College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
March 20, 2017 – No. 943
Top Stories
Attend Open Forum Wednesday to Provide Input into New CALS Strategic Plan
An open forum for faculty, staff and students to provide input into the new CALS strategic plan will be held Wednesday, March 22, noon to 2 p.m., in the CCUR Theatre (1951 Food Sciences Building). Also, a website is available to provide input online. Comments may be submitted under six different tabs – mission and vision, four priorities and other comments. The deadline for submitting input online is noon Friday, March 31. Ruth MacDonald, food science and human nutrition, is chairing the CALS Strategic Plan Committee that will be drafting the college’s new plan.
Research
CALS Agronomist Helps Identify Corn Gene that Resists Virus
A corn gene identified in a new study resists a virus that has led to steep yield losses in most corn-cultivating countries. Thomas Lubberstedt, agronomy and part of the international team, said the research could lead to corn varieties that can fight off sugarcane mosaic virus. More
EEOB Professor Details Indirect Effects of Invasive Species in Guam
A new study from Haldre Rogers, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, shows the indirect impacts invasive species can have in an ecosystem. The study, published in Nature Communications, focused on the brown tree snake, whose introduction to the forests of Guam drove 10 of the 12 forest bird species to extinction and has led to difficulties for local tree species to reproduce. More
Dakota Access Pipeline Funds ISU Research of Pipeline Installation
Mark Hanna and Mehari Tekeste, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will lead a five-year research project to study the impact of pipeline construction on crop production and soil compaction. The pipeline’s route crosses about 18 acres of farmland in Story County owned by the university or university-affiliated organizations. ISU research farm staff will maintain normal crop practices throughout the growing season. The research project is funded by Dakota Access Pipeline. More
Alliance Message: Iowa Nutrient Research Center Meeting Iowa’s Needs in Water Quality
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center, led by CALS, was highlighted in the March 15 issue of Alliance for Iowa State. Now in its fifth year, the center has funded more than 40 projects led by 76 scientists at the three region institutions in collaboration with state and federal agencies, cities, farmers and landowners.
Teaching and Students
Hansen Named Outstanding Young Researcher; Kellner Wins Grad Student Honor
Stephanie Hansen, animal science, received the Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the American Society of Animal Science during the annual meeting of the ASAS Midwestern Section and ADSA Midwest Branch in Omaha, March 13-15. Hansen’s research program is in micronutrient metabolism, feed efficiency and alternative feedstuffs. Also, Trey Kellner, Ph.D. candidate in animal science, received the Stahly/Peo Outstanding Swine Nutrition Midwest Graduate Student Award.
CALS Students Featured in Article on ‘Next Generation of Normal Borlaugs’
CALS students Paige Myers, senior in global resource systems, and Adam Willman, senior in agronomy, are alumni of the World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute. Daniel Finney, columnist with the Des Moines Register, featured Myers and Willman in an article about finding the next generation of Norman Borlaugs to help feed the world. More
CALS Student Featured on RFD-TV, Competing for Miss Iowa
Lexi Marek, senior in public service and administration in agriculture, was featured in a new episode of FarmHer on RFD-TV on March 10. Lexi is a sixth generation farmer, has shown pigs for 16 years and is currently serving as Miss Greater Des Moines. She will share her passion for agriculture during the competition for Miss Iowa. More
CALS Students Awarded Agriculture Scholarships
Izak Christensen, agricultural business and agronomy, and Michael Tupper, agricultural engineering, were awarded the William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship at the 2017 Commodity Classic tradeshow in San Antonio, March 1-4. The National Corn Growers Association, in partnership with BASF, awards the scholarship to outstanding undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in agriculture.
