Federal Initiatives: 2008 Accomplishments
Optimizing Production Systems, Market and Policy Analysis for Cotton and Other Natural Fibers
Texas Tech and Texas A&M have the expertise to expand the program in market and policy analysis of natural fibers that will greatly benefit U.S. industries and policy makers by providing relevant information about the changing landscapes of the market. Research is developing new information and technologies that are increasing cotton and textile production efficiencies, reducing costs through the processing chain, increasing market share and transparency, and improving the U.S. industry’s global competitiveness.
Center for Food Industry Excellence
The International Center for Food Industry Excellence researchers are developing and evaluating food innovations that improve the security, safety, functional properties, nutritional quality, eating quality, consumer acceptance, and production characteristics of food available to U.S. consumers. The Southern High Plains is in the heart of the U.S. cattle industry, rapidly growing swine and dairy industries, and a large cotton production industry.
Integrating Crops and Livestock for Sustainable Agricultural Systems
This program is aimed at conducting long-term, field-scale agricultural ecosystem research on integrated crop, forage, and livestock systems compared with plant and animal monocultures to elucidate system, ecological, and economic behavior such that systems can be designed to meet the critical needs of agriculture. It provides an opportunity to participate in a network of long-term agricultural ecosystem research sites, as well as continue the economic viability of producers and rural communities and sustained agricultural production in the Texas High Plains.
Southern Great Plains Center For Sustainable Biopolymer Production
Biopolymers represent a second generation of renewable agricultural products that process industrial vegetable oils and natural fiber to produce high value products. Vegetable oils are treated with electrical energy to produce aviation fuels, high value fuel additives, high strength resins, and superior lubricating products. Cotton and other natural fibers are modified genetically or chemically to develop a new generation of cellulose based polymer with high value markets.
Ogallala Aquifer
The project is focused on developing innovative conservation measures for the Ogallala Aquifer resource through a multi-state, university and federal program. For instance, a new method based on satellite observations is being developed to provide real-time irrigation recommendations on a field-by-field basis to farmers. In addition, researchers have developed an integrated crop/livestock/forage production system that requires 23 percent less irrigation water over cotton monoculture systems, potentially saving Texas producers an estimated $18 million in cash expenses.
Great Plains Sorghum Improvement and Utilization Center
The United States is currently the number one producer and exporter of sorghum in the world market. Grain sorghum is the third most important cereal crop grown in the United States and the fifth most important cereal crop grown in the world. The United States harvests about 8.6 million acres of sorghum annually and production is concentrated in the central and southern plains — representing approximately 85 percent of total production.
Center for North American Studies
Canada and Mexico are our first and second largest markets, accounting for 37 percent of U.S. export growth to the world in 2007. For agriculture, Canada and Mexico alone account for 55 percent of the increase in U.S. agriculture exports to the world since NAFTA. From 1993 to 2007, trade among the NAFTA nations has increased from $297 billion to $908 billion. The Center plays a critical role for the promotion and impact analysis of agricultural trade relationships among Canada, Mexico, and the United States through education and training, research, policy analysis, and cooperative study.
Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium
A large migration of dairies to the Southern Great Plains has occurred from other parts of the United States and from within Texas. Texas Tech University scientists possess internationally recognized expertise in areas critical to producing a safe, wholesome, and competitively priced supply of milk and related products. This research effort will provide a multidisciplinary, integrated and organized environment to positively influence production efficiency, herd health, milk quality, forage production, water use efficiency, environmental quality, biomass utilization for energy, and nutrient recovery.
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