Thursday, April 23,1987/The Battalion/Page 9
A&M-lsrael research sparks
agricultural improvements
iSouthforkani
med that he hiiii
[e ask for even
would know ske
nnch.
Judy wrote
tj a gerteralct
i as greed '
the actors, and,
and musicians to
ay with very
iizabeth Westtmj
nportant
plays the syi
sthe classical p
By James Florez
Reporter
The Binational Agricultural Re
arch and Development Fund has
ed to many breakthroughs in the
Field of agriculture engineering, a
exas A&M researcher said
ednesday.
BARD is a joint research effort
tween the United States and Is-
, It provides about $25.1 million
n funds for American agricultural
esearch.
Dr. Edward A. Hiler, head of the
)epartment of Agricultural Engi-
icering, was one of five speakers at
agricultural symposium high-
hting joint Texan-Israeli research
‘forts. ———
‘Atij
b tack
The symposium, “Joint Texas-Is-
raeli Agricultural Research,” was
sponsored by the Department of
Plant Pathology and Microbiology,
the Institute of International Educa
tion and the Israel Club. It attracted
about 50 people.
“There are great similarities be
tween the agriculture of Israel and
Texas,” Hiler said. “I know there are
great benefits to be derived from
close cooperation and research.
“The Department of Agricultural
Engineering has done a fair amount
of joint research in the past 10 years,
and because of the obvious benefits
we intend to do a lot more in the fu
ture.”
fficial: A&M receives
ore from BARD fund
s we mak<
haracten
it character bH
ppy song. WW
oving, we
nhem."'
“--than most universities
nit thing is rj
mans play aa
ne for the fisk
wife enters tktsj
izabeth turns omi
nd playsasotipi
an importantd
lay experience I
lys. Adultscani
and helpchiUn
nessageoftliept!
in for half pna
by a child. CUd
slice adult udcj
on taped
s
manes
(AP) - The Is
it said Wediei
r's multi-state Sod
rimary'' wouldtn
3r him if hew
nocratic presidi
► <f about it'Wj
nier," Jacks*
v>\
ic region
its of service»
ii the Southernjii
r isuccessfulh iOi«
tic presidetifi»
*4.
o speak to the Lei
■ meet with kept!
Clements and"
ackson told a
« hasn’t vet
By Becky Weisenfels
Reporter
Texas A&M receives more money
rough the Binational Agricultural
search and Development Fund
lan almost any other American uni-
rsity, Dr. Fowden G. Maxwell, de-
rtment head of entomology, said
ednesday at the Joint Israeli-
xas Agricultural Research Sym-
sium.
A&M receives 8 percent of a $25.1
tellion budget, second to the Uni-
«rsity of California, which receives
15 percent. Maxwell said the per-
cdntages have not changed much
over the last three or four years.
|Maxwell received his master’s de-
t and doctorate in entomology
m Kansas State University. He
briefly in the Secretary of
ftriculture’s office before coming
to A&M. He has been involved in the
HARD program nine years.
Blsrael has two panels governing
BARD: a commodity advisory board
that establishes goals and a peer-re-
view panel responsible for approv-
S future programs, Maxwell said.
e United States is more complex
because it has federal and state lev
els, he said.
I; “We have a much more bearable
pstem,” Maxwell said. “We tend to
itessscientific merit.”
In the United States, the peer-re
view board is the main guide in
choosing programs to support, he
said.
Either country can initiate re
search with two requirements. The
research must be cooperative and of
mutual benefit to both countries.
Maxwell said.
A technical-advisory committee
recommends a program to be
awarded money; the proposal is re
viewed by the BARD Board of Di
rectors, he said.
When BARD began, the United
States endowed $40 million to the
program, and Israel matched it, es
tablishing an $80 million fund. The
basic amount was increased two
years ago, Maxwell said.
BARD covers 11 areas: field
crops, horticulture and forestry,
plant protection, soil and water, har
vest and food science, animal pro
duction and protection, agricultural
engineering, agricultural economics,
general, and agriculture.
The program began because of
similar problems and conditions be
tween Texas and Israel. Many of the
solutions to Israel’s problems have
been modified for the United States.
In his address, Hiler told the
group about several major break
throughs resulting from past joint
research efforts.
Hiler said recent research done at
A&M in conjunction with BARD led
to the development of a modular
system of handling and storing cot
ton, which strips cotton from the
stalk and compresses it into huge
bales.
The system, used throughout the
United States and Israel, has greatly
reduced the amount of labor and
time needed to get the cotton from
the field, he said.
Another breakthrough has been
in the processing of cotton. A new
selective, ginning process will greatly
improve the quality of the cotton
processed by the gin, he said. Al
though the system is not yet com
mercially available, he said labo
ratory tests have consistently
produced uniformly long and strong
cotton fibers.
Hiler said the percentage of fibers
more than one inch in length (a qual
ity standard used in cotton ginning)
has risen 20 percent over conventio
nal methods.
Joint research at A&M has led to
the development of some promising
technologies, Hiler said, including a
new automated irrigation system to
help farmers conserve more water.
While the current center-pivot sys
tem of farmers is highly labor-effi
cient, Hiler said much of the water
put out is lost from run-off.
Tests of the new system, con
ducted on the Texas High Plains,
have shown a 25-percent reduction
in water use and a savings of more
than $1 million.
