FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The International Millet Symposium organized by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Colorado State University (CSU) will be held in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA in August 8 to 12, 2018 (https://go.unl.edu/millet2018). The symposium will focus on proso millet (syn. broomcorn millet common millet, millet, hog millet) by will also include pearl millet, foxtail millet, finger millet, little millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, and tef. These are grown commercially elsewhere in the world but in the USA, these are grown in small scale or has potential to grow.
Proso millet is one of the ancient crops that originated in China. Countries with significant production are China, Russia, USA, Ukraine, India, Slovenia, and Korea. In the USA, three states, Colorado (~50%), Nebraska (~25%), and South Dakota (~20%) grow ~95% of the US proso millet. It is tolerant to drought and infertile conditions, and also adapted to many adverse environments. This is due to the short growing season it requires, and because it needs very little water and little synthetic fertilizer to get a decent yield. This is a perfect crop for a changing climate. Broomcorn millet is richer in nutrients than most other major cereal crops. It is a source of starchy grain and has a low glycemic index, high fiber, and essential minerals and, is gluten free. Broomcorn millet is not only climate-friendly but good for human health as well. It is a common food ingredient in many Asian countries; however in the US, it is mostly used as bird feed, not human food.
In order to promote development of the broomcorn millet in the world, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in scientific research among the countries with significant broomcorn millet industry, and increase socio-economic development, the International Association on Broomcorn Millet was established. It was decided to convene the International Symposium on Broomcorn Millet (ISBM) every two years. The 1st and 2nd were held in China and South Korea, respectively.
The symposium will include academic exchanges, products displayed from all over the world, and other activities for participants. Representatives from broomcorn millet growing countries in Asia, North America, Europe, and other countries are expected to participate in the symposium. Scientists and entrepreneurs from all over the world will work together to exchange the latest academic and industrial development about broomcorn millet, and discuss the future trends of broomcorn millet development to promote the research and production of broomcorn millet across the world.
On behalf of the organizing committee, we invite scientists, industry personnel, and stakeholders working in broomcorn/proso millet from anywhere in the world to participate in the 3rd International Symposium on Broomcorn Millet (3rd ISBM) and join the International Association on Broomcorn Millet, so that we can work together to enhance the research, production, and marketing of broomcorn millet. The symposium will include presentations on foxtail millet, pearl millet, finger millet, and tef, similar to proso millet and grown in the USA on very small scale. Therefore, the participants will learn about these minor millet-like crops of the USA. The symposium includes a field tour visiting a commercial proso millet production farm in Colorado and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln dryland research station at Sidney, NE (https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/panhandle/hpal/). In addition to indoor presentations, the participants will have an opportunity to gain knowledge about proso millet research trials in the university’s field research farm and commercial production on a farmer’s field.
The city of Fort Collins, Colorado (https://www.fcgov.com/) is ~100 km from Denver International Airport (https://www.flydenver.com/) and is well connected to the city by air-port shuttle (https://greenrideco.com/). The town is home of the state’s agricultural university (https://www.colostate.edu/) and ~250 km from the University of Nebraska’s satellite campus, Panhandle Research and Extension Center (https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/panhandle/) located at Scottsbluff, Nebraska (http://www.scottsbluff.org/). Major proso millet commercial production farms in both the states of Colorado and Nebraska are located within 100-400 km.
- SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZATION
- Organizing Committee
Chairs: Dr. Dipak Santra (UNL) and Dr. Jerry Johnson (CSU)
Members:
UNL: Dr. Cody Creech, Dr. Bijesh Maharjan, Dr. Xin Qiao, Dr. James Schnable, Dr. Jinlinag Yang, Dr. Yue Zhang Dr. Devin Rose, Dr. Gary Hergert, Dr. Alexander Pavlista,
Michael Riese, Patricia Martin, Stefani Cruz, and Rituraj Khound.
CSU: Sally Jones, Kierra Jewell, Dr. Rick Novak, Ron Meyer, Wilma Trujillo, Dennis Kaan, and John Spring
USDA-ARS: Dr. Merle Vigil and David Brenner.
- Host Organizations
University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Colorado State University
- Supporting Organizations
UNL Extension, CSU Extension, and Darren Bauder (Farmer, CO)
- ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
- Categories
The symposium papers will be in the following categories:
- Breeding, Genetics, Germplasm, Genomics and Biotechnology
- Morphology and taxonomy
- Germplasm resources
- Genetics and breeding
- Genomics
- Biotechnology including tissue culture
- Agronomy and Production
- Farming practices
- Production physiology
- Crop rotation
- Products and Market
- Quality for food, feed and beverages
- Nutrition and health
- Food chemistry & processing
- New markets
- Schedule
Date | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
August 8 | Registration | Welcome dinner & keynote speech | |
August 9 | Presentations | Presentations | Dinner at hotel |
August 10 | Presentations | Presentations | Banquet dinner at hotel |
August 11 | Field tour (Farm in CO) | Field tour (HPAL, Sidney, NE) followed by dinner | Return to hotel (9 pm) |
August 12 | Site-seeing* (optional post conference tour) Return & dinner at hotel (your own) | ||
August 13 | Check-out from hotel and departure |
*This is NOT the part of Symposium. Interested participants will be responsible for the trip. The organizing committee will provide contact details of local travel agent and the participants can contact the agents directly for expense and other logistics. After the tour, tourist bus will drop you at the Marriot Inn.
