Most interns at USDA don't get a lot of attention outside their assigned areas, but this guy's different.
He grew up on a ranch in Texas, branding cattle and tracking market prices. He then went on to graduate from Princeton with a degree in operations research and financial engineering.
It's an impressive ag and academic pedigree, but it isn't what gets Ross Ohlendorf noticed.
In his one blog post so far, Ohlendorf shared that his two favorite DC sites have been the Library of Congress and the National Archives. That makes sense, of course. He's a smart guy, finishing Princeton with a 3.75 GPA, and his father once managed IT systems for the University of Texas libraries. Given that, he probably feels at home in those hallowed halls of history and learning.
But what about NAL?
This brick tower might not deliver the architectural grandeur of the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress, or the thrill of their amazing historic baseball collection, but when it comes to agriculture, NAL is the cream of the crop.
This library speaks to Ohlendorf's roots, to his love of the land, his passion for ranching and his insatiable desire to learn. It also has crack reference and information center staff that can help with whatever research he's doing for his internship or whatever marketing issues they're tackling back at his family's ranch.
Ohlendorf's a smart guy, so I'm sure he's not going to want to miss what NAL has to offer. When he hustles out to Beltsville for an NAL tour, what do you think he should see?
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Word is out that Dr. Rajiv Shah, Under Secretary for the Research, Education and Economics (REE) Mission Area and Chief Scientist within USDA, has been nominated as the next administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
On the job with USDA since only June 2nd, Dr. Shah has nonetheless made a significant impact in the area of agricultural research. Said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, "In the short time Raj has been here, he has initiated and overseen a critical transformation in our approach to science."
That change is intended to raise the profile of science within the Department and to cement USDA as a recognized leader in agricultural research worldwide.
What you might not realize, however, is that goal includes this Library, since NAL, as a part of REE, supports the practical, relevant and results-oriented research our parent agency, ARS, is famous for.
That Dr. Shah's impending job change is announced less than a week after his first visit to NAL is purely coincidental, I assure you. He made clear that he values libraries, and we, in turn, value his leadership.
We'll just have to provide our support from a bit of a longer distance now. After all, USAID does play a crucial role in international agricultural development.
Just don't forget, Raj, that we can help with that, too. Just give us a call.
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Wow, what a brief (albeit good) relationship we had with Dr. Shah. Thanks, Mary Ann, for this thoughtful, well-crafted post.
I was really looking forward to further actions, influences and interactions from Dr. Raj with NAL.
Who knows - perhaps the person selected as the new Under Secretary for REE will also be creative, dynamic, skilled and experienced in key areas. We may hope, anyway. I wish all the best for Secretary Vilsack, and for USDA, REE, ARS and NAL as he fills this key gap.
And, perhaps Dr. Raj will "give us a call" (301-504-5755) - or try us via AgRef, :).
Thanks again for this update!
- Karl S
Submitted by: Karl S on November 11, 2009 02:14 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"More than any other single person of this age, he has helped to provide bread for a hungry world." So said the Nobel Committee when presenting Borlaug with the Peace Prize in 1970.
He even garnered a blog post here at InfoFarm two years ago, complete with an accompanying rap song (an InfoFarm first). You'll also find there a number of links to Borlaug's backstory, but the recent rush of coverage has kicked up a few more pulled from the last decade or so:
All reveal a humble, hard-working man deeply committed to using science to attack the world's problems. His life's lesson blends optimism and hope with tenacity and intelligence, and puts them all in service of humanity.
It is a lesson we'd do well to follow. After all, there's still work to do. Let's get busy.
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InfoFarm--Does the National Agricultural Library have any resources available on Norman Borlaug, maybe a videotaped interview done with him about 2000?
Submitted by: Len Carey on September 16, 2009 06:31 PM
Thanks for asking, Len. Yes, the library has both books and articles by and about Norman Borlaug, but I can find nothing about any videotaped interview with him, either through the library catalog, Special Collections or AFSIC's oral history series. However, the library does hold a videotaped interview with Hank Beachell, a contemporary of Borlaug's who pioneered plant breeding and research in rice. (Borlaug, of course, worked with wheat.) Perhaps that's what you're thinking of?
Submitted by: Mary Ann on September 17, 2009 12:55 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Yesterday, the Senate held its confirmation hearing for Gov. Tom Vilsack, President-elect Obama's pick for the next Secretary of Agriculture.
