CALS Online and Dean’s Message
July 21, 2025
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS and Happy Monday – Last week, we welcomed our new chair for the department of agronomy, Glen Richie, coming to us from Texas Tech University, where he held a similar position. We also welcomed a new director for the Seed Science Center, Scott Heuchelin, coming to us from Corteva, where, most recently, he was the global lead for seed health. We are so pleased to have them on board! Check out this editorial in Sunday’s paper by CALS faculty Mike Castellano (Agronomy) and Matt Helmers (ABE) about agriculture and water quality in Iowa…
Top Stories
Researchers Working to Support Wine Industry in Iowa
A 2024 report on the Economic Impact of the Wine Industry in Iowa estimated that Iowa wine and winery-related tourism represented a value of $374 million in 2022, with a workforce of more than 1,590. Iowa State researchers Suzanne Slack (left), horticulture, and Aude Watrelot, food science and human nutrition, are working with colleagues at several north-central universities to nurture the steadily growing wine industry for the region. They are taking a variety of approaches that include investigating the best trellising systems for cold-hardy grapes and testing the potential of new cultivars to make wines that appeal to changing consumer preferences.
Annual Iowa Native Wine Production and Sales Report Released
The 2024 Iowa Native Wine Production and Sales Report, prepared annually by the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team at ISU Extension and Outreach, was recently released. The report presents analysis regarding the current state of the Iowa wine, cider and mead industries. The data used in the report is from the Iowa Department of Revenue-Alcohol and Tax Compliance Division and is reported by WAN license holders (Iowa native wine manufacturers).
Research
Iowa State Grows External Funding
Iowa State grew total external funding for fiscal year 2025 to $549.3 million, an increase of $4.7 million over the previous fiscal year. The research support over fiscal year ’25 included record funding from three federal agencies: the Department of Energy for university projects and the Ames National Laboratory ($125.2 million), the National Science Foundation ($45.3 million), and the Department of Transportation ($10.1 million).
External Research Funding Tops $300 Million for Third Straight Year
The 2025 fiscal year, that closed June 30, was quite atypical for Iowa State researchers. Collectively, they experienced the exhilarating highs of new major awards to support their research and discovery, as well as the feelings of anxiety brought about by a changing federal funding landscape with rapidly evolving priorities. Despite this uncertainty, Iowa State topped $300 million in external research funding for the third consecutive year. Samuel Mindes, rural sociology and extension and outreach, is a team member on a new project that received FY25 funding.
Dorhout: Research Impact Not Measured by Dollar Amount of Award
Peter Dorhout, Iowa State vice president for research, emphasizes that the impact of a new research project isn’t measured by the dollar amount of its award. “Any project – large or small – can deliver an outsized impact if it reflects the Iowa State research vision of fostering human creativity, fueling innovation and forging new frontiers that enable our communities, partners and stakeholders to flourish.”
Teaching and Students
ISRC Releases Call for Posters for Research Day, Sept. 8
The Iowa Soybean Research Center is holding a Research Day for its industry partners, farmer representatives, faculty affiliates and others on Sept. 8 from 2:30-7 p.m. at Reiman Gardens. Graduate students, post-docs and research staff that would like to present a research poster are asked to fill out a Microsoft Form by Aug. 8. Soybean is the preferred topic, however, other crops are welcome. Submission topics can include soil health, herbicide resistant weeds, crop pests and disease, and production crops. The number of posters will be limited to 20.
What is the Impact of CALS Study Abroad?
The last study abroad programs of the 2024-2025 academic year will be concluding soon as students return to the U.S. from summer programs in Greece, Uganda and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As the year wraps up, the CALS Office for Global Engagement analyzed the impact of study abroad and study USA programs on students, faculty, staff and departments.
Extension and Outreach
Strip-Till Field Day at the Southeast Farm is July 30
ISU Extension and Outreach is hosting a strip-till field day at the ISU Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm in Crawfordsville on July 30. The event will feature two identical field demonstrations in the morning and afternoon. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During lunch, Levi Powell with the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab, will share a presentation on “Being Successful with Strip-Till.”
Webinars to Examine Impact of Excessive Heat on People, Produce
ISU Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team is holding two webinars in August that will explore the role of intense heat on farmers and growers, as well as their crops.
