people need to get involved in writing the next chapter of agriculture’s history. That will only happen if we develop an agriculturally literate population that not only understands where their food comes from and how it is produced, but also develops a passion for solving the world’s most pressing food issues and fighting global hunger. ‘Top Crop’ is a fun way to get started down this path to educating and cultivating a new generation of agricultural game changers.”

“Top Crop: Farming For The Future” is available on National Geographic’s Education website at http://natgeoed.org/topcrop. 




 SUBWAY® Restaurants Elevates Current Antibiotic-Free Policy

SUBWAY® Restaurants announced today that it has elevated its current antibiotic-free policy. The brand recently communicated a commitment to transition to only serving chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine. Today, the brand confirmed that it is beginning to transition to serving only protein from animals that have never received antibiotics across all of its 27,000+ U.S. restaurants in early 2016.

Beginning in March 2016, SUBWAY® customers across the U.S. will able to order meals made with chicken raised without antibiotics. Turkey raised without antibiotics will be introduced in 2016, with a completed transition expected within 2-3 years, and pork and beef raised without antibiotics will follow within six years after that.
· Chicken will be completed by the end of 2016.
· Turkey will be introduced in 2016, with a completed transition expected within 2-3 years.
· Pork and Beef will be completed in 2025.

“Today’s consumer is ever more mindful of what they are eating, and we’ve been making changes to address what they are looking for,” said Dennis Clabby, executive vice president of SUBWAY’s Independent Purchasing Cooperative (IPC). “A change like this will take some time, particularly since the supply of beef raised without antibiotics in the U.S. is extremely limited and cattle take significantly longer to raise. But, we are working diligently with our suppliers to make it happen.”

“Given the size and scope of the Subway brand, this commitment is the largest of its kind in the restaurant industry,” added Clabby. “We hope that this commitment will encourage other companies in our industry to follow our lead, and that, together, this will drive suppliers to move faster to make these important changes for consumers.”



Chipotle Food Contains Dihydrogen Monoxide, New Ad Says

The Center for Consumer Freedom continued its Chubby Chipotle campaign against Chipotle’s food misinformation with a new “Dihydrogen Monoxide” ad in today's New York Post. The ad calls out Chipotle for scaring the public and tricking people into thinking its burritos are healthier by advertising its meat as being “antibiotic-free,” meaning from animals raised without antibiotics.

But Chipotle is trying to have its pork and eat it, too. This year the burrito chain began sourcing pork from Europe that comes from animals that may have been given antibiotics.

The instance is one more example of Chipotle deception and attempts to abuse consumers’ lack of familiarity with food production. The use of antibiotics is strictly controlled by federal regulations. If a farmer uses antibiotics to prevent or treat sickness in an animal, regulations ensure that food from that animal is safe. The federal government mandates a withdrawal time for drugs so that animals can eliminate them from their bodies. The government conducts random testing of meat to ensure safety, and can stop meat from being sold that doesn’t pass muster. As veterinarian Dr. Scott Hurd has put it in regards to meat: “It’s all antibiotic free.” Even Chipotle now admits this—on its website, after running misleading ads that scare consumers.

“Consumers shouldn’t let Chipotle trick them into thinking their burritos are healthier by saying they’re antibiotic-free, because federal regulations are designed to ensure all meat served in restaurants and sold in supermarkets is antibiotic-free,” Will Coggin, director of research at the Center for Consumer Freedom, said.  “Chipotle not only denigrates U.S. farmers who humanely use antibiotics to prevent or treat illness, but it uses scare tactics to take advantage of consumers.”



Beavers take a chunk out of nitrogen in Northeast rivers

Beavers, once valued for their fur, may soon have more appreciation in the Northeastern United States. There they are helping prevent harmful levels of nitrogen from reaching the area’s vulnerable estuaries. By creating ponds that slow down the movement of water, they aid in removing nitrogen from the water.

Nitrogen levels have been increasing in Northeast waters for years. The use of nitrogen fertilizers has risen and urbanization has brought in influences such as septic systems. This nitrogen is released into small streams and ponds and eventually travels to estuaries, where rivers meet the sea.

Beaver dam on Pond A along the Chipuxet River in Washington County, RI. Photo credit Julia G. Lazar.High levels of nitrogen in these areas stimulate algal blooms. As these organisms die and decompose, oxygen is consumed from bottom waters, creating low oxygen levels that can generate fish kills. While many know of these dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, they are also becoming a problem for the plentiful estuaries that comprise the coastline of the Northeast U.S.

Arthur Gold at the University of Rhode Island, along with his colleagues, studies how the presence of beavers affects nitrogen levels in these waters.

“What motivated us initially to study this process was that we were aware of the fact that beaver ponds were increasing across the Northeast,” he said. “We observed in our other studies on nitrogen movement that when a beaver pond was upstream, it would confound our results.”

The researchers realized the water retention time and organic matter build up within beavers’ ponds lead to the creation of ideal conditions for nitrogen removal. They then wanted to see how effectively they can do this.

The researchers tested the transformative power of the soil by taking sample cores and adding nitrogen to them. These samples, about the size of a large soda bottle, were large enough to incorporate the factors that generate chemical and biological processes that take place in the much larger pond. They were also small enough to be replicated, manageable and measured for numerous changes. Researchers then added a special type of nitrogen to the samples that allowed them to be able to tell if the nitrogen was transformed and how.

Bacteria in the organic matter and soil were able to transform nitrogen, specifically a form called nitrate, into nitrogen gas, removing it from the system. This is denitrification. Thanks to the conditions brought about by the beaver ponds, this process can remove approximately 5-45% of the nitrogen in the water, depending on the pond and amount of nitrogen present.

“I think what was impressive to us was that the rates were so high,” Gold explained. “They were high enough and beavers are becoming common enough, so that when we started to scale up we realized that the ponds can make a notable difference in the amount of nitrate that flows from our streams to our estuaries.”

The study also found 12% of the nitrogen gases created in the samples were nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. However, the scientists pointed out that the high amount was likely a result of some unique experimental conditions and these ponds are not likely to release that much of the gas in nature.

The research has some interesting implications. Julia Lazar, who conducted the work as part of her doctoral dissertation and is now working as an environmental consultant, said it might change the way people think about beavers and their ponds.

“Most of these beavers are in areas with smaller streams, not big rivers,” Lazar said. “These smaller streams are usually the first to be developed, causing a decrease in beaver populations. So, it may be important to keep these areas from being developed so they can have effects on nitrogen levels downstream.”

Gold hopes to study the ponds over a longer period and to study abandoned ponds to see if the nitrogen retaining qualities remain after the beavers are gone.

“It’s noteworthy that the beavers have such an impact on improving nitrogen downstream,” Gold said. “We have a species whose population crashed from wide-spread trapping 150 years ago. With their return they help solve one of the major problems of the 21st century. I don’t want to minimize that. We have to remember that those ponds wouldn’t be there without the beavers.”

In addition to Gold and Lazar, the study was the product of a team of researchers, including Kelly Addy and D.Q. Kellogg of the University of Rhode Island, Rick McKinney of EPA and Peter Groffman of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Funding was provided by USDA NRCS, the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station and the National Science Foundation.