The hearing touched upon the most, if not all, of the major agricultural issues facing the new administration, including renewable energy, food safety, sustainable ag, rural development, trade issues, farm subsidies and commodity programs.
But some of the most enthusiastic language came in support of childhood nutrition and school lunches.
We can work with our schools to make sure fruits and vegetables are available. . . . We will be very aggressive in this area. . . . It’s going to be important for us to promote fresh fruits and vegetables as part of our children’s diets. . . . That means supporting those who supply those products.
Such ideas are in keeping with Obama's plan to work through the USDA's various nutrition programs to end childhood hunger by 2015.
The hearing, which ran just over two hours, is available as a Webcast from the Senate Ag Committee's site.
From all reports, Gov. Vilsack is expected to be confirmed as the new Secretary of Agriculture as early as Tuesday and sworn in soon after.
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Will my daughter eat fruits and vegetables? Nutrition is good, as a small farmer I really would like more support. How are they going to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables though?
Submitted by: BradJ on February 26, 2009 05:51 PM
In the next administration, I would like to see a stronger push for organic produce at affordable prices. We need to support small farmers who choose to produce organic crops. Currently, the Agricultural Management Assistance Program reimburses 15 states in the cost to attain organic certification. However, more needs to be done, and I hope the reappointment of the National Organic Standards Board will help get the ball rolling in the non-pesticide direction.
Submitted by: Jessica G. on March 16, 2009 09:13 AM
Very nice site!
Submitted by: John1410 on May 19, 2009 07:47 AM
Terrific info! will come back...
Submitted by: immutleReully on May 20, 2009 06:44 AM
Outstanding page. i will definitely come back again soon.
Submitted by: saunseetherma on May 21, 2009 06:30 AM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In case you missed it, Secretary Schafer held what was likely his final teleconference last week, where he reviewed the current administration's accomplishments in the agricultural sphere and looked ahead to what issues the new Secretary might face.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Somehow it seems appropriate that after a long blog-writing hiatus following election day I return with news -- not so fresh, admittedly -- that President-elect Obama has nominated Tom Vilsack to be the next Secretary of Agriculture.
In announcing Vilsack's selection last week, Obama praised his vision and his commitment to biotechnology. He also said of the former Iowa governor, "Tom will not only help ensure that rural America has a true partner in implementing the Farm Bill and pursuing agricultural research, but that Washington is looking out for everyone from the small family farms that are feeding our communities to the large farms that are feeding the world."
But what do folks in Iowa say about Vilsack?
I find it informative to check out the hometown paper for a different, perhaps more familiar, perspective on the nominee. In the case of Vilsack, here are a few articles from the DesMoines Register:
Be sure to check out the sidebar on the first story for a nice recap of Vilsack's personal and professional life, along with snippets from various ag groups regarding his appointment.
Finally, on the lighter side, browse the pics accompanying the Iowa Ear column on Vilsack: The secretary of hats. Looking at those, I can't help but think Vilsack might be the early favorite for next year's Halloween costume competition. At minimum, it shows he's willing to do what it takes to advance a cause, and that, to me, is a good trait to have in a Secretary of Agriculture.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As Director of the National Agricultural Library for the last six years, Peter Young has rubbed shoulders with a lot of big wigs.
He has shown off NAL to three different Secretaries of Agriculture (Veneman, Johanns and Schafer), repeatedly argued NAL's case to a host of Ag Department officials, and shaken more library directors' hands than kernals in a corn field.
He has pushed for digital collections, spoken on the role of libraries in cutting-edge research, and held fast to the idea that libraries have a bright future.
He is definitely a glass-half-full kind of guy, and it shows in his demeanor.
His faith and confidence are infectious. Warm and jovial, he can talk the stripes off a bee. He's approachable, sincere and supportive, encouraging innovation and cheering on risk-takers. He doesn't stand still, and neither does the staff he leads.
But from this day forward, the staff will be moving on without him.
It's his third stint at LC, and, he says, it's a bit like coming home, both because of his previous work there and because his father once walked the same halls.
So we bid him a fond farewell, with heartfelt gratitude for his leadership and a deep appreciation for his efforts on behalf of the Library and its staff. And we send him off with a chat and a laugh and a hug, as best befits his time here, for though he has rubbed shoulders with big wigs, it's his time with his staff that he says he most treasures.
