Issue: 727

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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Nov. 26, 2012 No. 727

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COLLEGE NEWS
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CALS ANIMAL SCIENTISTS CONTRIBUTE TO PIG GENOME ADVANCE
The first complete sequence of the pig genome by a team of researchers including ISU animal scientists has provided a genetic comparison of the domesticated pig and its wild cousins and offers clues to how the animal evolved, according to an article in the journal Nature. The article appears as the cover story of the Nov. 15 issue. ISU animal science professors Max Rothschild, James Reecy and Chris Tuggle contributed to the project conducted by the International Swine Genome Sequencing Consortium.

RETALLICK RECEIVES NATIONAL TEACHING AWARD
Michael Retallick, agricultural education and studies, received the New Teacher Award at the Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Awards Program at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities annual meeting in Denver on Nov. 11. The award honors college and university instructors who demonstrate a commitment to a career in teaching and exhibit meritorious teaching with seven or less years of experience in higher education.

STATE NUTRIENT REDUCTION STRATEGY RELEASED FOR COMMENTS
On Nov. 19, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Director Chuck Gipp from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and John Lawrence, associate dean for extension programs and outreach, announced the release of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy for public comment. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a science and technology-based approach to assess and reduce nutrients delivered to Iowa waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. The strategy outlines voluntary efforts to reduce nutrients in surface water from both point sources, such as wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities, and nonpoint sources, including farm fields and urban areas, in a scientific, reasonable and cost effective manner. IDALS and DNR worked with Iowa State over a two-year period to develop the strategy. The resulting strategy is the first time such a comprehensive and integrated approach addressing both point and nonpoint sources of nutrients has been completed. "The strategy's science assessment provides a research-based foundation to quantify the effectiveness of current practices for reducing nutrient losses from the landscape," said Lawrence. "The assessment reflects two years of work to evaluate and model the effects of the practices by scientists from ISU, IDALS, DNR, USDA Agricultural Research Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other institutions." The full report, additional information and place for comments can be found at www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu.

DUFFY HONORED FOR SERVICE TO AGRICULTURE
Mike Duffy, economics, received the Carl F. Hertz Distinguished Service in Agriculture Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The national award is designed to honor individual service to agriculture, other than directly in the farm management and rural appraisal professions.

ISU ON NATIONAL TEAM HONORED FOR SOYBEAN RUST RESPONSE
ISU and the Iowa Soybean Association were members of a research team that received a national award for excellence in multistate research for its response to an emerging threat to the nation's soybean growers. The Excellence in Multistate Research Award was given Nov. 11 in Denver at the annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Daren Mueller and XB Yang, plant pathology and microbiology, were among those involved in this project. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/1061/

IOWA LEARNING FARMS' TEAM MEMBERS RECEIVE AWARDS
Iowa Learning Farms staff Jacqueline Comito and Ann Staudt were recognized at the Technology Association of Iowa's fifth annual Iowa Women of Innovation awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 15. Comito received the award in the Government Agency/Nonprofit Innovation and Leadership category. Staudt earned the Rising Star award for her work in STEM. 

CALS STUDENT RECEIVES ROTC SCHOLARSHIP
Members of ISU's Cyclone Battalion won 11 of 40 scholarships awarded this fall in a nationwide competition open to all Army ROTC seniors. CALS student Adam Schilling, senior in industrial technology, received the Raytheon Scholarship.

ISU RESEARCHERS SEEK RIGHT MIX OF BACTERIA IN CATTLE
Animal science researchers are examining some of the helpful purposes bacteria can serve in the respiratory and digestive systems of beef cattle. James Reecy, director of the ISU Office of Biotechnology and a professor of animal science who is leading the project, said bacteria often share a mutually beneficial relationship with the organisms they live on or in. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/11/26/cattlenasal

BAKER IS NEW IOWA PORK INDUSTRY CENTER DIRECTOR
Rodney "Butch" Baker will serve as interim Iowa Pork Industry Center director for two years. Baker, a professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, intends to use his experience and expertise in the veterinary medicine field to help guide the center's work during that time. Baker will replace John Mabry, who has served as IPIC director for 12 years. Mabry will remain on the animal science faculty and expects to stay involved with IPIC, its programming efforts and extension program staff members.

