Introduction: 2020 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research

The judges for the 2020 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research selected the five finalist papers featured in this special issue of the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics (IJAA). The prestigious Wagner Prize—awarded for achievement in implemented operations research, management science, and advanced analytics—emphasizes the quality and originality of mathematical models along with clarity of written and oral exposition. This year’s winning application is a system for optimally managing Dow Agrosciences’ (now Corteva) seed corn portfolio, which includes seeds for several hundred varieties of corn and is valued at more than $1 billion. The model employs Bayesian analytic methods to estimate crop yields from expert judgement. Stochastic optimization is then used to determine backup production in South America while dealing with yield uncertainty in North America. The remaining four papers include an efficient mixed-integer program used by Birchbox to determine individualized subscriber product sets; a scheduling system for Argentina’s premier soccer league; an incentive system for encouraging Lyft drivers to reposition to provide improved service; and a system for optimizing the electric bus network design in Rotterdam.

Theory-Driven Practical Approach to Integrate R&D and Production Planning for Portfolio Management in Agribusiness

Agribusiness firms, with an eye toward increasing population and evolving weather patterns, are investing heavily into developing new varieties of staple crops that can provide higher yields and are robust to weather fluctuations. In this paper, we describe a multiyear effort at Dow Agrosciences (now Corteva) to manage its seed corn portfolio, which includes several hundred seeds and is valued at more than $1 billion. The effort had two mutually interacting parts: (1) developing a decision-analytic theory to estimate the production yield distributions for new seed varieties from discrete quantile judgments provided by plant biology experts and (2) developing an optimization protocol to determine Dow's annual production plan for the seed portfolio with the flexibility of backup production in South America, under production yield uncertainty. The first part, owned by the research and development (R&D) function, provides yield probability distributions as inputs to the optimization protocol of the second part, which the production function owns. The results of the optimization problem, which include information about the attractiveness of specific future varieties, are returned to R&D. Both parts incorporate contextual details specific to this industry. In this paper, we show the optimality of linear policies for both problems. Additionally, the linear policies have many attractive structural properties that continue to hold for the more complex instances of the problems. A major strength of the theory we developed is that it is implementable in a transparent fashion, providing managers with a user-friendly, real-time decision support tool. The implementation of the theory developed has led to significant monetary and managerial benefits at Dow.

Dietary Modified Cassava Chip and Corn Seed: Effect on Growth Performance, Rumen Production, and Blood glucose and Insulin in Early Fattening Beef Bulls

Effects of feeding modified cassava chip and corn seed as energy source inclusion in diet were investigated on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and blood metabolites in early fattening bulls. Thirty-six 1-year-old Charolais crossbred bulls with initial weight 270 ± 50 kg were randomly assigned into 6 groups with different experimental rations as cassava-based concentrates including non-modified cassava chip (Cass-Con), with 15 % of alkaline-treated cassava chip (Cass-Alkaline), with 15 % of steam-treated cassava chip (Cass-Steam) and corn-based concentrates including non-modified corn seed (Corn-Con), with 15 % of alkaline-treated corn seed (Corn-Alkaline), and with 15 % of steam-treated corn seed (Corn-Steam), according to completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that feed intake and digestibility were not significantly different among treatments, while digestible dry matter and organic matter intake of Cass-Steam and Corn-Alkaline were higher than those of the other diets (P < 0.05). Ruminal pH post-feeding was highest in Corn-Alkaline and lowest in Cass-Con (P < 0.05). Blood glucose was similar among treatments. However, blood insulin at 4 h post-feeding was higher in Cass-Steam, Corn-Alkaline, and Corn-Steam than in the others. Blood insulin in bulls fed corn-based concentrate was higher than in bulls fed cassava-based concentrate (P < 0.01). Body weight gain and average daily gain were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while feed conversion ratio was lower in Cass-Steam, Corn-Alkaline, and Corn-Steam as compared with in Cass-Con, Cass-Alkaline and Corn-Con. Results indicated that using a modified energy source can improve growth performance in early fattening beef bulls. An appropriate method to modify cassava chip was steam method, while alkaline method for corn seed was superior.