Fruit and Vegetable Field Day is Aug. 5
The horticulture team with ISU Extension and Outreach will hold the 2025 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on Aug. 5, from 2-5:30 p.m. at the Horticulture Research Station. The annual event will feature various research and demonstration projects on fruit and vegetable production for commercial growers, extension personnel, nonprofit organizations and Iowa Master Gardeners.
Licht on Exploring Alternatives to Cereal Rye Ahead of Corn
In a July 16 post for the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Learning Group, Mark Licht, agronomy and extension cropping systems specialist, explores alternatives to cereal rye ahead of corn. “Cereal rye has long been the go-to cover crop for Iowa farmers due to its excellent winter hardiness, high biomass production, superior erosion control and ability to limit nutrient loss,” Licht said. “However, concerns about corn yield drag following cereal rye have prompted growing interest in alternative cover crops that may offer better compatibility with corn. Two promising alternatives are hairy vetch and camelina. These are particularly noteworthy because they include varieties that commonly overwinter in Iowa.”
Around the College
American Society of Animal Science Honors CALS Faculty
Nicholas Gabler received the American Feed Industry Association Award in Nonruminant Nutrition Research from the American Society of Animal Science at its annual meeting July 6 – 10 in Hollywood, Florida. Jodi Sterle received the Purina Animal Nutrition LLC/Land O’Lakes Inc. Distinguished Teacher Award.
ASABE Honors CALS Faculty
Amy Kaleita, department chair for agricultural and biosystems engineering, received the James R. and Karen A. Gilley Academic Leadership Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers at its annual international meeting July 13-16 in Toronto, Canada. Manjit Misra, professor emeritus, received the Lalit and Aruna Verma Award for Excellence in Global Engagement.
High-Tech Feed Mill Supports Safe, Sustainable Food Supply
The summer issue of Fresh Pickings, published by the Iowa Food and Family project, includes a feature on the ISU Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex (pgs. 24-27). Dirk Maier, agricultural and biosystems engineering, talks about the innovative grain science complex that’s a game changer for the global grain industry, while also educating and connecting the next generation of researchers in areas like feed production and process engineering.
Calendar
Sept. 9-10: Iowa Water Conference
The 19th annual Iowa Water Conference, “Life Depends on Water. Water Depends on You.” is Sept. 9-10 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. As the Iowa Water Center celebrates its 60-year anniversary, it contemplates the progress made, as well as the goals that have been, so far, out of reach.
Sept. 10-12: Egg Industry Issues Forum
Iowa State’s Egg Industry Center is partnering with the Ohio Poultry Association for its annual Egg Industry Issues Forum Sept. 10-12 in Columbus, Ohio. Traditionally a stand-alone annual event, the Egg Industry Issues Forum started in 2009 and has educated egg farmers and industry stakeholders from over 31 states and 10 countries on issues important to the industry.
More Events Listed on CALS Website
Find more events on the CALS Events webpage. Submit events for inclusion on this list to madelyno@iastate.edu or jstewart@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
CYstarters Demo Day Scheduled for July 31
As the 10th CYstarters summer accelerator program ends, the student entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses at the CYstarters Demo Day on July 31 from 3-6:30 p.m. in the Research Park CORE Facility Atrium. A networking reception will follow.
RMF and AAAS Invite Students to Submit Poster Presentations
The Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation, in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is holding its inaugural poster competition for students to present cutting-edge research in agriculture, natural resources, food science and related fields. The competition will be held in conjunction with the Riley Memorial Lecture at AAAS in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 20. Sixteen posters will be selected. The deadline to upload submissions is Aug. 10.
CALS Alum Named Entrepreneur of the Year
Algae is the star behind a Slater-based business that is using the green goo to clean municipal and industrial wastewater. The sustainable process was developed by Martin Gross, founder and CEO of Gross-Wen Technologies. His advancements in water treatment recently earned Gross an Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Heartland Award. While an Iowa State undergraduate with an interest in algae, Gross met Zhiyou Wen, now the William K. Deal Agricultural Innovation Professor in food science and human nutrition and director of Iowa State’s Center for Crops Utilization Research. Following research and technology development, and with a new focus on wastewater treatment, Gross and Wen launched the business.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/cals-online
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.