College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Feb. 13, 2017
Top Stories
STRIPS Research Project Receives Grants to Expand Training
The ISU research project Science-based Trials of Row-crops Integrated with Prairie Strips, or STRIPS, was recently awarded grants from the McKnight Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. The grants will enable the STRIPS team to train Technical Service Providers and Certified Crop Advisors for certification in prairie strips design, establishment and monitoring. Tim Youngquist, agronomy, is the STRIPS team farmer liaison and designer. More
Honeyman Named CALS Associate Dean for Operations
Mark Honeyman has been named associate dean for operations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He begins his duties today, Feb. 13. Honeyman will provide leadership for strategic planning and oversight and coordination of budget management, human resources, information technology, facilities and space management, land resources and capital projects. He also will assist with coordination of federal (Hatch Act) research project reporting. Honeyman has worked in the college more than 35 years, starting as an instructor and advisor in the farm operation program in the early 1980s. He is a professor of animal science and of agricultural education and studies, and since 1984 has served in several capacities as coordinator of the statewide ISU Research and Demonstration Farms for the Agriculture Experiment Station. He served as interim director of the Leopold Center from 2011 to 2012. He is an associate director of the BioCentury Research Farm, and is executive director of two affiliate organizations, the Iowa State University Agricultural Endowment and the Committee for Agricultural Development. He has authored or coauthored 58 peer-reviewed journal articles and publications. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in animal science from Iowa State. Honeyman will continue to work out of 103 Curtiss Hall and be involved in management of research farms and ISU and ISU affiliate-owned farmland.
Research
Faculty Lunch/Listen/Learn for ISU Grand Challenge Research Themes, Feb. 22
In an effort to support the ISU strategic plan’s research goal, the Office of the Vice President for Research has worked with the colleges to propose five grand challenge interdisciplinary research themes that focus on meeting the growing challenges confronting the 21st Century. To develop a compelling vision for these themes, feedback is invited at a Lunch/Listen/Learn on Feb. 22 from 12 to 1 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall. Lunch will be provided and attendance is limited to 56 people. RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu) by Feb. 20. For more information, contact Emily Heaton (heaton@iastate.edu) or Dan Nettleton (dnett@iastate.edu).
Economic Analysis Shows Iowa Public Schools Benefit from SAVE Fund
Money collected through a one-cent statewide sales tax has helped Iowa schools make significant progress in addressing overdue facility and equipment needs, according to an economic analysis by ISU researchers including Dave Swenson and Liesl Eathington, economics. The study also found that school districts used the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund to provide property tax relief. More
Leopold Center Awards Research Grants for 2017
The Leopold Center has awarded grants for 21 new research and demonstration projects. The grants will aid in the advancement of sustainable agriculture while protecting Iowa’s soil and water and help Iowa citizens increase the availability of locally grown food. More
Teaching and Students
CALS Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend March 4-5
The CALS Graduate Education Advisory Committee is organizing a graduate student recruitment weekend for March 4-5. The program includes a discussion about housing and the Ames community by a local real estate broker, a panel discussion with current graduate students, a dinner with recent graduates to discuss how their studies propelled them in their careers, and a bus tour of the campus and Ames community. All CALS graduate programs are invited to have their prospective students participate in the weekend recruitment event. Programs are responsible for arranging all of the travel and housing for their students. For questions contact calsgradprog@iastate.edu.
