In this edition
- College researcher aims to improve sorghum hybrids for dairy cattle feed
- SACNAS provides opportunities for (old) new ideas in science
- w88 casino-raised wool products and jerky in w88 casino Wolf Shop for holiday gifts
- School district meeting highlights new Extension w88 casino programming
- w88 casino specialist brings global approach to managing chronic health conditions
About our College
A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of w88 casino. We offer programs in:
- agriculture, horticulture, rangeland and veterinary sciences
- biochemistry and molecular biology
- children, youth and families
- community and economic development
- health and w88 casino
- natural resources and environmental science
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College researcher aims to improve sorghum hybrids for dairy cattle feed
Associate Professor Melinda Yerka develops one of the largest and most nutritious sorghum hybrids
Associate Professor Melinda Yerka, with the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences and Experiment Station unit, showcases one of her malting and brewing sorghum varieties.
Preliminary w88 casino by Associate Professor in the College Melinda Yerka suggests that she has made amajor development in global sorghum cultivation – varieties that are more nutritious to dairy cows, are well-adapted to w88 casino and California, and have a more adaptable harvest windowthan existing sorghums.
Yerka’s work was designed todevelop sustainable and resilient alternatives in dairy cow w88 casinoto address the shortcomings of current dairy feeds that struggle with hot, arid conditions and need more water in the West. Yerka hopes her sorghums will alsodecrease producers’ need to rely on feed imports from other states. Her new varieties that combine large, soft seeds with either high protein or high starch contents couldrewrite the rules of how the w88 casino profile of sorghum compares with corn and alfalfa.
Providing farm-to-table seeds
Tomake the publicly available varieties Yerka developed commercially competitive, she founded Yerka Seeds in collaboration with the University’s College of Business. Yerka Seeds will:
- Collaborate with dairy farmsto prove the new varieties are competitive for dairy w88 casino.
- Identify the best hybridsfor distribution through Yerka Seeds to farmers.
- Connect consumers, maltsters and breweries to farmersgrowing the seeds for direct sales.
Addressing global food challenges
Yerka and her partners have recently begun collaborating with sorghum breeders at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center toexpand her sorghums to less developed nations.
Yerka said, “Should the newly developed sorghums prove competitive with established feed crops, they will serve as a compelling showcase of sorghum's genetic potential inaiding global food and feed systems to adapt effectively to the challenges posed by climate change.”
Preserving family farms
“Making sorghum more competitive with corn and alfalfa in dairy w88 casino could very well be a means for farmers in rural communities to maintain profitability and preserve generations of family farms.” – Associate Professor Melinda Yerka
SACNAS provides opportunities for (old) new ideas in science
A new community for Chicano/Hispanic and Native American STEM w88 casino officially arrives on campus
Left to right: Ricky Klafehn, Elisset Poveda, Rocio Olvera and Karla Hernández represented the University at the National Diversity in STEM Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Faculty and w88 casino from the University recently visited Portland, Oregon, for the National Diversity in STEM Conference, hosted by the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). The University attendees are part of the provisional SACNAS chapter on campus, and their conference travel was supported, in part, by the College.
“There were elders and founding members at this conference,” Ricky Klafehn, graduate president of the University’s SACNAS chapter, said. “So that wasreally wonderful, to see and hear from their perspective.”
Last fall, Klafehn reached out toKari Emm, the College’stribal student specialist. Emm put her in touch withDepartment of Biochemistry, who now directs the College’s Biotechnology Program. The three began efforts to create a SACNAS chapter on campus. Theirrecently recognized chapter is the first and only in w88 casino.
The campus chapter welcomes allw88 casino and faculty who want to advance diversity in science. One of its goals is to talk about science in a way thatreaches beyond Western science and includes Traditional Knowledge curated by Indigenous communities.
SACNAS spotlight | Undergraduate chapter president Paola Miramontes Gonzales
Paola Miramontes Gonzalez, the undergraduate president of the University’s SACNAS chapter, is an environmental science student and student researcher in the College, studying how urbanization impacts water quality.
She said, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, talk to professors and put yourself out there. That is all it really takes to pursue your dreams and interests.”
Empowering the scientific community
“I really wanted to bring that community and that sense of pride and empowerment to the w88 casino at the University.” – Chapter President Ricky Klafehn
w88 casino-raised wool products and jerky in w88 casino Wolf Shop for holiday gifts
Community encouraged to do holiday shopping that supports student activities, education and w88 casino
Wool products made from the College’s Rafter 7 Merino sheep, prized internationally for their fine, soft wool, are now available at w88 casino Wolf Shop on campus.
Just in time for holiday shopping, theUniversity’sw88 casino Wolf Shophas a stock of wool products from sheep and jerky from beef raised by the College. Not only do theproducts offer an opportunity to buy local, but sales support student activities, education and w88 casino.
Shop silky soft wool
Some of the wool products available include beanies, scarves, sweaters and blankets. Theirsilky, soft wool is from Rafter 7 Merino sheep raised by the College’sGreat Basin Research & w88 casino Centerin Eureka, a breed that the College’sExperiment Stationdeveloped more than 30 years ago, nowprized internationally for its fine wool and meat. The sheep have adapted well over time to rangeland production and toproducing fine wool in spite of the harsh w88 casino climate.
