Rouquette F M, Redmon L A, Aiken G E, Hill G M, Sollenberger L E, Andrae J
Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M System, Overton 75684, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2009 Jan;87(1):438-46. doi: 10.2527/jas.2008-1273. Epub 2008 Sep 26.
Forage-animal production agriculture is implementing infrastructure changes and management strategies to adjust to increased energy-related costs of fuel, feed grains, fertilizers, and seeds. The primary objectives of this position paper are to assess future research and extension scientific needs in forage utilization, financial support for the discipline, and changing status and number of scientists. A survey questionnaire returned from 25 land-grant universities in the eastern half of the United States rated the top 4 research needs as 1) pasture systems and efficiency of production; 2) interfacing with energy concerns; 3) forage cultivar evaluations and persistence; and 4) environment impacts. Plant-animal future research needs at 11 USDA-ARS regional locations are targeted at sustainable management and improved livestock performance, ecophysiology and ecology of grasslands, environment impacts, and improved technologies for nutritive value assessments. Extension scientists from 17 southern and northeastern states listed the top 3 needs as forage persistence, soil fertility and nutrient management, and pasture systems and efficiency of production. Grant funds currently provide more than 40% of land-grant university research and extension efforts in forage utilization, and scientists estimate that this support base will increase to 55 to 60% of the funding total by 2013. Reduced allocation of state and federal funding has contributed to a reduction in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) scientists engaged in forage utilization research and extension activities. The current 25 state FTE conducting research number about 2.8 per state. This includes 10 states with >3, 11 states with <2, and 3 states with <1 FTE. Increased interest in cellulosic energy, climate change, and environmental impact may offer new opportunities for these FTE to participate in integrated cross-discipline research Extension programming, and technology transfer methods will change to accommodate reduced funding but with increasing numbers of novice, recreation-oriented landowners.
饲料动物生产农业正在实施基础设施变革和管理策略，以适应燃料、饲料谷物、化肥和种子等与能源相关成本的增加。本立场文件的主要目标是评估饲料利用方面未来的研究和推广科学需求、该学科的资金支持以及科学家地位和数量的变化。从美国东半部25所赠地大学返回的调查问卷将前4项研究需求列为：1）牧场系统与生产效率；2）与能源问题的关联；3）饲料品种评估与持久性；4）环境影响。美国农业部农业研究局11个地区地点的植物 - 动物未来研究需求目标是可持续管理和改善家畜性能、草原的生态生理学和生态学、环境影响以及改进营养价值评估技术。来自17个南部和东北部州的推广科学家将前3项需求列为饲料持久性、土壤肥力和养分管理以及牧场系统与生产效率。目前，赠款资金为赠地大学在饲料利用方面的研究和推广工作提供了超过40%的资金，科学家估计到2013年，这一支持基础将增至资金总额的55%至60%。州和联邦资金分配的减少导致从事饲料利用研究和推广活动的全职等效科学家数量减少。目前进行研究的25个州的全职等效科学家数量平均每个州约为2.8名。其中包括10个州全职等效科学家数量超过3名，11个州少于2名，3个州少于1名。对纤维素能源、气候变化和环境影响的兴趣增加可能为这些全职等效科学家提供新机会，参与综合跨学科研究，推广计划和技术转让方法将发生变化，以适应资金减少但面向休闲的新手土地所有者数量增加的情况。