Nursing Degree Gets Faculty Senate Approval
The faculty senate has approved a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing to be offered jointly by CALS and the College of Human Sciences. Nurses who hold degrees from accredited programs (registered nurse or associate degree in nursing) are the target audience. More
Extension and Outreach
Hort and Home News Website Receives Update
ISU Extension and Outreach has launched an updated Horticulture and Home Pest News website, providing a one-stop location for yard and garden information. More
Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll Summary Report Released
The 2016 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll Summary Report has been released and is available online. Survey results discuss conservation practice use, changes in farming practices and strategies, and monarch butterfly conservation. Information sources farmers trust is also examined. More
Palmer Amaranth Topic of Friday’s ANR at Noon
Palmer Amaranth is the topic of the next ANR at Noon session scheduled for Friday, March 24, at noon. Bob Hartzler, agronomy, will define Palmer amaranth, show where it has been identified in Iowa and next steps for stopping the spread. More
Around the College
ABE’s Graduate Program Tops U.S. News and World Report Ranking
The department of agricultural and biosystems engineering is number one in the annual ranking of graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report. Steven Mickelson, chair of ABE, said the biggest reason for the department’s rise to the top of the rankings is its new facilities. The program is co-administered by CALS and the College of Engineering. More
Lawrence Accepts Award for Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Science Team
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey awarded the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Science Team the Leadership in Conservation award at the Iowa Agricultural Leaders Dinner on March 7. The team consists of 23 individuals representing five agencies or organizations under the leadership of CALS associate dean John Lawrence. More
Dharmadhikari Presented with Distinguished Service Award
Murli Dharmadhikari, food science and human nutrition, received the Distinguished Service Award at the Iowa Wine Growers Association annual conference in Ames on Feb. 5. Dharmadhikari developed the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute at ISU in 2006 and served as its director until his retirement this January. More
Calendar
March 28: Shivvers Memorial Lecture
“The Leopold Center at 30 and Beyond” is the theme of this year’s Shivvers Memorial Lecture, to be held March 28 at 7 p.m. in the Richard and Joan Stark Lecture Hall, 1148 Gerdin Business Building. Three former Iowa legislators – Paul Johnson, Ralph Rosenberg and David Osterberg – will discuss the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act and establishment of the Leopold Center, and share their thoughts on the past, present and future as the Center commemorates its 30 anniversary. More
March 30: CALS Sustainability Lecture
Deborah Arcoleo, director of Product Transparency for the Hershey Co., will give the next presentation in the CALS Sustainability Lecture Series on March 30 at 4:10 p.m. in the Leonard and Evelyn Dolezal Auditorium, Curtiss Hall. Her speech is titled: The Changing Consumer and the Transparency Imperative. Arcoleo is responsible for leading the company's efforts to meet consumers’ and other audiences’ demands for product information. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Indiana University and a master’s degree in organization design and effectiveness from Fielding Graduate University. More
March 31: CALS ADVANCE Faculty Workshops
Two CALS ADVANCE faculty workshops are scheduled for March 31 in the Memorial Union Gallery. The sessions will be facilitated by Nancy Wayne, professor of physiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and associate vice chancellor for research. Wayne also is founding president of Women Advancing Together that brings practical, goal-oriented and problem-solving workshops to professionals, students and administrators to help overcome barriers in their careers. The morning workshop, 9 to 11 a.m., is on the need for self-promotion. The afternoon workshop, 1 to 3 p.m., is on work-life balance. Register for one or both workshops by March 22 by emailing Carla Persaud, cpersaud@iastate.edu.
April 11: Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture
Alan Barkema will present the Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture on April 11 at 8 p.m. in the Richard and Joan Stark Lecture Hall, 1148 Gerdin Business Building. Barkema was senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and a former professor and head of the agricultural economics department at Oklahoma State University. He founded Apical Economics, LLC following his retirement in 2012. The Hertz Lecture is co-sponsored by CALS.
April 12-13: Seed and Biosafety Symposium
The Leroy and Barbara Everson Seed and Biosafety Symposium will be held April 12-13 in Ames. The 2017 symposium will focus on Next Generation Agriculture: Emerging Innovations and Opportunities. The keynote speaker is Kenneth Quinn, president of The World Food Prize Foundation. April 12 sessions are complimentary for ISU faculty, staff and students. More
April 13: CALS Sustainability Symposium
CALS faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend a day-long CALS Sustainability Symposium on April 13 in the Scheman Buildling. CALS will celebrate ways it encourages sustainability and propose new efforts in the area. Catherine Woteki, former undersecretary of USDA’s Research, Education and Economics mission area and a past CALS dean, will present on sustainability efforts at the federal level. A poster session will highlight how sustainability is being implemented in CALS teaching, research and extension activities. Also planned are panel discussions on future sustainability efforts. Information for registration and a call for posters will be available soon. More
April 14: Pierre Soil Science Lecture
David Myrold, a soil scientist at Oregon State University, will present the 2017 William H. Pierre Memorial Lecture in Soil Science on April 14 at 1:10 p.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall. The lecture is titled Microbial Communities and N Cycling in Diverse Soils. Myrold, a professor in OSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Science, will explore recent insights in soil N cycling. He is a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and of the Soil Science Society of America. The lecture series honors the memory of William Pierre (1898-1982) who served agronomic sciences and Iowa State as an administrator, researcher and leader. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the CALS Sustainability Task Force. More
Funding Opportunities
FFAR Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research Proposals Due May 1
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research invites consortia proposals to the Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research Program for projects that address threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. Funding of up to $150,000 per project will be made prior to an outbreak to support development of diagnostic tools, outreach, research and other efforts to mitigate, contain or prevent a pest or pathogen outbreak. Projects are short term (one year) and require that consortia identify 1:1 matching funds from commodity groups, industry, states or non-governmental organizations. Proposals are due May 1. A webinar will be held on April 5 at 12 p.m. Central time for a short how-to on ROAR participation and an open Q&A session. More
Iowa Soybean Association Research Proposals Due May 21
The Iowa Soybean Association will fund research projects that help increase soybean farmer competitiveness, especially through improved productivity and profitability while improving environmental stewardship. The ISA will fund both applied and basic research. Areas of interest include germplasm, genetics, disease and pests, weed management, nutrition management, water quality and environmental stewardship. Proposals are due May 21. Application materials are available from Jill Cornelis (cornelis@iastate.edu), Iowa Soybean Research Center.