Yield and Production Components of Corn Under Straw of Marandu Palisade Grass Inoculated With Azospirillum brasilense in the Low-Land Cerrado

The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria combined with Integrated Agricultural Production Systems (IAPS) has resulted in productivity increases in the Brazilian Cerrado region. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effect of inoculating or not inoculating Azospirillum brasilense on corn and palisade grass seeds (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) on growth, yield components, and dry matter yield of the aerial part and grains in an Oxisol cropped in ICLS and under a no-tillage system for 12 years in an irrigated area. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were composed of corn (monoculture) with inoculated seed, corn (monoculture) without inoculated seed, corn + palisade grass (intercropping) without inoculation, corn + palisade grass (intercropping) with inoculation in both seeds, corn + palisade grass (intercropping) with inoculation of corn seeds, and corn + palisade grass (intercropping) with inoculation of grass seeds. At the end of each production cycle, the yield and components of corn, corn straw biomass, and dry matter of palisade grass were evaluated. Considering the optimal conditions of soil provided by liming and fertilization at sowing and nitrogen applied in topdressing, the application of A. brasilense in corn seeds did not show its potential. Intercropped systems inoculated or not with A. brasilense on corn seeds increase grain yield, dry matter production of grass, and nutrient accumulation in the straw, providing greater sustainability to the Cerrado no-tillage system.

Migration of Oil Bodies in Embryo Cells during Acquisition of Desiccation Tolerance in Chemically Defoliated Corn (Zea mays L.) Seed Production Fields

Chemical defoliation of seed corn production fields accelerates seed maturation and desiccation and expedites seed harvest. Early seed harvest is important to minimize the risk of frost damage while in the field. This newly adopted seed production practice also allows seed companies to plan harvest and manage dryer space more efficiently. However, premature defoliation may interfere with the migration of oil bodies within embryo cells during desiccation and affect seed germination and vigor. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chemical defoliation on the migration patterns of oil bodies within embryo cells during desiccation. Chemically defoliated and non-defoliated plants from five commercial hybrid seed corn fields were sampled in 2014 and 2015. Whole ears with husks were harvested before and after defoliant application at 600 g H2O kg−1 fresh weight (fw), and weekly thereafter until seed reached approximately 300–350 g H2O kg−1 fw. Ten embryos extracted from center-row seeds were fixed to stop metabolic processes, then sliced, processed, and photographed using scanning transmission electron microscopy. The oil bodies within embryo cells followed normal migration patterns according to seed moisture content, regardless of defoliation treatment. Seed germination and vigor were verified and were not significantly affected by defoliation. Chemical defoliation is a viable production practice to accelerate seed corn desiccation and to manage harvest and seed dryer availability more efficiently without negatively affecting seed germination and vigor.

Furfural residues as soil amendments for long-term seed corn production: effects on community composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbiota

Furfural residues’ s influence on maize rhizosphere microbiota subjected to long-term monocropping is poorly understood. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to investigate the rhizosphere microbiota composition and its variation under long-term field monocropping for maize seed production. The results showed that unplanted, chemical fertilizer (only) treated soil, and furfural residue treated soil as well as seasonal soil batches recruited distinct rhizosphere microbiota. Microbial community diversity increased, and many operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were induced in the rhizosphere soil. Maize plants grown under field conditions were preferentially colonized by Ascomycota and Zygomycota in the unplanted soil, Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota in chemical fertilizer-treated soil, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in frufural residue-treated soil. Some potential pathogens, such as Alternaria, Trichocladium, Bipolaris, Solicoccozyma and Cladosporium were not detected, while beneficial microbes, such as Penicillium, Schizothecium and Rhizophlyctis were present. Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes decreased in furfural residue treated soil. The core bacteria detected after long-term cropping were MND1, RB41, UTCFX1, Nitrospira, Cellvibrio, Adhaeribacter etc. The relative abundances of Clostridium, Pseudarthrobacter and Roseiflexus decreased; Haliangium, Nitrospira and MND1 increased; Pirellula, Ellin6067 and Luteimonas reduced in different seasonal soil batches. Amendment with furfural residue promoted the development of beneficial microbes and decreased the abundance of pathogens after different continuous cropping years. The amendment increased cellulose-degrading and complex carbon-decomposing microbes, decreased the number of reductive substance-decomposing microbes, which led to microbial community structure shift over time. Amendment with furfural residue improved the rhizosphere environment, which will in turn improve plant growth. Furfural residue can be used as a soil amendment to control soil-borne diseases and to establish beneficial soil microbes.ImportanceContinuous monoculture of maize seed production led to reduction in plant nutrient absorption, destruction of soil structure, high incidence of soil-borne plant diseases, and decrease in crop yield. Traditional organic fertilizers are either unavailable or unbalanced for intensive cultivation. Furfural residues are acidic and carbon-rich making it a promising organic alternative to chemical fertilizers to improve seed corn production. Amendment with furfural residue may promote the microbiota in rhizosphere soil. In addition, the amendment may increase cellulose-degrading and complex carbon-decomposing microbes, which led to a shift in microbial community structure over time. Amendment with furfural residue may improve the rhizosphere environment, which will in turn improve plant growth, control soil-borne diseases and establish beneficial soil microbes.