CALS Online and Dean’s Message
March 23, 2026
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Happy Monday, and welcome back from Spring Break! Congratulations and thanks to the CALS Staff Council for the “The pRICE is Right!” food drive they held before spring break, generating more than 400 pounds of rice… This week is National Ag Week and National Ag Day, and it’s worth taking a moment to contemplate what this means for the nation and for us…
Top Stories
Unexpected Discovery Leads to Potential Pollination Control Mechanism for Baby Corn
Baby corn quality and taste are greatly reduced by pollination. To prevent pollination, farmers depend on labor- and cost-intensive detasseling to remove the male flowers from the plant early in its growth, before they shed pollen to fertilize the ears and develop seeds. A promising alternative to the bottleneck of detasseling has been discovered by Thomas Lubberstedt, agronomy, and Siddique Aboobucker, a scientist at Iowa State at the time of the research and now an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky.
Research
Iowa State’s Pest-ID Team, Global Researchers, Work to Build an App to Help Farmers
Iowa State researchers are teaming up with international collaborators to develop a web tool that helps farmers identify and manage the insects, weeds and diseases that threaten their crops. The project is led by Arti Singh, agronomy.
CALS Faculty Involved in All Three RIR Projects
CALS faculty are principle investigators, co-PIs and team members on all three projects selected for funding from the fall 2025 Research and Innovation Roundtable, focused on Building Biosecurity: Protecting Plants from Pests and Pathogens.
- Gary Munkvold and Silvina Arias, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology
- Steve Whitham and Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology; and Madan Bhattacharyya, agronomy
- Arti Singh and Wesley Everman, agronomy; Daren Mueller, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology; and Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management
PIRS Grants Awarded for 2026
Lyndi Buckingham-Schutt, food science and human nutrition, and Katherine Harris-Lagoudakis, economics, are part of a team that received a Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant from the Office of the Vice President for Research. The project is on Advancing Health Equity Through Food-as-Medicine.
CALS Graduate Students Selected for Brown Fellowship Program
Five CALS graduate students were selected to receive funding support as part of the Brown Graduate Fellowship Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research, the program is used to advance Iowa State research in science, agriculture and space science.
- Michael Carroll, animal science
- Mercy Azanu, plant biology
- Bruno do Rosario Petrucci, ecology and evolutionary biology
- Douglas Kamaru, wildlife ecology
- Adam Yakubu, soil science
Teaching and Students
CALS Student Council to Serve National Ag Day Lunch
The CALS Student Council is offering a complimentary lunch (hamburgers) to celebrate National Ag Day on Thursday, March 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall. Industry professionals will be available for networking.
Microbiology Club Inspires Young Scientists Through Ames School Outreach
Students in the Microbiology Club are bringing science to life for young learners across Ames. Through hands-on demonstrations, interactive activities and enthusiastic storytelling about the microscopic world, the club is helping spark curiosity about microbes and the scientists who study them.
Nominations for Senior Awards Due March 25
The CALS Student Council is seeking nominations for spring 2026 senior awards. Every spring and fall semester, CALS Council recognizes graduating seniors through the following five awards. Nominations are due Wednesday, March 25, at 11:59 p.m.
- Leadership and Innovation
- Academic Achievement
- Distinguished Service
- Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Outstanding Senior
Extension and Outreach
Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey Offers Planning Guidance for Producers
ISU Extension and Outreach has released the latest Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey, providing guidance for Iowans who hire custom work and those who do custom work for others.
Urban Agriculture Publication Series Released
A new series of publications covering key topics that influence urban farm success has been released by ISU Extension and Outreach’s Urban Agriculture Program. Each resource is designed to help both new and experienced urban farmers make informed decisions and strengthen their operations.
Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll Highlights Rising Concerns about Soil Compaction
The 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, conducted by ISU Extension and Outreach, surveyed 945 farmers and found that they are increasingly concerned about soil compaction and that their views on management approaches are changing over time.
Extension Releases Set of Fact Sheets for Brewers
A new series of publications from ISU Extension and Outreach provides brewers with practical guidance for identifying, understanding and preventing common beer faults that can affect flavor, aroma and overall product quality. The fact sheets are available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.
Maximize Your 2026 Planter Season
Doug Houser, digital agriculture specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach, encourages farmers to prepare for this year’s planting season by taking care of their planter technology setup by leveraging essential pre-season maintenance and calibration to ensure field-ready performance.
Around the College
Iowa CARET Representatives Visit Capitol Hill
Representatives of Iowa State’s Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching spent several days in Washington, D.C. late last month meeting with members of Congress and their staff to speak about the importance of the land-grant system to Iowa and the nation. A reception to connect with Iowa State and CALS alums and students in the Washington area was held in conjunction with the CARET meetings. The annual event is co-hosted by CALS Dean Daniel Robison and Jason Henderson, vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach.