Hiler said further joint research
between Texas and Israel would
help facilitate the development of
growing technologies, such as agro
robotics.
Part of recent agro-robotics re
search has centered on what Hiler
called “computervision.” Hiler said
processors would use computer-gen
erated images to help select produce
of uniform size and quality.
He said this same technology
could be used by the shrimping in
dustry.
Processors could use computer-
guided, high-pressure water jets to
dehead shrimp. This process would
speed up processing time, greatly re
ducing the amount of spoilage and
contamination, Hiler said.
enate votes to increase jail time
for convictions in violent crimes
impaign.
>int, the cami
” he said.“mini
»ry period. To
sion, tvemwtH
of leadership '!
adequate r
astructure,
id he believesb
cl that shouldaf[
ratio Party.
AUSTIN (AP) — The Senate
Wednesday refused to debate a
“whistle-blower” bill for employees
t quickly approved a measure pro-
ing longer jail time for anyone
(ho threatens others with violence.
The Senate, acting on 18 propo-
Js in a session that lasted just over
an hour, also approved and sent to
the House bills that would:
• Establish a task force and child
care pilot programs for state em-
ioyees in three larger cities. A pre
vious task force surveyed 1,135 state
anployees and found that one in
ecord, Imti fi ve had considered
Democratic i# ]
tars than anfW
he said. “1 ai
p Democratic
. merica today."
quitting his job
e problel
as a result of child care problems.
• Authorize state agencies that
dice cogeneration to sell their ex-
ss power. The bill also would cre-
the State Cogeneration Council,
logeneration is the production of
electric power and heat energy from
one fuel source, most commonly nat
ural gas.
• Extend the Texas Open Meet
ings Act to certain groups of judges
acting in an administrative capacity.
In other business. Sen. Carl Par
ker got a 17-12 vote on his proposal
to “do away with inhibitions of em
ployees when it comes to com
plaining about unsafe conditions in
the workplace.”
However, he needed 19 votes to
debate the bill.
“I have amended the bill to make
it a true whistle-blower bill, and all it
does now is protect an employee
who reports an unsafe condition that
he finds on thejob,” Parker said.
The Senate approved on voice
vote without debate a measure in
creasing the penalty for a “terroristic
threat” from a Class B misdemeanor
to a Class A misdemeanor, punisha
ble by one year in jail and a $2,000
fine.
The Senate also approved and
sent to the House a bill that would al
low state courts to dismiss “frivolous
and malicious” cases, as well as those
in which the plaintiffs allegation
that he is a pauper turns out to be
false.
A bill analysis noted that 45 suits
by prison inmates had been filed in
28 different district courts in East
Texas this year, and the attorney
general has had no choice but to de
fend each case with motions and spe
cial exceptions, regardless of the
merits.
?H
»n
LAW
Aggie rings:
select your
diamond today,
wear it
tomorrow.
You’ve worked hard for your
Aggie ring, and you deserve a special diamond
for it. David Gardner’s Jewelers Gemologists are
Aggies. We know the tradition behind having a
diamond mounted in your Aggie ring.
We shop the diamond markets of the world to offer you
the best value in diamond quality and cost. Choose from our special
selection of diamonds.
We offer one day service on Aggie rings. You select your diamond
today and we’ll set it so you can wear it tomorrow.
OAVld QARONER'S
JEWELERS I GEMOLOGISTS
701 Universily Dr. East • Chimney Hill Reiail Pla/a (across from the Hilton) College Station, TX 846-4151 • (For repairs 846-0363)
THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL
Jack Daniels Tennessee Cooler 5°
Schencey Vodka 80° 1 75L
All German Wines 750ml
$4. 49
$8. 49
10% off
693-2627
Cash or check preferred
ATTENTIOI
COLLEGE SENIORS
AND GRADUATES
WHO NEED
A CAR!
McDavid Oldsmobile has a
special piefenied financial
plan for you.
• 90 Day deferral of the first
payment
• Pre-approved credit with
GMAC letter
• Only 5% down payment
• 3.9 annual percentage rate
available — ?
• No previous credit required
McDavid Suzuki has
4-wheel affordable fun.
? Over 100 new Samurais
available.
• Convertible, hard tops,
4-wheel drive all available.
payments with 10%
5r—^ down+ TT&L. 11.9% ap
down +TT&L. 11.9% apr
financing with s 1,550
residual
Eligible Customers: Individuals who purchase or lease an eligible vehicle within six months prior to or
one calendar year after the date of graduation from a four-year degree or graduate degree program:
who are employed or have verifiable commitment for employment; and for whom there is no record of
collection problems.
McDavid Olds/Suzuki
641-8400
OPEN TILL 9 PM MON.-SAT.
6800 GULF FREEWAV-HOUSTON
SAVE 40% to 75% AND MORE!
Two Days Only - Friday & Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm
Many, many other
items to numerous
to mention.
tiii-sta iw
■HUHSparts fSnntevI
SHaHiaHaHaHaHaHaHaEaHa
No Charge Cards, Please
All Sales Final-No Refunds or
Exchanges
All Merchandise As Is
Quantities, Sizes & Shapes Limited
779-8776
2023 Texas Avenue
Townshire Shopping Center
Across From Krogers In Bryan
stiai r\i^ i? r \s\\r\
fl