From the Station Director
It's somewhat unbelievable to me that July marks the start of my fourth year with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. While the time has seemingly flown by, it has been amazing to see the impactful research generated by the nearly 50 UNH scientists—supported by many graduate and undergraduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and staff—who conduct research that advances the Station's mission of developing relevant and impactful knowledge to improve the lives of every Granite Stater. Whether it's solving million dollar problems in aquaculture, searching for new syrup flavors, the dual benefits to New England cottontails and shrubland birds through restoration efforts, using alternative forage crops to improve dairy herd management, and many others—including those you'll read about below—the discoveries and science-based insights by NHAES scientists are making a difference.

This year, there will be 20 new NHAES research projects, many of which will be conducted by scientists who have not conducted Station research in the past and will now be applying their world-class expertise to overcome locally inspired challenges and help identify locally impactful opportunities. From determining the potential of agroforestry to increase local food production while also improving the health of our state's forests, to using duckweed for managing nutrient levels in New Hampshire's abundant waterways, to developing diverse tools for managing insects across Granite State's farms, it's exciting to see the breadth of science of these projects—and to envision the benefits of them in the coming years. I look forward to sharing these innovations with all of you!

Thank you for supporting our efforts to improve the lives of our state and region! 
A photo of NHAES director Anton Bekkerman
Director, NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Latest NHAES Research

Most people haven’t heard of Toxoplasma gondii (or “Toxo” for short), but nearly one out of four Americans likely carries this single-celled parasite, as do pets—especially cats—and domesticated agricultural animals. While Toxo normally remains in a dormant but incurable state, immunocompromised individuals and infants born to infected mothers are at highest risk of developing toxoplasmosis, leading to symptoms ranging from extended periods of flu-like discomfort to more severe cases that can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and other organs. Vicki Jeffers, an assistant professor in the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, recently published research looking at the role of a protein found in Toxo that, by regulating, could prevent infections caused by the parasite. Read how Jeffers' Toxo findings will help to inform her research with the NHAES.

COLSA graduate student Shyloh Favreau spent several weeks of his spring visiting apple orchards in every New Hampshire county during the apple blossom bloom. He and a team collected and categorized bees—both native and introduced—to determine which bees are present and how management practices may impact local bee populations. Learn how Favreau's study supports UNH's land-grant mission and the work of other NHAES scientists.

The NHAES-operated Kingman Research Farm is just one part of UNH’s robust composting program, which began in the mid 1990s. The operation starts in UNH’s dining halls, where the emphasis is on reducing the overall waste streams, before the compostable waste is processed via a pulper, delivered to Kingman and cooked for about a year before the resulting nutrient-rich material is spread across research fields at UNH farms. Read about UNH Dining initiatives that help reduce overall pre- and post-consumer waste streams.

While lobster and scallops tend to get much of the attention as the region’s most popular—not to mention the most valuable—shellfish, a close third is likely something you haven’t seen in your local grocery store very often, if at all: the channeled whelk. That’s because international demand, as well as the shrinking of other regional fisheries like lobster, has diminished channeled whelk fisheries in its native habitat—the Atlantic seaboard from Massachusetts down to Florida—resulting in stricter size and trap limits and, in some states, the temporary closing of fisheries. Research associate professor Elizabeth Fairchild, an NHAES scientist, is leading research into methods of making whelk fisheries more sustainable. Learn which other key marine species—in addition to the channeled whelk—will also benefit from Fairchild's research.
More Station News & Notes
Save the Date: NHAES Farm Tours
For more than a decade, the NHAES research farm facilities have participated in the Durham Farm Day event—a celebration of agriculture in the NH Seacoast. This year is no different, and you are invited to join the NHAES on Saturday, August 19. Organized tours will occur at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm and the UNH Sawmill, and the Fairchild Research and Teaching Dairy will be open for self-guided walkthroughs. More details coming soon!
The seedless table grape research program, led by Station scientist Becky Sideman, has continued to create new knowledge to help New Hampshire grape growers. Now, a collaboration between UNH Extension and the NH Winery Association is seeking to update their information about how many grapes, what varieties, and where these grapes are grown around the state. This information will not only help inform extension specialists about the current landscape of the industry, but will enable NHAES scientists to better target their research. If you are growing grapes for any use (table, wine, juice) commercially, please take a moment to provide your information.
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