Tylka Receives Master Farmer Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award
Wallace’s Farmer/Farm Progress publications have recognized Greg Tylka, plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, with its 2026 Iowa Master Farmer Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award for decades of exceptional research and outreach benefiting agriculture in Iowa and beyond. The award announcement honors his pioneering research to advance scientific understanding of the soybean cyst nematode and work to provide practical solutions to combat the pest.
Schmitz Named Interim Director of ICIA
Doan Schmitz has been named interim director of the Iowa Crop Improvement Association. The ICIA is the official seed certifying agency in Iowa, ensuring certification standards are met through field inspections and lab testing. The nonprofit organization has been an affiliate of CALS since 1950.
Interviews Begin Today for Assistant Director of CALS Career Services
Four candidates have been identified for the position of assistant director of CALS Career Services. Each candidate’s name and resume will be shared online the day before their visit. Faculty and staff are invited to attend the public presentation from 12:10-1 p.m. A light lunch will be provided.
- Monday, March 23, 0009 Curtiss Hall
- Tuesday, March 24, 0009 Curtiss Hall
- Thursday, March 26, 0009 Curtiss Hall
- Friday, March 27, CCUR Theatre, 1951 Food Sciences Building
Bessey Greenhouse – A Hidden Campus Gem
On top of Bessey Hall is a 12,000-square-foot greenhouse that houses the last remaining larger plant teaching collections on Iowa State’s campus, known as the Richard W. Pohl Conservatory. The plant collection is mostly tropical in origin, with the rest from various parts of the world, including Iowa. Built in 1967, the greenhouse includes 21 rooms, with 15 open to the public. Kenny McCabe is the Bessey Greenhouse manager.
Calendar
March 25: Baker Plant Breeding Symposium
The 13th annual Raymond F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium is Wednesday, March 25, at the ISU Alumni Center. This year’s theme is “Traditional and Technological Trends: Pioneering the Future of Plant Breeding.” Registration is free for in-person and virtual attendance. The Plant Breeding and Genetics Graduate Student Club organizes the symposium, which is hosted by the Department of Agronomy.
March 26: Virtual Field Day
The impact of restoring wetlands for nutrient reduction is the topic of a virtual field day on Thursday, March 26, at 1 p.m., hosted by Iowa Learning Farms in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center. The event will feature a live discussion with Charlie Loewen, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, and Daniel Edwards, Kaitlyn Sanchez and Grace Jackson, EEOB graduate research assistants.
March 26: The National Geographic Photo Ark
Joel Sartore will present “The National Geographic Photo Ark: One Man's Quest to Document the World's Animals” on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Lecture co-sponsors include CALS and the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology.
April 10: Sushi Workshop
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is hosting a Sushi Workshop on April 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. in 117 MacKay Hall. Participants will learn about sushi styles and techniques and make fresh veggie sushi rolls. The workshop fee is $35 and space is limited.
April 14: CALS Town Hall
Join Dean Robison for a Town Hall meeting on April 14, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall.
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.
Communications Kiosk
Do Not Use “Equally” and “As” Together
Do not use the words “equally” and “as” together; one is sufficient. For example, omit the word shown in parentheses. She was (equally) as wise as Marilyn. She and Marilyn were equally (as) wise. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2024-2026 edition, pg. 75)
Infograzing
Gallus to Examine Forecasting Failures Behind 2020 Derecho
When hurricane-force winds ripped across the state of Iowa in August 2020, many Iowans had never heard of a derecho. Bill Gallus, earth, atmosphere and climate, will present “Iowa’s Surprising 2020 Derecho: What Have Meteorologists Learned?” on Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall.
World Food Prize Foundation to Announce 2026 Laureate
The 2026 World Food Prize Laureate will be announced during a livestreamed event on Wednesday, March 25, at 8 a.m. Following the announcement, there will be a panel discussion titled: “The World Food Prize at 40: Food Security in a Strategic Age.”
Video: Using Soybeans to Create Longer Lasting Roads
Iowa has long been a leading producer of soybeans to feed a growing world. Now, those soybeans are being used to help rebuild roads. Soy pavement technology developed by Iowa State engineers helped fix 24 miles of rural roads in northeast Iowa.
Marginalia
George Washington Carver – One of American’s Greatest Historic Innovators
As part of celebrating America’s 250th birthday, Forbes identified 250 of America’s Greatest Historic Innovators. View a post by Forbes on George Washington Carver who “pioneered agriculture with concepts of crop rotations. He taught farmers to plant nitrogen-fixing crops such as peanuts and soybeans. However, he was making history years before when he became the first Black student at Iowa State University, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees. After, he became the first Black faculty member.”
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.