Seed Biotechnology Center 

The Seed Biotechnology Center is pleased to announce their first newsletter which will feature highlights and articles of interest. 

Crop Biotechnology: Feeds for Livestock
Most crops developed through biotechnology that are on the market today provide farmers with increased convenience and product quality while requiring fewer chemical inputs. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, herbicide- and insect-resistant biotech varieties accounted for about 85 percent of U.S. soybean acreage and 45 percent of corn acreage in 2003. Livestock eat the meal from approximately 70 percent of the soybeans and consume 80 percent of the corn grain and silage grown in the United States, making the livestock industry a major user of biotech crops. Plant breeders are concentrating on enhancing grains or protein sources to produce feedstuffs that will improve feed utilization, performance, product quality, and health of livestock while reducing production costs and environmental impacts. It is likely that biotech crops of the future will play an important role in this arena. This publication discusses potential applications and safety issues associated with such products.

Roundup Ready Alfalfa: An Emerging Technology
Glyphosate-resistant crops, also known as "Roundup Ready" (RR), have become an important part of cropping systems in the United States. In 2004, approximately 13 percent of corn, 85 percent of soybean, and 60 percent of cotton acreage was occupied by RR varieties. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the nation's third most important crop in economic value, and it occupies more than 22 million acres in the United States. It is considered the premier forage crop. It is the primary feed for dairy production, and is commonly fed to beef cattle, sheep, and horses. Alfalfa is also used for greenchop and silage in many areas. California is the leading producer of alfalfa hay in the United States, followed by Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Idaho. Roundup Ready technology has been successfully incorporated into alfalfa and is scheduled for commercial release in 2005. This publication reviews the important attributes and issues pertaining to RR technology as applied to alfalfa and the potential impacts of this technology on production systems and markets.

Both of these publications are available at no cost at: http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Publications/ABC_Series.htm

SBC Survey
The Seed Biotechnology Center was established in 1999 as a partnership between the seed industry and the University of California, Davis. Its initial goals were to:

• Develop research capacity and facilities.
• Provide expertise and infrastructure for collaborative research focusing on industry needs.
• Conduct problem-solving and basic research related to plant germplasm development and seed biology.
• Develop and offer educational programs targeted toward the seed and biotechnology industries.
• Conduct public service and outreach programs to support commercialization of new technologies.
• Serve as a scientific resource and voice on policy issues of importance to the seed industry.

After five years of operation, the SBC would appreciate your feedback on how well these objectives have been met and on what its objectives should be for the next five years. Your responses to the following questions will help the SBC direct its activities to the areas where it can provide the most value to its clientele.

Go to http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/ and click on SBC Survey to complete the form online or contact Sue Webster (scwebster@ucdavis.edu) for more information.  Thank you for you important feedback.

SBC Courses
The Center offered Seed Biotechnology, Production & Quality on February 2-3, 2005.  60 participants from numerous states attended the course which presented the scientific background for production, handling, storage and quality control procedures in the seed industry. It provided an opportunity for professionals in the seed industry, crop consultants and growers, to expand and update their knowledge about seed biology, production and quality.  The SBC plans to offer Breeding with Molecular Markers in February 2006.  Additional information will be published in upcoming newsletters.

Susan C. Webster
Program Representative
Seed Biotechnology Center
University of California
Plant Reproductive Biology
Extension Center Drive
Davis CA 95616
phone: 530.754.7333
fax: 530.754.7222

scwebster@ucdavis.edu
http://sbc.ucdavis.edu