Extension and Outreach
Help Available for Farmers Facing Financial Difficulties
ISU Extension and Outreach has partnered with Iowa Mediation Service to create Understanding Farm Mediation, a video providing information and tips to help farmers better understand the mediation process. Mediation is an option available to farmers as they work with their creditors to find a mutually beneficial solution to a delinquent secured agricultural debt of $20,000 or more. More
Proper Soil Sampling Can Lead to Better Yields and Profits
The most important piece in understanding the fertility makeup of a field is collecting soil samples. ISU Extension and Outreach has released a new publication, Take a Good Soil Sample to Help Make Good Fertilization Decisions, written by Antonio Mallarino and John Sawyer, agronomy and extension specialists in soil fertility and nutrient management. More
Around the College
CALS Sustainability Lecture Series: Greg Miller to Speak March 1
Greg Miller, National Dairy Council, will present the next lecture in the CALS Sustainability Lecture Series on March 1 at 4:10 p.m. in 2343 Food Science Building. He will speak on “Dairy in Sustainable Food Systems.” Miller joined the National Dairy Council in 1992 and serves as its chief science officer, executive vice president of Research, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for Dairy Management Inc. and Global Dairy sector lead for Nutritional Security for Global Dairy Platform. The lecture series is organized by the CALS Sustainability Task Force, which explores how the college could become more engaged in sustainable agriculture efforts. The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is co-sponsoring Miller’s lecture. More
Nominations for Gamma Sigma Delta due March 24
The Iowa Beta Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture, will hold its annual initiation and awards ceremony on April 20, 5 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. Nomination forms for membership and awards are available online and are due March 24 by 5 p.m. More
Lawrence Speaks to Iowa Legislature on Water Quality Efforts
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp and CALS Associate Dean John Lawrence highlighted coordination and scaling-up of water quality efforts in presentations before House and Senate Committees in the Iowa Legislature on Feb. 7. Lawrence outlined research accomplishments of the legislatively funded Iowa Nutrient Research Center at ISU. More
Successful Farming Publishes Q&A with Lawrence
Successful Farming posed several questions to CALS associate dean John Lawrence on his view of the current farm economic situation. Published in the December 2016 issue of the magazine, Lawrence’s article is available online. More
Calendar
Feb. 13: Economics Water Quality Panel
Two distinguished economics alumni will speak at the “Shaping Environmental Policy to Improve Water Quality and Environmental Health” panel discussion to be held today, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. James Shortle, distinguished professor of agricultural and environmental economics at Pennsylvania State University, and Sandy Hoffmann, senior economist with USDA’s Economic Research Service, will discuss policy options and incentives to improve water quality and environmental health in Iowa and the upper Midwest. More
Feb. 14: Reception for Animal Scientists Cordray, Sebranek
A reception celebrating the induction of Joe Cordray and Joe Sebranek, animal science, into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, 3 to 5 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium, with a brief program at 4 p.m.
Feb. 15: Vince Lawson Retirement Reception
A retirement reception for Vince Lawson will be held on Feb.15, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (program at 2:45) in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. Lawson has served as the superintendent at the Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm since 1982. CALS Communications Service student intern, Summer Bontrager, visited with Lawson about his 35 years at the research farm. More
March 9: CALS Spring Awards Program
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Spring Awards Program, honoring faculty and staff achievements, is scheduled for March 9 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room.
March 27: Retirement Reception for Lois Wright Morton
A retirement reception will be held for Lois Wright Morton, sociology, on March 27, 5 p.m. in the Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall. A short program will begin at 5:15 p.m. Morton has been with the department since 1999.