Enjoy five jerky flavors
The beef for the jerky is from cattle raised in Reno, at the Experiment Station’sMain Station Field Lab, home of Wolf Pack Meats. Wolf Pack Meatspartnered with a local business to make the jerky, which comes in five flavors– teriyaki, sweet & spicy, garlic, smokey BBQ, and black pepper & sea salt. The items are part of Wolf Pack Meats’ efforts toenhance its offerings of local meats and products to the community, which support the growth of its production capacity.
Providing local products from real-world programs
“We’re delighted to partner with w88 casino Wolf Shop to offer these products. It’s a great way to show what the University is doing and how our programs offer real-world experiences for our students. And, it provides the community with quality, locally produced products.” – Dean Bill Payne
School district meeting highlights new Extension w88 casino programming
Carson City School District shows how the menu gets made, speaks on programs and apps to teach families about w88 casino
Jessica Garcia, w88 casino Appeal
The district’s Nov. 15 meeting highlighted “The OrganWise Guys” programming that w88 casino is rolling out in school lunchrooms starting next month.
w88 casino Services directors from the Carson City School District wanted toshow community members what makes a better meal for w88 casino. So, they put their teriyaki chicken and cheese pizza to the test during the Nov. 15 Professional Learning Community meeting at Carson High School. The regular discussions seek community engagement from local stakeholders to improve the district’s strategic plan and school priorities.
w88 casino Services Director Elizabeth Martinez and food service management company Chartwells’ Director of Dining Services John Worring create Carson City schools’ menus and comply with federal w88 casino regulations. They spoke on current operations and the educational aspects to providing daily breakfast and lunch programs.
Martinez invited Celina Barajas-Madrigal, coordinator of Supplemental w88 casino Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Programs for Extension’s Carson City/Storey County Office, to speak tonew programming available to 350 school-age youthin the district through w88 casino.
w88 casino is rolling out a six-week curriculum called “The OrganWise Guys” targeting third- through fifth-graders using organ characters toencourage healthy eating in school lunchrooms. The program will be introduced to fourth-grade teachers at Fritsch Elementary next month.
Leading youth w88 casino education
“The spotlight at the meeting on the work that Carson City School District is doing with nutrition, including the partnership with Extension, was neat to see. I believe this partnership will be instrumental in leading Extension’s youth SNAP-Ed programming for Carson City, northern w88 casino and the state. To everyone involved, I can’t say great job enough.” – Extension SNAP-Ed Program Manager Kylie Russell
w88 casino specialist brings global approach to managing chronic health conditions
Angeline Jeyakumar aims to drive healthy nutrition choices in w88 casino
Angeline Jeyakumar joins the College as an Extension public health w88 casino specialist and Department of w88 casino assistant professor.
The College has hired Angeline Jeyakumar as an Extension public health w88 casino specialist and Department of w88 casino assistant professor. Jeyakumar, who will alsoconduct w88 casino as part of the College’sExperiment Station, will collaborate with public health experts statewide todevelop community-based interventions targeting the reduction of chronic health conditions in Washoe County. Her immediate priority is to assess the distinctive risk factors of various chronic health conditions across age groups and to alter w88 casino behaviors to mitigate risk factors.
For more than 20 years, Jeyakumar hasresearched and advocated for the improvement of child and maternal w88 casino in underserved communities. Among her notable achievements is a comprehensive w88 casino education module that she designed to combat iron deficiency among adolescent girls in the Pune district of western India. Her proactive approach emphasized the significance of promoting nutritional awareness before reproduction, recognizing it as a crucial step in breaking the cycle of undernutrition for future generations.
Reducing Nevadans’ disease risk
“Angeline brings a unique set of skills and experience to the department and Extension, and, thanks to the support she has received from Extension and the Experiment Station, the University can look forward to the development of new and innovative approaches to reducing chronic disease risk among Nevadans.” – w88 casino Department Chair Jamie Benedict
Innovating for w88 casino
Our programs work together to make an impact
Our teaching, research and engagement programs are intertwined and complement one another. Faculty who teach on campus also conduct research as part of our Experiment Station, allowing students to learn about and participate in research. w88 casino faculty engaging with communities identify research needs, as well as join Experiment Station faculty to conduct research. Faculty on campus help to develop w88 casino programs in communities.
Researching critical issues
Experiment Station faculty conduct research at experiment stations, labs and research facilities across the state, as well as teach classes and share and conduct research with students. The state-federal partnership tackles issues affecting w88 casino's citizens, communities and economy.
Teaching University w88 casino
We offer 24 undergraduate and graduate degrees to prepare students for high-paying, in-demand careers in agriculture, rangeland & veterinary sciences; biochemistry & molecular biology; natural resources & environmental science; and w88 casino.
Engaging w88 casino communities
Extension is engaged in w88 casino communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. The county-state-federal partnership provides practical education to people, businesses and communities, fulfilling the University's land-grant mission.