NCR-SARE Seeks Technical Committee Members to Review Proposals
The North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program seeks applications for Technical Committee members to review proposals for the NCR-SARE Research and Education grant program. Reviewers from Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin are especially needed, as is expertise in agroforestry, water quality/quantity, aquaculture, weed control, soils, urban agriculture, and innovative education and outreach practices. Reviewers should have good knowledge of sustainable agriculture systems and practices in one of the 12 states that comprise the NC-SARE region. The term for Technical Committee members is three years. 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.
April 17: USDA NIFA Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program. More
April 17: American Diabetes Association Core Research Program - Innovative Basic Science Award, $115,000 per year for up to three years. More
April 19: Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs Partnership Grants; 50 percent cost share required. More
April 24 (letter of intent): NIH Enhancing Science, Technology, EnginEering and Math Educational Diversity Research Education Experiences (R25). More
May 1 (pre-proposal): U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. More
May 3: Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations Round 19 - Innovations for Integrated Diagnostics Systems; Phase I $100,000. More
May 9: USDA NIFA Crop Protection and Pest Management. More
May 31 (nomination): Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences; $3 million. More
June 1 (Step 1 proposal): NASA Land-Cover/Land-Use Change. More
June 15 (letter of intent): Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Projects, muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. More
Communications Kiosk
Using Quotations Marks with Unfamiliar Terms
A word or words being introduced to readers may be placed in quotation marks on first reference. (Broadcast frequencies are measured in “kilohertz.”) Do not put subsequent references to kilohertz in quotation marks. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2016 edition, pg. 423)
Infograzing
Purdue Agriculture Dean Testifies on Land-Grants and Next Farm Bill
On March 16, Jay Akridge, Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University and chair of the Policy Board of Directors for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Board on Agriculture Assembly, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research on research, education and extension in the 2018 Farm Bill. Akridge focused his comments on the need to support both capacity funds and competitive funds. “…The nation’s land-grant universities and agricultural colleges remain the world’s premier source of research, education and extension programs benefiting the agricultural industry from producer to consumer. With a proven record of impact, and with appropriate levels of federal investment, APLU members stand ready to address the challenges of feeding a growing world.”
Help Shape Grand Challenge Research Areas at ISU Faculty Research Day
ISU Faculty Research Day will be March 21, 1 to 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Participants will have the opportunity to celebrate the university’s research accomplishments, exchange ideas, discover connections and help create the future of Iowa State’s interdisciplinary grand challenge research areas. Registration is available online.
Vet Med to Host One Health Lecture, March 21
The College of Veterinary Medicine is hosting Laura Kahn for an ISU One Health Lecture on Tuesday, March 21, at 5:30 p.m. in 2226 Vet Med. Kahn, a research scholar with the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University, will present Physicians, Farmers and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance.
NAS Seeks Nominations for Science Breakthroughs Report Committee
The National Academies of Science has announced the Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and Agricultural Research study to produce a 10-year agenda for food and agriculture research. Nominations for the study’s lead committee are due by Wednesday, March 22, and can be submitted online. More
Marginalia
NIFA Releases Annual Report
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has released its 2016 annual report, Today’s Science, Tomorrow’s Solutions. The report showcases examples of how NIFA funding is delivering “user-inspired discoveries” to classrooms across the nation, and directly to farmers, producers, counties, community organizations, families and countries where the need is greatest.
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.