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Peter has been a supporter and champion of collaborations between the NAL and the land-grant and agricultural library community. Projects such as AgNIC benefited greatly from Peter's encouragement and vision. His leadership will be greatly missed by his state-based partners.
Submitted by: Connie Britton on November 3, 2008 11:24 AM
Yes, good luck! Keep sharing it all along the way...
Thanks, Peter!
I really also liked Katie Newman's thank you note to Peter from USAIN, describing also his efforts for everyone while at NAL.
Maybe she would agree for it to be made "public" somehow??
Thank you, again, MA!
- Karl
Submitted by: Karl Schneider on November 4, 2008 10:18 PM
The USAIN Executive Council sent this letter to Peter, expressing its gratitude to him for his efforts on behalf of the Ag Information community.
USAIN (United States Agricultural Information Network) is an organization for information professionals that provides a forum for discussion of agricultural issues, takes a leadership role in the formation of a national information policy as related to agriculture, makes recommendations to the National Agricultural Library on agricultural information matters, and promotes cooperation and communication among its members.
----------
November 4, 2008
Peter Young Chief, Asian Division 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20540-4810
Dear Peter –
USAIN acknowledges with abiding gratitude the service that you performed while Director of the National Agricultural Library.
You always made sure that you were in frequent communication with USAIN and were open and willing to share information with us regarding current and future projects and efforts ongoing at NAL. Through your engaging Ag Updates at USAIN conferences, as well as at the SLA and ALA conferences, you kept the organization's membership well informed on critical agricultural information issues and on the challenges that the NAL was facing.
Peter, we appreciate that you valued USAIN input on a variety of NAL strategic planning initiatives such as the National Digital Library Repository, the Planning Group for the Leadership Council for Agricultural Information and Outreach, and related projects.
Under your leadership the NAL supported and worked with USAIN members on numerous agricultural preservation projects. You vigorously defended the need for continued support of the collections at NAL, especially the print materials and special collections, recognizing NAL’s role in preserving our agricultural heritage. Additionally your efforts to advance our access to digital collections are greatly appreciated. Peter, we are grateful that you recognized that the NAL collections serve not only the USDA, but also a broad spectrum of agricultural information professions such as USAIN members, as well as researchers worldwide and the citizenry at large.
Recognizing the funding challenges that the NAL has faced for decades, you were a leader in raising the visibility of NAL within the government as well as within the agricultural information community. In this vein, we welcomed your efforts to enhance the relationship between the NAL and the land grant institutions, most of whom have representatives in the membership of USAIN.
We wish you all the best of luck in your new position at the Library of Congress and hope that you will have only fond memories of your USAIN colleagues and the work that we accomplished together.
Most Sincerely,
Katie Newman, USAIN President
On behalf of the USAIN Executive Council and all USAIN Members
Submitted by: Katie Newman, USAIN President on November 6, 2008 01:08 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
We may well wonder whether there can be any new plant left to be introduced, so great is the variety we possess, and so far afield have collectors searched. Frank Kingdon-Ward, 1930
Plant exploration has been an active and ongoing part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's work for over 110 years.
Even today, botanists, horticulturalists, geneticists and others at the Agricultural Research Service set out on expeditions to identify and collect plants. These varieties, often known to the local farmers but new to American researchers, might possess genetic traits that are exactly what we need to overcome a pest, counteract a disease or resist environmental extremes. At minimum, they represent genetic material that scientists are seeking to preserve against an uncertain future.
It's a job with a high cool factor, traveling the world, heading into exotic locales, talking with people tucked away in the furthest corners of the world. What makes it even more compelling is the idea that what they discover could one day feed the world.
This crucial aspect of what might be perceived as globe-trotting adventures hooked Sally Ingleton, an Australian filmmaker, and pushed her to make a documentary called Seed Hunter. Her subject: Dr. Ken Street, "the real life Indiana Jones of agriculture," who calls what he does "prospecting for green gold."
The documentary really tries to serve up "drama and action," with "science elements to back up the narrative," and it admirably succeeds, simultaneously entertaining while educating.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
I spent the afternoon at the forum NAL hosted today on Nikolai Vavilov and the ongoing importance of gene banks.