CALS SECURES LICENSE FOR QUALTRICS SURVEYS
CALS has secured a one-year license to use Qualtrics Surveys, which allows users to embed question logic within a survey. The survey flow is controlled by how respondents answer the questions. New features released include easy question block randomization, improved preview survey, visible timer, piped-text menu for embedded data and better trash management. For a full list and step-by-step instruction for the new features: http://www.qualtrics.com/new-features. This service is available to faculty, staff and students currently enrolled each semester. Information on how to use Qualtrics Surveys and Qualtrics Support can be found online.

HORTICULTURE CLUB SELLING POINSETTIAS, NOV. 27-DEC. 1
The Horticulture Club will be selling poinsettias grown in the Horticulture Hall greenhouses on Nov. 27, 3 to 6 p.m. in Horticulture Hall. The club will also sell in Beardshear Hall on Nov. 28, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; in Curtiss Hall on Nov. 29, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; in the Memorial Union on Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and at Reiman Gardens on Dec. 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More: Kellie Walters, kelliew@iastate.edu or Mark Pfantz, mlpfantz@iastate.edu.

ORDERS FOR HOLIDAY HAMS DUE DEC. 7
The Meat Science Club is selling semi-boneless hams for Christmas. Club members trim and prepare each semi-boneless ham. Watch the process on a YouTube video released by ISU News Service at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXKfqGxOZoI&feature=youtu.be. Whole hams (12-15 pounds) are $3.50 a pound and half hams (7-9 pounds) are $4 a pound. Place an order by calling 4-8294, emailing ISU.Meat.Science.Club@gmail.com or by filling out an order form at the Meat Lab Sales Counter or in 2371 Kildee Hall. The deadline is Dec. 7 or until sold out. Hams will be available to pick up at the Meat Lab Sales counter, located at the north corner of the Kildee Hall atrium. Pick up times are Dec. 11 and 13 from 4 to 6 p.m.

LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAMS FINISHES FALL SEASON
The ISU Livestock Judging Team completed its fall season with a sixth place finish at the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. The team finished third in cattle, third in swine, fifth in reasons and ninth in sheep among a field of 30 teams.

WORDS OF THANKS FROM CALS
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences asked a few faculty, staff and students"”including Dean Wendy Wintersteen and the associate deans"”to share what they are most thankful for. These wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday season were shared last week with CALS alumni and friends.

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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REMINDER: WHITE PAPERS FOR PRESIDENTIAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE DUE DEC. 1
White papers for the Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research should be submitted in pdf format to Tahira Hira (tkhira@iastate.edu) by Dec. 1. More: http://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2012/10/04/initiative

DOE SCHOLARS PROGRAM APPLICATIONS DUE JAN. 4
The DOE Scholars Program is a Department of Energy-wide program that introduces undergraduate students, graduate students and post-graduates to the agency's mission and operations. The program promotes DOE's strategic objectives of creating a pipeline of highly qualified participants in disciplinary fields that support programs in mission-critical areas. Participants must be U.S. citizens. Applications are due Jan. 4. More: http://orise.orau.gov/doescholars/default.htm

DOE CHASE BIO-OIL PATHWAYS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
The Department of Energy has issued the request for information Carbon, Hydrogen and Separation Efficiencies in Bio-Oil Conversion Pathways. The purpose of this RFI is to garner input from researchers in industry, academia and other biofuels stakeholders to identify key technical barriers in converting biomass via thermochemical direct liquefaction pathways to transportation fuels in the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel ranges. At a recent stakeholder workshop, several technology deficiencies were identified that were applicable to all of these pathways. Information regarding the significance of these technical barriers and the resources required to address these technology deficiencies is sought. Responses are due Dec. 5.

FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources, http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/

Dec. 3 (notice of intent): NASA Soil Moisture Active-Passive Science Team. More: http://goo.gl/nvgSo

Dec. 12: EPA Environmental Education Regional Grants; 25 percent cost share, one award per region.

Dec. 18 (pre-applications): USDA/DOE Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research Funding Opportunity; $1.5 million over three years.

Dec. 31 (letter of intent): USDA NIFA Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change; five awards, $5 million each over five years.

Jan. 7 (letter of intent): NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program. More: http://goo.gl/eqqpI

Jan. 15 (preproposal): North Central Sun Grant Center Competitive Grants Program.

