Winter wheat fall±winter forage yield and grain yield response to planting date in a dual-purpose system

Abstract Previous published research suggests that if fall±winter grazing of winter wheat is properly managed, it will not reduce grain yield. However, highly aggregated state average data suggest that fall±winter grazing is associated with lower grain yields. This study was undertaken to determine the trade-o, or substitution in production, between winter wheat fall±winter forage yield and grain yield across planting dates. Data from experiment station trials were used to estimate response functions and to determine optimal planting dates. The estimated response functions suggest relatively large dierences in expected fall±winter forage yield and expected grain yield across planting date. Optimal planting date is sensitive to the value of fall±winter forage relative to the value of wheat grain. Producers will optimally plant wheat intended for dual-purpose use earlier than wheat intended for grain-only. The expected yield from the earlier planted dual-purpose wheat is lower than the expected yield of the later planted grain-only wheat as a result of the earlier planting date.

Circuit-based interrogation of sleep control.

Sleep is a fundamental biological process observed widely in the animal kingdom, but the neural circuits generating sleep remain poorly understood. Understanding the brain mechanisms controlling sleep requires the identification of key neurons in the control circuits and mapping of their synaptic connections. Technical innovations over the past decade have greatly facilitated dissection of the sleep circuits. This has set the stage for understanding how a variety of environmental and physiological factors influence sleep. The ability to initiate and terminate sleep on command will also help us to elucidate its functions within and beyond the brain