Since I had written about gene banks before, particularly the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, I knew going in the value they provide to humanity by preserving seeds and genetic materials.
But in a world full of plants more varied than we can even imagine, how do these seed banks get it all?
Such collections start with people like Nikolai Vavilov, just one of many plant explorers who traveled the world looking for new species and varieties.
His one hundred-plus expeditions read like an adventurer's wish list, with the rugged Pamir Mountains, Afghanistan, Abyssinia, East Asia, western Canada, and big chunks of Latin America among them.
And all this at a time (1916-1940) when travel was slow, GoreTex didn't exist -- in fact, he always wore a suit -- and specimens were sent home with a hope and a prayer they'd reach their destination.
He recorded the details of his journeys with a writer's eye and scientist's focus. His journals blend intriguing cultural habits and historical events with the environmental details, agricultural practices and botanical nuances he came to capture.
As Jeremy Cherfas, a biologist, noted, "If Vavilov were alive today, he’d be popping into the nearest internet café at every opportunity to share his discoveries with the world."
Thus inspired, Cherfas launched vaviblog a mere three weeks ago, using Nikolai's own journal entries to take us into the mind of a great scientist and the adventures of a world traveler.
But Vavilov's story does not end as an adventurer's should. Instead, he and his work fell victim to Stalinist ideology and political intrigue, a tragic tale well told in Peter Pringle's recent book, The Murder of Nikolai Vavilov.
But Vavilov's work lives on. He was posthumously "rehabilitated" under Khrushchev and his reputation restored. But more importantly perhaps, the specimens he found and the genetic ideas he developed continue to inform research.
Gary Paul Nabhan, an ethnobiologist and essayist, highlights the ongoing significance of Vavilov's work in his recently released book Where Our Food Comes From. Nabhan revists many of the regions Vavilov explored, noting the changes that have occurred in the last century and explaining why those changes matter.
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Thanks for the link. I hope we'll get more details from the NAL forum in due course. Meanwhile, the Vaviblog welcomes contributions.
Submitted by: Jeremy Cherfas on October 25, 2008 07:48 AM
Earlier today Gary Nabhan added his own blog post about the Vavilov forum. There, Nabhan shares his impressions of Yuri Vavilov, Nikolai's son, who spoke of his father's life and accomplishments during last week's forum. Check it out for a moving tribute to both father and son.
Submitted by: Mary Ann on October 28, 2008 03:17 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This is the woeful tale of a dedicated scientist whose work was critically important to the winners of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Woeful? Why?
The woe, it turns out, began with a glow. A glow that makes the mice pictured to the right glow green. A glow that can expose processes we used to know little about.
"Green fluorescent proteins allow scientists quite literally to see the growth of cancer and study Alzheimer's disease and other conditions that affect millions of people," said Bruce Bursten, president of the American Chemical Society.
As a laboratory tool the green fluorescent protein (GFP) first isolated from jellyfish opened up new worlds. As this article from Ars Technica explains in terms even I can understand, the GFP "has given us an unprecedented view of the movie of life."
Making this year's Nobel the equivalent of an Oscar, I guess.
And like Oscar winners, the Nobel Prize winners acknowledge what got them there, readily admitting that their research depended on the initial cloning of the fluorescent gene.
In the early '90s, the only successful reproduction the researchers could find was in Dr. Douglas Prasher's lab at Woods Hole. In fact, in this 2002 interview with Dr. Martin Chalfie of Columbia, one of this year's Nobel laureates, Prasher is mentioned seven times for his selfless contribution.
But fate and funding were not so kind to Dr. Prasher. When the money for his research ran dry, he took a job with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine section.
Then Prasher's next job for a NASA contractor again fell victim to a grant drought.
That was 2.5 years ago, and in that time he hasn't been able to find a job in research.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If you're a regular InfoFarm reader, then you're probably already tuned in to what it takes to get food from farm to table, but have you given much thought to the people working to grow and harvest that food?
In 2006 this country had 1,009,000 hired farmworkers. According to USDA's Economic Research Service, that one million plus represents 30 percent of all farmworkers. (The other 70 percent are paid/unpaid family members.)
Nearly 50 percent of these hired farmworkers are foreign-born, most from Mexico, which means that farmworkers are far more likely to be male and Hispanic than not when compared against all wage and salary workers.
