College News
Open Forum Today for President's and Provost's Visit
President Gregory Geoffroy and Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Hoffman visit the College of Agriculture today, Jan. 22. Faculty, staff and students are invited to an open forum at 4:10 p.m. in 1210 LeBaron. President Geoffroy and Provost Hoffman will make brief presentations followed by a question-and-answer period.
Room Changed for Spring Convocation
Memorial Union construction forced a change in the location of the College's spring convocation Wednesday, Jan. 24. The convocation will be in the Great Hall beginning with a reception at 2 p.m. President Geoffroy and Dean Wendy Wintersteen will host a medallion ceremony at the spring convocation for selected faculty holding endowed chairs and professorships in the College. Following the medallion ceremony, the College's annual awards will be presented to faculty and staff. The College's learning community coordinators also will be recognized, as well as department-level award winners. Dean Wintersteen will make brief closing remarks.
Research Shows Potential for Poultry Odor Control
A team of Iowa State agricultural engineers and chemists recently conducted laboratory studies that found adding zeolites to poultry manure may reduce odors and the release of ammonia and some volatile organic compounds.
Tool Available to Help Producers Calculate the Iowa P-Index
A publication that can be used as a tool for gathering field information needed for calculating the Iowa Phosphorus Index has been developed by Iowa State University Extension and two governmental agencies. The Iowa Phosphorus Index is a risk assessment tool for measuring the potential of phosphorus delivery from fields to surface waters.
Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference Feb. 24 in Ottumwa
The 36th annual Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference will be Feb. 24 at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. This year's agenda features twice as many speakers and segments, including breakout sessions so that producers can choose subjects and presentations that are of particular interest to them.
ISU Freshman Plans to Promote Ag Industry
Rita Cook is a freshman at Iowa State with triple majors in ag business, public service and administration and economics. Quite a load for a freshman, but Cook is determined to make a positive difference in the perception Americans have of agriculture.
Johnson to Receive Honorary Degree
Larry Johnson, director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research, will receive an honorary title of "Doctor Honoris Causa" from the faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University in Belgium. The ceremony will take place on March 23.
Emeritus Faculty Member Presents Achievement Award
William LaGrange, emeritus professor of food science and human nutrition, was honored with the Honorary Life Award from the International Association for Food Protection. The award was presented last year at the organization's annual meeting.
Deadline Extended for Borlaug Internship Applications
Applications are due Jan. 31 for students interested in applying for the Borlaug Summer Internship program. The program is administered through the College's Global Agriculture Programs Office. Contact: Shelley Taylor, Agriculture Study Abroad Program, 4-5393, sztaylor@iastate.edu.
Epistasis a Topic of Plant Sciences Institute Symposium
The Ninth Annual Plant Sciences Institute Symposium will be May 31 to June 3 sponsored by the biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology department, the Plant Sciences Institute, Molecular Express Inc. and the Iowa State Graduate College. The symposium will focus on epistasis and gene interaction. Epistasis reduces parent-offspring resemblance playing critical roles in processes important to livestock and crop improvement and to evolution in natural populations. The deadline for abstracts is March 30 and the registration deadline is May 7.
Deadlines & Reminders
Jan. 30: Retirement reception for Lorna Michael Butler, Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture and Professor of sociology and anthropology, 3 to 5 p.m., short program at 4 p.m., Agronomy Hall Commons
Feb. 3: Beginning Farmers Conference, Scheman Building, more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/bfc
Feb. 23: Administrative deadline for Computation Advisory Committee proposals
April 1: Last day of Reiman Gardens Conservatory display "Stream of Passion: Plant Lovers of ISU," College of Agriculture faculty and staff and their children under age 17 receive free admission to the display by identifying themselves as College employees at the front desk of Reiman Gardens, spouses and friends are $5 each.
April 5: College promotion and tenure workshop, 3:30 p.m., CCUR Theater, 1951 Food Science April 10: College promotion and tenure workshop, 3:10 p.m., CCUR Theater, 1951 Food Science
Communications Kiosk
The Difference Between Flounder and Founder
Keep the figurative meanings of these terms straight by remembering their literal images. To "flounder" is to struggle awkwardly, as though walking through deep mud, "the professor glared while the unprepared student floundered around for an answer." To "founder" is to sink or to fall to the ground, "with no editorial expertise, the publisher soon foundered." (The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003)
Infograzing
Nutrition Counseling Available for Iowa State Employees
Iowa State employees who are interested in nutrition counseling to improve their eating patterns are being sought to provide experience for senior-level dietetics students. The students will meet with you three times during the semester work to evaluate your diet and set specific and reasonable goals toward improving your eating patterns. Potential clients for student counselors cannot have any specific health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Contact: Sally Barclay, ISU Nutrition Clinic, 4-9625 or barclay@iastate.edu. Those who have a health concern and want nutrition counseling can schedule an appointment with Barclay. Employees are eligible for three appointments at no charge.
Applications Sought for Development Grants
Higher Education for Development (HED) in cooperation with USAID/Mexico seeks applications for the U.S.-Mexico Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships (TIES) Partnership Initiative. HED anticipates making up to six awards of up to $250,000 each, incrementally funded over a two-year period. The deadline for receipt of applications is March 23. TIES applications must address one of these areas: competitiveness; high value added products & advanced manufacturing processes for small & medium enterprises; energy; education; public policy; and health. Successful applicant institutions will typically propose at least five or more long-term (two academic semesters) scholarships for Mexicans to be embedded within a partnership, in addition to other training, internships, and exchanges. More: http://www.HEDprogram.org
External Voices
Agriculture Can Play Important Role in Climate Change
"As the Minnesota climate changes, agriculture will have to adapt to new weeds, bugs and plant diseases. While overall it may become drier, huge storms will challenge farmers to keep erosion in check and pollutants out of streams and lakes. It will take time to adapt. Science can develop new crops, and find ways to farm more efficiently. But there are indications that climate change is accelerating faster than our industries can change. ... Can we slow this warming? Climatologists tell us that the carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that human activity has added to the atmosphere will take a long time to dissipate. So we need to act immediately to slow down our emissions of global-warming gases. ... And agriculture can play an important role. Our farmers are already doing much to help out, including using less energy while keeping more carbon in the soil. ... Let's get on with it. Our global future and our progeny's future depend on action today, even if it takes many years to show the benefits." --Dennis Keeney, senior fellow at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis and professor emeritus of agronomy and agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State (As Minnesota grows warmer, Star Tribune, Jan. 22)
Marginalia
Pelleted Seasoning May be Hit with Hunters
A new product allows hunters to season their quarry and avoid damaging their teeth on buckshot. Season Shot is ammunition that injects seasoning into a bird upon impact. Pellets are made of tightly packed seasoning bound by a biodegradable food product. When the bird is cooked the seasoning pellets melt into the meat, spreading the flavor to the entire bird. Authors of the Institute of Food Technologists newsletter wondered, "which federal agency has regulatory approval for this product. FDA? USDA? ATF?". (Institute of Food Technologists, Jan. 18) Next issue: Jan. 29
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
Subscribe: Ag Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag Online subscribe" to edadcock@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag Online unsubscribe."
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