Title
Associate ProfessorOffice Building
Young Brothers Seed Technology LaboratoryOffice
113Mailing Address
Seed Technology Lab 113Agronomy, Horticulture & Plant Science-Box 2100A
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Biography
Dr. Caffe leads the oat breeding program at South Dakota State University and carries out various research projects related to oat improvement.Academic Interests
Oat Breeding and GeneticsAcademic Responsibilities
PS746 - Plant BreedingCommittee Activities
American Oat Worker Committee (Secretary)NC7 Conservation, Management, Enhancement and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources (SDAES representative)
SDSU Variety Release Committee
Extension Responsibilities
Presentations at field days across the state to educate producers about oat cultivars released by the SDSU oat breeding program.Awards and Honors
2018 Pat and Jo Cannon Intellectual Property Commercialization AwardPatents
Plant Variety Protection - Oat cultivars 'Hayden', 'Natty', 'Sumo', 'Saddle', 'Warrior', 'Rushmore', 'SD Buffalo'.Area(s) of Research
Use of drones for high throughput phenotyping.Use of genomic selection.
Root phenotyping and tolerance to drought stress.
Genome wide association studies for major traits of oats.
Optimization of breeding methods.
Applications of Research
The objective of the oat breeding program is to increase the profitability of farmers in South Dakota and surrounding states by rapidly developing and releasing new oat cultivars with increased productivity for grain and forage production, and improved agronomic characteristics including lodging resistance and resistance to fungal and viral diseases. Our objective is to also improve grain value and marketability. Oats present many health benefits for human consumption. We work closely with the oat milling industry to develop varieties with improved milling characteristics and increased nutritional value for consumers.Department(s)
Image for Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science