Put another way, Hispanic farmworkers make up less than one-half of 1 percent of all U.S. wage and salary workers, but those small figures belie their major contribution to agriculture. Particularly in the production of labor-intensive crops like fruit, tree nuts, vegetables and horticultural crops, these hired farmworkers get the jobs done that can't be automated, picking, packing and shipping the delicate fruits, vegetables, nuts and plants from farms to stores.
Even so, Hispanic-owned farms tend to be small family affairs -- 49 percent run operations on fewer than 50 acres -- so they face the same struggles all small farmers do to stay solvent, market their product and push toward a successful business.
That's an impressive investment in the land, this country and themselves, one to be honored and acknowledged during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Obviously, this blog covers agriculture, but within that broad topic, it jumps all over the map.
And ag, as you know, encompasses a lot things, from food to fuel, fiber and forestry, which is how I can cover three very disparate subjects like the Olympics, Norman Borlaug and state fairs and still stay under the ag umbrella.
Well, leave it to the Iowans to join me under that big top.
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Hello , i see you mention Etta May Budd, it bothers me greatly to not see Sophia & William Liston mentioned harldy at all in books and articles, for the exception of a few. Etta Budd asked Sophia to help Mr. Carver Sophia did so much more then that she let
him live in her basement, helped him get work, she painted with Mr. Carver and later painted with his newly invented peanut oil. We have about 100 letters that were sent to Sophia after Mr. Carver moved from Iowa. We have Two painting left that sophia did with Carver and his
peanut oil. Thier must have been some prejudice and persecuation towards Sophia and William at that time for having a African american man living in her home. She also had talked to the college students into letting Mr. Carver eat lunch with them instead of him eating in the basement alone at Simpsons College. In her letters to Carver she refers to herself as "your mother" , William Arthur Liston was her husband they both owned and ran the Book Store close to Simpsons College, William is the son of Jesse and Rebecca Liston, they were amoung the first settlers their in Iowa they also owned a grocer , and started the first episcapol, methodist church. We feel Sophia & William did something so great, so kind , so generous that helped Mr. Carver go and be and do the things he did during that time. Please if ever their is an article to be written again, would you please mention them, i can give you copies of photos of the Listons and their home in which Mr. Carver stayed in. The letters need to be copyrighted first before anything is done with those, but i can give you excerpts from some of the letters.
Thank you for Listening
Venice Liston
venice.liston@wildblue.net
Submitted by: Venice Liston on September 13, 2009 03:22 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The gesture tells me that Bachrach must have been a significant figure in our agency's history, but I didn't really know why. A bit of research later, and I've discovered what sets this man apart:
Early in his career, Bachrach had his initial brush with scientific fame. As the first to purify the poliomyelitis virus, he ultimately helped Jonas Salk develop the polio vaccine in 1955.
Then, in the 1970s, Bachrach had his own newsworthy breakthrough.
While researching ways to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, Bachrach developed the first genetically engineered vaccine for use in animals or humans.
Bachrach's patented approach relied upon a protein in the virus that produced an immune response without actually causing an infection. He incorporated these special proteins into carrier molecules using gene splicing. When injected, the combination triggered a production of antibodies without actually making the organism sick.
That, my friends, is the perfect recipe for a vaccine: immunity without illness. It is also the kind of work that earns honors.
Bachrach received the National Medal of Science for his work from President Reagan in 1983. The Medal, the Nation's highest scientific honor, had been presented to only 167 scientists and engineers prior to Bachrach and the eighteen others in his induction class. (As of today 441 have received it.)
Bachrach authored or co-authored a number of articles, most during his forty years working for USDA Plum Island Animal Disease Center. And the techniques he developed have influenced the creation of other types of viral vaccines.
We are lucky to have had him.
So I send this out to all the other scientists and researchers across USDA who toil in relative obscurity. Your work matters, and your discoveries help us see farther than we otherwise could.
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This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
What comes to mind when you think of Hawai'i? Paradise, right? Sun, sand, surf, warm breezes . . . I'm with you.
Okay, but what about Hawaiian food? My top three: pineapple, macadamia nuts, and poi. (Not that I've ever had poi, but too much television has undoubtedly shaped my perceptions.)
But Hawai'i is no longer paradise for the pineapple. That industry, so closely tied with many Americans' vision of Hawai'i, is showing signs of struggle.