- Working language
The official language of the symposium is English. All presentations must be in English.
- Presentations*
All the participants will be encouraged to submit one paper to the symposium. The papers will be presented in the following two ways:
- Oral presentation: The speakers will make a 15-minute presentation and have 5-mins for questions and answers (Q&A).
- Poster presentation: The speakers will be expected to present their poster during the poster session.
*The organizing committee will make final decision whether presentation will be oral or poster depending on the schedule. Authors will be informed in advance in case of such change.
- Poster and products exhibition
The participants are welcome to present posters and display broomcorn millet products, books and research achievements during the symposium. Please contact the symposium secretariat for help if you have questions.
III. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Submission: Follow instructions on the ‘Abstract submission’ tab at the 3rd ISBM website (https://go.unl.edu/millet2018). The paper is limited to 4-pages with single space (i.e. 10000 characters/~1400 words). Abstracts ready for publication in the proceedings should not exceed 2 pages including figures, tables, and graphs. All figures and graphs must be in black and white.
- Deadline: June 30, 2018
- REGISTRATION FOR SYMPOSIUM AND POST-SYMPOSIUM TOUR
- On-line registration: Follow instructions at ‘Registration & cancellation’ tab at the 3rd ISBM website (https://go.unl.edu/millet2018)
- Fees* & payment: US dollars only using a credit card ONLY (For problems with electronic payment or you have only a check as an option for payment, contact Michael Riese (riese@unl.edu)
- Symposium participant: $750 each
- Accompanying person: $400 each
*Reduced rate for registration is available for Students, Extension educators/Assistants, Farmers, small business owners from the USA only. This reduced rate is NOT available to International attendees. Eligible people MUST contact Dr. Dipak Santra (dsantra2@unl.edu) to get approval.
- Deadline: May 30, 2018 (Registration fees is high after May 30 through July 30: $1000 for general and $500 for students/extension personnel)
- *Cancellation: Follow instructions at the same ‘Registration & cancellation’ tab at the 3rd
ISBM website (https://go.unl.edu/millet2018) Processing of the refund may take 3-5 business days.
- 10% refund if cancelled before May 30
- No refund if cancelled after May 30
*Registration fee for symposium includes:
- Attendance at all symposium sessions
- A copy of the program and the symposium proceedings
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) & refreshments during official breaks during symposium August 8 (evening) -11 (night), 2018
*Registration fee for accompanying persons includes:
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) including welcome and banquet dinner during symposium August 8 (evening) -11 (night), 2018.
*Registration fees do NOT include:
- Hotel accommodations
- Airport transfers to and from the hotel
- Optional post-symposium tour
- Other incidental expenses
- Accommodation (Marriot Inn, Fort Collins, CO)
- Reserve by July 9 follow instruction at ‘Hotel booking’ tab at the 3rd ISBM website (https://go.unl.edu/millet2018). Symposium rate for hotel ends July 9.
The Marriot Inn is located at the heart of the city of Fort Collins. The Foothills Mall (https://shopfoothills.com) is next-door, which includes 30 restaurants, shopping and 9-plex digital movie theatre serving beverages and food in your seats, Macy’s, Nordstrom, H&M just to name a few stores. The hotel includes the following:
- Complimentary parking, free indoor/outdoor swimming pool
- Full workout facility – complimentary
- Starbucks on site and full service restaurant and lounge
- MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
- Opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony will take place in Marriot Inn, Fort Collins, CO on August 8, 2018
- Letter of invitation
The participants requiring a letter of invitation for Visa and other purposes should e-mail a
Letter (draft) with required details to:
Patricia Martin, Secretariat of 3nd ISBM
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
E-mail: pmartin2@unl.edu
*This is only to assist participants who needs permission to attend the symposium. It should not be considered an official invitation covering your registration fee and other expenses.
- Passports and Visas
A valid passport and visa is required for the entry into the United States. Please consult the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate at your country about passport and visa requirement.
- Travel from Airport: Use Green Ride Shuttle Service
Green ride: https://greenrideco.com
DIA Airport pickup location: Green Ride pickup location at Denver International Airport is on the east side of the main terminal. Exit through door 507 and find us at Island 5, under the special permits sign.
Driving directions from Denver International Airport (DIA) to Marriot Hotel, Ft. Collins, Colorado (GPS: N.40.538139, W.105.073056):
From DIA, take Pena Blvd East to E-470 North (toll $5.00) to I-25 North, Take I-25 to Harmony Rd. (Exit 265), go west on Harmony Rd (approx. 5 mi.) to JFK Pkwy. Turn right, travel north (approx. 1 mi.) on JFK Pkwy to Horsetooth Rd, cross intersection into hotel parking lot.
VII. IMPORTANT DEADLINES
- Registration May 30, 2018
- Hotel booking July 9, 2018
- Post-symposium tour May 30, 2018
- Abstract submission June 30, 2018
VIII. REGIONAL TOURISM
Foreign delegates who are interested in Tourism in the region Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota may have life-time experience visiting the following world-famous National Parks:
- Rocky Mountain National Park (https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm)
- Yellowstone National Park (https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm)
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial (https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm).
- https://www.go-colorado.com/Fort-Collins/destinations/
- http://www.colorado.com/activities/tours
- https://www.travelwyoming.com/
- http://blackhillsbadlands.com/publications/south-dakota-vacation-guide
Click the link for a flyer: Millet Symposium 2018 Brochure
— CSU Extension and University of Nebraska Extension
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