CALS Online and Dean’s Message
June 12, 2023
Dean’s Message
Happy Beautiful Monday CALS — I hope this finds you and yours well. I have been reflecting on the state of affairs of our world; from the totally optimistic to the opposite and everything in between… It is all enough to wonder where we can go from here. But we do know. We stay at our work and strive to make the world a better place: one student, one research project and one outreach effort at a time. It goes almost without saying that being at a university requires us each to be an optimist. Teaching, studying, discovering and extending information is all about optimism… More
Top Stories
Grant Supports Research to Launch Ag DIRT Study
A team of scientists led by Iowa State has received a $649,000 grant from USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture to study the intricacies of cereal rye cover crops. One of the grant’s top objectives is to launch an innovative Ag DIRT (Detritus Input and Removal Treatments) study to quantify how biomass from cover crops impacts long-term soil carbon levels. Marshall McDaniel, agronomy, will lead the DIRT component of the grant. More
Research
Four Spring RIR Proposals Selected for Strategic Plan Funding
Four projects were selected for seed funding support in the spring 2023 “Healthy Iowa” Research and Innovation Roundtable. Lie Tang, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is a co-PI for “Development of Next-generation Detection and Sampling Platforms for Zoonotic Pathogens in the Food Chain.” More
Vorst Contributes to Article on Mitigating Exposure to Man-Made Chemicals
"Forever chemicals," or PFAS, are known for their persistent ability to remain in nature - and the body for years. In a June 6 article for The Washington Post, experts talk about ways to mitigate exposure to the man-made chemicals. Keith Vorst, food science and human nutrition and director of the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium, said that when you heat up food in paper linings or plastic containers, there's a risk that some PFAS potentially coating the packaging can turn into a vapor and contaminate what is eaten. More
Extension and Outreach
USDA to Hold Listening Sessions on Cattle Contracts Library
The Cattle Contracts Library is a pilot program designed to increase market transparency for cattle producers, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is looking for feedback during listening sessions that beef feedlot producers can attend in person or virtually. More
Veterinarian Now Needed for Antibiotics
As of June 11, all medically important antibiotics previously available over-the-counter can only be purchased directly from a veterinarian or with a prescription. The change is part of the Food and Drug Administration’s “Guidance for Industry #263” rule. Grant Dewell, extension beef veterinarian with ISU Extension and Outreach, explains the changes livestock producers face. More
Around the College
Departments Share How and Why They Create Podcasts
Some departments are turning to podcasts as a way to reach people on campus, in the community and around the world. Examples were highlighted in the June 8 issue of Inside Iowa State, including “To Infinity and Abroad” by the CALS Study Abroad program, and the “Small Farm Sustainability Podcast” by ISU Extension and Outreach. Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa, agricultural education and studies, also talked about her Communicating Contemporary Issues in Agriculture course where students will develop a podcast for the first time this fall. More
Sociologist Releases Collection of Poems
Ramesh Balayar, sociology and criminal justice, has released a collection of poems titled “Manko Bimbabata.” The anthology consists of 37 poems and was published by Sajha Prakashan in Nepal. More
CSRL Launches Skills Development for Self-Reliance FundISU Campaign
Iowa State’s Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and its Uganda Program use education to develop responsible global citizens and thriving local communities that benefit from food and financial security, healthcare, civic participation, social inclusion and environmental stewardship. A key ingredient in achieving this mission is skills development for self-reliance. Currently, they cannot accommodate the number of mothers and youth who wish to develop their skills. The FundISU campaign will be open until June 23. More
Calendar
June 14: Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar on June 14 at noon will feature Shane Wulf, wetlands project manager with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. He will discuss water benefits delivered with water quality wetland improvements. More
June 29: Iowa Swine Day
The 12th annual Iowa Swine Day is June 29 in Ames. Industry professionals and swine experts with ISU Extension and Outreach will provide a day of education and networking. More
Infograzing
Sign-up Open for University’s State Fair Exhibit
Faculty and staff volunteers are sought to run the university’s main exhibit, “Breaking Barriers: The Story of Jack Trice,” at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 10-20. During 2023, the university is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the student athlete's death from football injuries, and the exhibit will feature a scale model of the Breaking Barriers sculpture installed last fall near the north gate of Jack Trice Stadium. Volunteers receive admission to the fair and a themed T-shirt to wear during their shift(s) in the air-conditioned Varied Industries Building. The online registration form is first come, first served. More
SHOP Seeks Faculty, Staff Volunteers
There are daily opportunities for faculty and staff to volunteer at the SHOP campus food pantry in Beyer Hall. Consider signing up for a shift so the SHOP can remain open this summer for students in need. Also consider donating your empty egg cartons to the food pantry. More
Marginalia
Bike Tour Developed for Art on Campus
In anticipation of RAGBRAI, University Museums intern Joslyn Sperry developed a self-guided bike tour of the Art on Campus. In keeping with the local theme - Cycling Fun & GAMES - each stop has an activity or trivia question. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://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 Thursday.