In 2006, Del Monte planted its last crop of pineapple, citing the expense of growing in Hawai'i as the prime reason for shutting down operations after 90 years in the islands. Their departure leaves just two pineapple companies in the state, Dole Food Hawai'i and Maui Pineapple Co.
But last year, the latter shuttered its pineapple cannery, the last one in the U.S. The closure brought an end to an era for many Hawaiians, but the company remains, redirecting its attention to fresh fruit and juice in an effort to stay profitable.
The bottom line talks loudly. Growers in Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil, China, India and Costa Rica can produce the fruit more cheaply, thrusting these countries to the top of list of suppliers worldwide (XLS|41 KB). As a result, the pineapple might become more symbol than reality in Hawai'i. Only time -- and the market -- will tell.
But in honor of pineapple's long, deep history in Hawai'i, and in conjunction with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, let me point you to a couple of unique resources from the Center for Oral History at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa that celebrate this fantastic fruit and the people who've brought it to us for decades.
The first, a short video clip (Quicktime | 4.4 MB), shows Venicia Guiala, a former pineapple field worker, demonstrating how she prepared for work in the hot, dusty pineapple fields. If you prefer, you can read the transcript, but I heartily recommend the video. Seeing Mrs. Guiala putting on her scarves, goggles and hat conveys more strongly than the words how difficult and uncomfortable that job must be.
The second provides a short introduction to the Center's oral history project on Women Workers in Hawai'i's Pineapple Industry, a combination of narrative and oral history excerpts.
But for a more contemporary twist on pineapple processing, check out this clip from YouTube. The music makes it an almost mesmerizingly peaceful experience. (Though I'd appreciate someone telling me what the song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" has to do with peeling and coring pineapple.)
Finally, if you haven't given much thought to the role Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have played and continue to play in our country's agricultural endeavors, jump over to NAL's site on Asian Pacific Americans in agriculture. Among many other things, you can learn from the resources there the unique niche Chinese immigrants filled in 1850s California; the key role Filipinos played in the formation of the United Farm Workers; and the impact of Alien Land Laws on Japanese immigrant farmers.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Interesting blog post, Mary Ann. With Del Monte leaving Hawaii, the last two producers are Dole and Maui Pineapple. Maui Pine was the last to close their cannery on Maui, they did it earlier this year or late 2007. So all the fruit produced in Hawaii is for the fresh fruit market. The latest statistics shows that the acreage in pineapple in Hawaii is less than 14,000 acres and seed crops has now surpassed pineapple as the number crop in terms of farm gate values. Sugarcane, macadamia nuts and coffee round out the top 5. As for poi, taro, which is used to make poi, only 9% of the taro consumed in Hawaii is produced here. All of these statistics are from the NASS Hawaii state statistics.
Doug Vincent
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii
Submitted by: Doug Vincent on May 20, 2008 09:23 AM
Thanks for the added info, Doug. I have to admit that I did not even know that poi was made from taro. As my mom used to say, "You learn something new every day."
[Note to all: Doug originally submitted his comment in association with the entry "Amber Waves?", but I added it here to put it in its correct context.]
Submitted by: Mary Ann on May 20, 2008 09:29 AM
This decline in farming in the US is a call for citizens to celebrate the farming that still does exist. American Farmer (Welcome Books), coming out October 1, 2008, is a photographic book that does just that.
Paul Mobley's spectacular and telling images of farmers all over the states as well as Katrina Fried's interviews with farmers not only give readers insight into the importance of farming but they also make unknown farmers into familiar heros. Mr. Mobley traveled over 100,000 miles, from Alaska to Maine, taking over 20,000 photos in his quest to reveal the true face of American farming. American Farmer is a result of his journeys, and it will allow the public to understand the necessity and heroism of American Farming.
Check out the website for the book:
welcomebooks.com/americanfarmer
Submitted by: Welcome Books on June 11, 2008 02:50 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
It's not often that we get two thought-provoking documentaries on agriculture and farming in the same week, but PBS is serving up a couple of conversation starters, beginning tonight.
"King Corn," a film looking at the corn's central role in American agriculture and food production, makes its television debut in just a few hours on the Emmy award-winning series Independent Lens, PBS's showcase for independent films. Not all PBS stations will be airing the show today, however, and many will be repeating it as well, so be sure to check your local listings for air times. You still might be able to catch it.
