Author
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Smith, Richard |
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Submitted to: Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Forage crops have always been an integral component of grassland agriculture. Both native and domestic grass and legume species have been, are, and will continue to be important to the production of fiber, meat, and milk - staple products of societies around the world. Over the past decades, federal (USDA-ARS) resources, both human and fiscal, allocated to the genetic improvement of these important species have declined. In the decades of the 70's and 80's, there was a decrease of approximately 25% in federal FTEs assigned to forage plant breeding efforts. Of equal concern to the plant breeder has been the loss of allied scientific support. Numerous positions in plant pathology, entomology, and management have been discontinued or the resources assigned to other commodities. Most forage species are perennial, outcrossing, heterogeneous and often polyploid in nature. Therefore, to be successful and to solve demanding problems the forage breeding programs need to have continuity. Priorities may change over time and short term goals are attainable. However, administrators and clientele need to be reminded that to make major improvements in perennial forage species, whether using conventional or molecular techniques, a long term investment will be required. |
