CALS Online and Dean’s Message
July 24, 2023
Dean’s Message
Happy Monday CALS – This will be a busy and a bit of a crazy week with many tens of thousands of RAGBRAI-ers all over Ames on Tuesday and Wednesday, and our little downtown coming alive Tuesday evening! Stay safe, enjoy it all, and watch out for bicycles everywhere and anywhere. I do love biking - always have, and I still do… More
Top Stories
Alumna Visits Japan as 2023 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen
With the spin of a wheel, Maddy McGarry became the 2023 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen. McGarry (’20 agricultural and life sciences education, international agriculture) was bestowed her title at the end of a week-long experience earlier this year in Washington, D.C. The National Cherry Blossom Princess Program celebrates the friendship between the United States and Japan and offers participants opportunities to interact with government, business and media leaders, as well as tour various cultural and educational centers in Washington, D.C. As part of her royal duties, McGarry traveled to Japan in June. She is shown above with Prime Minister Kishida and her counterpart, the Japanese Cherry Blossom Queen. More
Research
Researcher Spotlight: Marshall McDaniel
Marshall McDaniel, agronomy, is an affiliate with the Iowa Soybean Research Center. With a background in soil carbon and nutrient cycling, his outreach, research and teaching program focuses on soil-plant interactions. The ISRC featured McDaniel in their July newsletter. More
Teaching and Students
CALS Students Part of Summer CYstarters Cohort
Two CALS students are part of the 15 new student-developed businesses selected by the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship to participate in CYstarters during summer 2023: Blake Price, a graduating senior in agriculture studies with a minor in horticulture, and Sydney Friest, a graduating senior in graphic design and environmental studies. The student entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses at the CYstarters Demo Day on Aug. 1, from 3-6:30 p.m. More
CALS Students Sharpen Ag Policy Knowledge on the Hill
Colby Brandt, sophomore in agricultural and rural policy studies, and Eliza Patchin, sophomore in agricultural business, took part in the Ag Voices of the Future program July 10-13 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the American Soybean Association and Valent U.S.A., the program gives students an inside look at how agricultural policies are made in the nation's capital. More
Extension and Outreach
Greiner Named Director of Iowa Pork Industry Center
Laura Greiner, animal science, has been named director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center. She succeeds Dr. Chris Rademacher, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, who has spent the past year as the center’s interim director. The center promotes efficient pork production technologies in Iowa, maintains Iowa’s pork industry leadership and strengthens rural development efforts. More
Fruit and Vegetable Field Day Scheduled for Aug. 8
The horticulture team with ISU Extension and Outreach will hold the 2023 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on Aug. 8 at the Horticulture Research Station. The annual event will feature research and demonstration projects on organic vegetable production, peppers, apples, grapes and beneficial insects. More
Around the College
Animal Scientists Honored with National Awards
The American Society of Animal Science presented the following awards during its annual meeting on July 16-20 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. More
- Joshua Selsby – Animal Growth and Development Award
- Juan Steibel – Innovation in Animal Breeding and Genetics Award
- Jodi Sterle – Fellow: Teaching
Three Projects Funded through CALS Academy for Team Science
Three projects have received funding through the CALS Academy for Team Science program. The research teams and their programs exemplify the college's commitment to empowering people with the skills and knowledge to improve global food security, protect the planet’s resources and agricultural capacity, and navigate a broad array of social challenges to the benefit of Iowa, the nation and the world. More
Nominations Open for Spencer Award
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture invites nominations for the 2023 Spencer Award, which honors Iowans working for a more environmentally sound agriculture. Nominations are due Aug. 25. More
College Alumni BBQ Sept. 2 – Call for Volunteers and Invitation to Attend
Faculty and staff volunteers are needed for the annual CALS BBQ, to be held Sept. 2 at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. Approximately 400 CALS alumni and friends are expected to attend this year’s event, which will run from 9-11:30 a.m., prior to the ISU vs. UNI football game (kick-off is 1 p.m.). Complimentary breakfast, parking and shuttle to the stadium will be provided. Volunteers who register will receive a CALS BBQ T-shirt in appreciation for their service. Register to volunteer online by Aug. 4. For questions, contact Angie Weeks (amweeks@iastate.edu). Volunteer opportunities include:
- Registration/Greeter (8:30-10 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m.)
- Beverage service (8:30-10 a.m., 10-11:30 a.m.)
- Tear down (11:30 a.m. to noon)
CALS faculty, staff and guests are also invited to attend the event. Details are available on the CALS BBQ webpage. Registration required by Aug. 23.
Calendar
July 26: Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Agriculture and Climate Change in Iowa and the Midwest will be the focus of the Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, July 26, at noon. Dennis Todey, USDA Midwest Climate Hub, will present. More
Communications Kiosk
Include vs. Comprise
The basic difference between these near-synonyms is that “include” implies nonexclusivity, while “comprise” implies exclusivity. The collection includes 126 portraits (suggesting that there is more in the collection). The collection comprises 126 silver spoons (suggesting that nothing else is part of the collection). (The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, pg. 336)
Infograzing
Statistics Team Contributes to National Award for Resource Inventory
The Natural Resources Inventory has received a 2023 Project Award from the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units national network. The NRI is a nationwide longitudinal survey (dating to 1982) to assess the status, condition and trends of soil, water and related resources on nonfederal lands. Staff at Iowa State's Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service have collaborated on the inventory since its inception. More
Stay Safe from Heat Illness
Hard work in hot conditions can result in a range of heat illnesses. Take breaks to hydrate and cool off. Staying hydrated is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of heat illness. The National Ag Safety Database says the ability to sweat declines with age, so people over 40 should take extra precautions when it is hot. Keep an eye on coworkers. If someone is weak, confused or behaving strangely, they may be suffering from heat stroke. More
RAGBRAI Bicyclists Arrive July 25
Ames is the overnight stop on Tuesday, July 25, Day 3 of the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The route into Ames terminates at the east end of the Cyclone pedestrian bridge over University Boulevard, and cyclists have the option to loop through Jack Trice Stadium (concourse level). Downtown Ames is the entertainment district; riders will camp throughout town. Volunteers still are needed, including housing hosts. More
Marginalia
2023 Conservation Priority List Released
The Livestock Conservancy has released its 2023 Conservation Priority List, which identifies and ranks the threat of extinction for almost 200 heritage breeds of livestock and poultry. Heritage breed conservation retains animals well suited for sustainable, grass-based systems. Their unique genetic traits offer a variety that may be needed for future farms, including the ability to thrive in a changing climate. 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.