Here in the Washington area, Independent Lens will also be re-broadcasting "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" later this week, a 2006 film that follows an Illinois farmer, John Peterson, as he tries to transform his family farm in a way that is at odds with his community. Hopefully, this film too will crop up where you're at in the coming months, so keep checking those local listings.
If PBS lets you down, or you'd just rather watch on your own timetable, "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" is already available on DVD, and "King Corn" will be released later this month.
I haven't seen either film yet, so I'm very interested in seeing what they're about. And, of course, I'd love to hear your take on things. Once you've watched either or both, come back and let us know what you thought. I'm sure our community of readers can get a good discussion going.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Did you notice that President Bush had a new cabinet member in the audience for last night's State of the Union address?
Edward T. Schafer, former governor of North Dakota, quietly cleared the Senate confirmation process and was sworn in as the new Secretary of Agriculture by Vice-President Cheney just hours before President Bush stood at the dais in the House Chamber.
That quick action allowed Schafer to walk into the packed chamber among his fellow Cabinet members just a short time later. There, he heard the President address his hopes for his final year in office, making a handful of general points on taxes, trade, immigration, renewable fuels and global hunger that might impact the new Secretary.
Notably, President Bush made no mention of the pending farm bill, a piece of legislation that is likely to keep Secretary Schafer -- and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner -- quite busy in the coming weeks.
Those negotiations have been moving slowly, and the administration continues to threaten a veto if changes aren't made to the current versions. Deputy Secretary Conner (formerly Acting Secretary) has been pushing for a new formula for financing the farm bill, but an agreement remains elusive.
Can the new guy offer a fresh perspective that might unstick things? I guess we'll see. I just hope he got some sleep after his big opening night. He's gonna need to be sharp to wrestle this steer.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
UPDATE
Just a few hours after I posted the entry above, Secretary Schafer attended a welcoming reception at USDA. If you missed the event, you can read the transcript or watch the video of his remarks online. It runs only about thirty minutes.
Submitted by: Mary Ann on January 31, 2008 03:55 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Borlaug developed new varieties of wheat that ultimately transformed grain production worldwide. His breeding methods, coupled with new planting and soil conservation techniques, multiplied crop yield many times over, turning severe food shortages into surpluses and eliminating starvation in some of the most devastated parts of the world. As a result he is credited with saving a billion lives (a billion!), won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, and earned the title "Father of the Green Revolution." He also founded his own international award, the World Food Prize (the topic of my previous entry).
And if that ain't enough, Borlaug also has his own rap tune. Give it a listen:
I don't know what you been told
about farming and food in days of old,
but listen and take this to the bank:
If there's food in your tummy then you'd better thank
N-O-R-M-A-N
Norman Borlaug, thank you, man. Full lyrics
Not bad for a boy from Cresco, Iowa.
But there's so much more to this man's impressive life and legacy, so take a few minutes and check out the following biographies:
Oh, and the other four winners of the three big honors Borlaug holds: Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Elie Wiesel. I'm guessing you've heard of them.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Hi Mary Ann, I like your blog a lot. Are you a librarian? I'm a librarian at FAO in Rome, and I just added you to my blogroll. It's nice to see other libraries out there in the blogosphere! Check out our blog at: http://lubinlib.typepad.com
Submitted by: Jessica on October 23, 2007 06:09 AM
Thanks for your comments, Jessica, and for adding InfoFarm to your blogroll. I need to expand our blogroll as well. There's a lot of good stuff out there on agriculture, your blog among them.
As for your question, yes, I am a librarian. Maybe someday soon I'll write up an "about" page so folks can learn the rest of the story, but for now, I'll just say that I've worked here at NAL for four years (and counting).
Submitted by: Mary Ann on October 23, 2007 10:07 AM
I can't believe I work for USDA and have not heard of Norman Borlaug! And, I love the rap!
Submitted by: Chris on October 26, 2007 11:29 AM
I'm with you, Chris. I just learned about him myself a couple of months ago. That's why I wanted to do a piece about him. He's a pretty impressive guy, and he's still getting out there to raise awareness, at least as much as his health will allow. As he's quoted as saying in the DesMoines Register article cited above, "Pessimism has no place in action."
Amen, Norman. Amen.
