Probably reduced nitrogen in that Green Wave

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Tulane University has announced the next phase of the "Tulane Nitrogen Reduction Challenge," an international competition that will award $1 million to the entrepreneur, researcher, or inventor with the best plan to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the world's lakes, rivers, and oceans through storm water runoff and ultimately reduce the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hypoxia is oxygen-deprived water that causes massive fish kills and annual "dead zones" in waters throughout the world.  The goal of the prize is to help identify and nurture the most innovative and adaptable technologies that will lead to positive environmental outcomes.

Individuals and others with nitrogen-reducing ideas should register for the Challenge by visiting http://tulane.edu/tulaneprize/waterprize/ no later than September 15, and submit a one page proposal.  Those submitting the most viable proposals will be invited to create a 20-page technical explanation, including descriptions of their team, resources, and capacity for implementation.

An advisory committee of scientists, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, farmers, and other national experts will select five finalists from these entries.  These finalists will test their proposals on working farms during the 2016 growing season.

Contact:  Robbie Kroger (228) 396-0486

Around the Country

Funds Flow into Agriculture as El Nino Threatens Crops Reuters

Funds are flowing back into agricultural commodities for the first time since 2012 as investors look to capitalize on cheap prices, bullish demand and the threat of crop damage from an El Nino weather pattern. 

High Nighttime Temperatures Concern Rice Producers Delta Farm Press

The Arkansas rice crop is making good progress, especially if you consider what it endured at the beginning of the 2015 season, says Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice specialist with the University of Arkansas, who spoke on the current agronomic outlook for the Arkansas rice crop during the University of Arkansas' Food and Agribusiness Webinar on July 22.

USDA Economist Predicts Improving Stocks Situation for Rice Delta Farm Press

Dr. Nathan Childs made his report during the latest in the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Food & Agribusiness Webinar Series. To watch a video of Dr. Childs' presentation, click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYXvUl96IxQ&t=2m24s.

Science and Technology

Farming Had an Earlier Start, a Study Says New York Times

Researchers discovered a large number of seeds at an ancient hunter-gatherer site known as Ohalo II on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. Many of the seeds had scars, a mark that distinguishes domesticated species from wild forms.

Forecasting the Weather from a Bowl of Rice Wall Street Journal

Saori Kako, a rice-cooker developer at Panasonic Corp., knows the taste, texture and appearance of rice so well she can tell what the weather is like just by looking at a steaming bowlful. "When rice comes out fluffy, I know it's sunny," she said, revealing one of her weather indicators

Tariffs and Trade

Issues Mount as Negotiators Gather to Wrap up Trans-Pacific Trade Pact New York Times

The two giants at the table - the United States and Japan - have largely resolved longstanding trade issues. Japan has agreed to reduce barriers to the Japanese market for American autos, auto parts, pork and other agriculture products. Japan, it is expected, will allow a certain amount of rice, pork and other products into the country duty-free before tariffs snap back into place.