Ithaca, NY
Campus Area Farms manages 325 acres on 11 small farms in and around the Cornell Campus that are easily accessible for faculty and students. Research includes breeding research on popular food crops, such as corn, small grains, potatoes and pumpkins. Researchers investigate possible genetic improvements that would make these crops more suitable for growing in New York and other comparable climates. One exciting new project is a multi-acre trial of different grasses dedicated to biofuels to see which are most adaptable to New York and other comparable climates.
For more information, contact Tim Dodge: td58@cornell.edu
• The Small Grains Breeding & Genetics Research Program identifies superior genetic information in small grains such as oats, wheat and barley. It aims to develop, evaluate, and introduce new varieties of small grains, having improved yield, nutritional quality, disease resistance, and other characteristics that increase the crop value and production efficiency.
• The cucurbit breeding project produces cucumber, melon, squash and pepper varieties for disease resistance, superior flavor and adaptation to the Northeastern US. This project is collaborating with the Organic Seed Partnership, which aims to develop and deliver improved vegetable varieties selected for superior performance in organic systems.• Another breeding project develops new potato varieties adapted to the Northeast. Recent releases include 'Marcy', a high-yielding cultivar designed for making potato chips, 'Adirondack Red', a red-skinned, red-fleshed specialty variety, and 'Lehigh', a widely-adapted, scab-resistant, yellow-flesh line.
• Research projects on tomatoes and onions focus on breeding fresh market varieties for disease resistance, in particular early and late blight in tomatoes.
• Other studies are conducted on the effects of herbicides on plants and weeds and the adverse affects on soil structure.
The CALS Bioenergy Feedstock Project is the only project of its kind devoted to exploring the many species of field grass that grow in the Northeast and their potential as sources for biofuels. The project has about 75 acres of different warm- and cool-season perennial grass varieties, including 12 varieties of switchgrass alone. Research on production of bioenergy feedstock was initiated to provide farmers and producers with information on planting and managing grasses and other corps for the emerging agricultural energy industry in the Northeast.
The CALS Bioenergy Feedstock Project
Which grass is greener? (Cornell Chronicle)
A different research project focuses on the development, production and pelleting of grasses and woody materials for biofuels . Grass pellets have great potential as a low-tech, small-scale, environmentally friendly, renewable energy system that can be locally produced, processed and consumed, and help communities to move towards energy independency.