Funding Opportunities
Mini-Grant Funding Opportunity in Digital Agriculture
The National Science Foundation recently awarded a Midwest “Big Data Spoke” project award to investigators from the University of North Dakota, Iowa State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Kansas State University to advance Big Data management and analysis essential to sustainable global food security. One of the project objectives is harmonizing and automating big data lifecycles in plant sciences, phenomics and genomics. To that end, UNL and ISU are launching a mini-grant funding opportunity to address data challenges associated with digital agriculture. Four awards per year for two years are anticipated, with funding up to $5,000 per award. Proposals are due by April 10. More
USAID: ASEAN Agribusiness Development, Feb. 24
The U.S. Agency for International Development has released a Broad Agency Announcement requesting expressions of interest for research, innovation and collaboration in support of increasing access to finance for entrepreneurs and small and medium sized agribusinesses in the ASEAN region. The aim of this project is to increase productivity and profitability of businesses across agricultural value chains and to develop new agricultural technologies. Expressions of interest are due Feb. 24. More
USAID: Local Innovations, Expertise and Partnerships in Asia, March 3
The U.S. Agency for International Development has released the Broad Agency Announcement, Harnessing Local Innovations, Expertise and Partnerships to Solve Development Challenges in Asia. This BAA invites interested parties to seek opportunities to co-create, co-design, co-invest and collaborate in the research, development, piloting, testing and scaling of innovative, practical and cost effective interventions that address development challenges in Asia. Focus areas include vulnerability of natural resources, inclusive economic growth, heath related challenges and education. Expressions of interest are accepted until March 3. More
Webcast: DARPA RadioBio Proposers Day, Feb. 21
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Defense Sciences Office is sponsoring a Proposers Day via pre-recorded webcast to provide information about the objectives of the Broad Agency Announcement for the RadioBio program. The aim of this program is to establish whether purposeful signaling via electromagnetic waves between biological systems exists. The pre-recorded webcast will be held on Feb. 21 from 12 to 1.30 p.m. Central Standard Time. Advance registration is required. Following the Proposers Day, presented materials will be posted to the DARPA/DSO Opportunities website. More
Invitation to 2017 ISU Faculty Research Day, March 21
The Office of the Vice President for Research is inviting all faculty, staff and students to attend the 2017 ISU Faculty Research Day. Faculty from all disciplines are invited to present a poster, deliver a lightning talk or display an exhibit. The day is an opportunity to meet new colleagues and explore connections for research or scholarship within ISU’s interdisciplinary grand challenge research areas. The event will take place on March 21 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
Rolling basis (letter of inquiry): JRS Biodiversity Foundation, Africa focus, freshwater, pollinators, capacity. More
Mar. 10: Intel, Gov’t of India and Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum - Real Time River Water and Air Quality Monitoring Grant-in-Aid; lead institution must be in India, U.S. partner required.
Mar. 29: DARPA Computational Simulation of Online Social Behavior. More
Apr. 15, Oct. 1 (letter of intent): Whitehall Foundation Research Grants and Grants-in-Aid; basic research in neurobiology; $225,000 for research grants, $30,000 for grant-in-aid. Contact the ISU Foundation to express interest cfr@foundation.isu.edu. More
Nov. 8: VentureWell – Faculty Grants; STEM innovation and entrepreneurship; $30,000. More
Communications Kiosk
Nine Healthy Ways to Communicate
Last month, Lee Mun Wah was on campus to lead an interactive session on diversity as part of ISU Lectures, sponsored by the ISU Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Committee on Lectures. Lee Mun Wah is a documentary filmmaker, author, educator and founder of Stirfry Seminars, a diversity training company that provides educational tools and workshops on cross-cultural communication and awareness, mindful facilitation and conflict mediation techniques. He provided the following nine healthy ways to communicate:
- Reflect back on what is being said. Use their words, not yours.
- Begin where they are, not where you want them to be.
- Be curious and open to what they are trying to say.
- Notice what they are saying and what they are not.
- Emotionally relate to how they are feeling. Nurture the relationship.
- Notice how you are feeling. Be honest and authentic.
- Take responsibility for your part in the conflict or misunderstanding.
- Try to understand how their past affects who they are and how those experiences affect their relationship with you.
- Stay with the process and the relationship, not just the solution.
Infograzing
AAAS Executive Talks about Taking Action for Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science CEO Rush Holt published "Act for Science" in the Feb. 10 issue of Science Magazine. In that editorial he writes: "Taking action is the best course when science is threatened or when science can illuminate public issues. Scientists should not fool themselves with the misconception that politics is dirty compared to the scientific enterprise, and they should therefore avoid the fight. Nor should scientists think that by standing back and letting the facts speak for themselves, they allow reason to prevail and proponents of flawed policies to wilt.” More
Marginalia
Voices From Rural America on Why to Go to College
Young people from remote parts of the country face special challenges in furthering their education. Many are low income and first in their families to attend college. In the Jan. 31 issue of The New York Times, six students talked about their choices. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Friday.