Submitted by: Mary Ann on October 26, 2007 11:41 AM
I must say, I don’t like rap, but that was a remarkable arrangement of words that created a great cap of ones magnificent achievements. It was truly captivating. I played it over and over again. I am ashamed to say I have never heard of this great achiever. He saved Billions of peoples lives with science and technology. That goes to show if one person can accomplish so much one would think with all the knowledge, technology and a abundance of great minds harnessed together we as a country could stomp out hunger and starvation world wide. I feel so uplifted from the mere thought of unlimited possibilities.
Submitted by: Curtis on October 27, 2007 04:51 AM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Have you ever heard of the World Food Prize? It honors those "who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world." Given this lofty intent, it is considered by many the Nobel Prize for agriculture.
Of course, if you agree with the basic premise in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs -- that the physiological drive for food, water, shelter, etc. must be satisfied before any higher level needs can be fully pursued -- then you could even argue that the World Food Prize is more important than the Nobel Prizes, just with less press coverage.
Until now.
This blog has uttered nary a word about those other awards in Sweden, but we're devoting today's entry to the World Food Prize and this year's honoree, Dr. Philip Nelson.
The first food scientist to win the award -- all previous honorees came from the food production side -- Dr. Nelson grew from a 15-year-old 4-H "Tomato King" in Indiana to an internationally recognized expert in food science and technology thanks to his development of asceptic equipment and processing methods. This asceptic processing allows tomatoes, oranges and other fruits and vegetables to be held in a pathogen-free environment well beyond harvest without loss of taste or nutritional value. It also removes the element of time from food distribution and processing, making it possible to distribute seasonal foods around the world safely and economically.
Think fresh orange juice in Sweden in July, a half a year and a half a world away from its Florida harvest.
So, consumers have more choices, food stays fresher longer, and products can be imported and exported with limited loss. And the processing and packaging Dr. Nelson developed has improved the reach and effectiveness of humanitarian food programs as well. Even those in the remotest regions of the world feel his impact.
His work has not gone unnoticed. Obviously. The Institute of Food Technologists rated aseptic processing and packaging the No. 1 innovation in food technology back in 1991. Then in '95 he received IFT's prestigious Nicholas Appert Award, and now, the World Food Prize.
So, a hearty congratulations and thank you to Dr. Nelson, who will receive his award tonight at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
Or take a few minutes to tell us what you think is the the most important innovation in food technology. Maybe together we can pinpoint next year's World Food Prize winner.
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Nicely done, MA! Thanks very much!
Submitted by: Karl S on October 22, 2007 04:26 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If you haven't set your weekend plans yet, check out the events at your local HerbDay gathering this Saturday, October 13. Since this is only the second annual celebration of herbs, not every state has joined the party, but quite a few have.
Here in the Washington area, our colleagues at the U.S. Botanic Garden are expanding the celebration to Friday, October 12, filling the day with informative lectures and tours on herbal medicines, skin care, and aromatherapy. Their Saturday offerings will also touch upon these topics, along with herbal teas, baths, crafts and cooking.
If you can't hit all the lectures, try to catch Dr. Jim Duke, a retired researcher with USDA's Agricultural Research Service and a star of sorts in the ethnobotanical firmament.
Dr. Duke has traveled the world studying plants and how different cultures have used them, writing numerous books and articles along the way, among them The Green Pharmacy and Dr. Duke's Essential Herbs. He's also, apparently, a bit of a character, a 'Bama born fiddler with a passion for bluegrass that rivals his passion for herbs.
But I can't do Dr. Duke justice. To learn more about his life and work, check out any or all of the following:
Lively discussions and different opinions are encouraged within the bounds of respectful civil discourse. Questionable language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and gratuitous links will either be edited or deleted. Comments are moderated and will not appear on InfoFarm until they have been approved.
Just came across another great resource on Dr. Jim Duke that you might want to know about.
The National Agricultural Library has in its collection a two-hour oral history interview with Dr. Duke from 1988. Request the tape from the Library's Service Desk. It's Videocassette #629.
Submitted by: Mary Ann on October 25, 2007 01:20 PM
This blog does not represent official communications from the National Agricultural Library, the Agricultural Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Most interns at USDA don't get a lot of attention outside their assigned areas, but this guy's different.
Word is out that Dr. Rajiv Shah, Under Secretary for the Research, Education and Economics (
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