Jan. 23 (preproposal): NSF Ecosystem Science Cluster. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503663

Feb. 20 or March 29 (letter of intent): Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education Grant. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504852

Feb. 20: NSF Promoting Research and Innovation in Methodologies for Evaluation. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503586

Feb. 21: USGS NIWR Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program; $250,000 over one to three years.

Feb. 26 (letter of intent): NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Centers of Excellence for Translational Research (U19). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-12-044.html

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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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SEND PUBLISHED MATERIALS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ARCHIVES 
Remember to send a copy of anything your department or office publishes to the Iowa State University Library Archives department. Tanya Zanish-Belcher, Parks Library ISU head of special collections and university archives, says archiving provides an historical record and administrative continuity for future generations. She adds that archiving identifies, appraises and preserves materials that are valuable in documenting the organization's history. The process also ensures accountability by preserving public records. If you have questions about archiving materials contact the special collections department at archives@iastate.edu. 

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INFOGRAZING
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AAAS LECTURE NOMINATIONS DUE JAN. 14
The American Association for the Advancement of Science invites nominations for scientists working at the forefront of a pressing issue at the nexus of agriculture and society to deliver the 2013 AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture to be held next spring in Washington, D.C. Nominees should have outstanding scientific contributions or significant policy accomplishments related to agriculture with demonstrated societal impact. Information on past lectures is available online. Submit nominations by Jan. 14, 2013, to Anne Moraske, amoraske@aaas.org, (202) 326-6759.

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INTERNAL VOICES
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AG DEANS: SCIENCE EASES DISASTERS' PAIN
"What do these natural disasters have in common? Without science, they probably would have been much worse"¦ Scientists aren't superheroes who can prevent catastrophes, unfortunately. But they do some pretty amazing work, and if our national leaders do more to support public science as a solution to our challenges, we'll still be able to say: It could have been worse." From an opinion piece published Nov. 25 in The Cedar Rapids Gazette by CALS Dean Wendy Wintersteen; Allen S. Levine, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota; Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech; and Bobby Moser, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University.

MOORE: IMPACTFUL RESEARCH ALSO PART OF FARM BILL
For many Americans, the contents of the Farm Bill remain somewhat mysterious, but it's more than food stamps and subsidies"”like a $25 million biofuel research project headed up at ISU with several other partners. "Our long-term emphasis really is trying to have a positive impact on agriculture, trying to have a positive impact on the environment and trying to create an opportunity for society to move forward with an alternative and renewable fuel system," said Ken Moore, agronomy and leader of the CenUSA Bioenergy project. More from Iowa Public Radio or Nebraska Public Radio

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EXTERNAL VOICES
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CALS ALUM: BRIGHT FUTURE IN AGRICULTURE, A GROWTH INDUSTRY
In an insecure economy, Kim and A.J. Lewis, parents of three children under the age of 3, see a bright future in their chosen field of agribusiness. So does Rachel Wayson, a John Deere product manager who, with husband Michael, looks forward to raising their first child, due in January, on their farm north of Vinton. The Lewises and Waysons, all young graduates of CALS, are living their dream, earning a good living in one of the nation's few growth industries while staying close to their Iowa farm roots. "Honestly, I've loved getting up and working every day since I graduated from Iowa State," said Kim Lewis (2005 animal science).

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MARGINALIA
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FORMER ENTOMOLOGY PROFESSOR WINS YOUTUBE CONTEST
Marlin Rice, a former professor of entomology at ISU, won the Open category in the 2012 YouTube Your Entomology Contest, a competition sponsored by the Entomological Society of America, which just ended its annual meeting in Knoxville. "Ants Africa" consists of footage from five different trips that Rice made to Zambia. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/science/insect-video-contest-puts-sma…

KENEALY'S FATHER REMEMBERS BEING POW DURING WORLD WAR II
Al Kenealy still thinks about the Russian gunned down in front of him nearly 70 years ago. Kenealy spent 27 months as a prisoner of war during World War II, living with frequent hunger and haunted by an uncertain future. In 1945, he returned home to Iowa, got married and spent his life as a farmer south of Minden. He and his wife had three children, one being Douglas Kenealy, emeritus professor in animal science. "The grocery bill never bothered me. You can get by without money but you can't get by without food and water," said Kenealy in a Veterans Day article in the Omaha World Herald.

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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/

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