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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Oct. 25, 2010 No. 625
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COLLEGE NEWS
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NEIL HARL TO PRESENT DEAL LECTURE, OCT. 27
Neil Harl will present the 2010 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. In his presentation, "Building an Enduring Leadership Platform," Harl will share key lessons learned from understanding the leadership opportunities encountered throughout his career in farm finance, taxation and agricultural law. The event is free and open to the public.
CALS CAREER DAY DRAWS MORE THAN 1,400 STUDENTS
More than 1,400 students attended the 40th CALS Career Day on Oct. 19. There were 166 employers at the annual job fair, 72 of which stayed to conduct interviews. Within the next three days, 775 students were interviewed for jobs and internships.
INSECT FILM FESTIVAL, OCT. 26
The Entomology Graduate Student Organization will hold its annual Insect Film Festival on Tuesday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Reiman Gardens. This year's feature film will be "Antz." The insect zoo will be present with hands on displays, exotic specimens and the cockroach races. There also will be arts and crafts along with games and prizes. The Butterfly Wing will be open for tours. Admission is free.
ANIMAL SCIENCE HOMECOMING WEEK ACTIVITIES
The animal science department is hosting a coffee for Glen and Mary Jo Mente on Friday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. in 1204 Ensminger Room. Glen, an animal science alumnus, and Mary Jo will receive the ISU Alumni Association's National Service Award as part of this week's Homecoming celebration. The annual Chuckwagon Breakfast will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, in the Farm Bureau Pavilion. Animal science faculty will be cooking omelets for alumni from 8 to 10 a.m.
HOLIDAY HAM ORDERS DUE NOV. 12
The Meat Science Club is taking orders for cured, natural hardwood smoked and fully cooked hams, ready to heat and serve. Half or whole hams are selling for $3.50 a pound. Order by Nov. 12 from Nicolas Lavieri, nlavieri@iastate.edu or 4-8294, or with an order form at 214 Meat Lab or 2371 Kildee Hall. Pick-up for Thanksgiving hams will be Nov. 18-19. Pick-up for Christmas hams will be Dec. 16-17.
PLANT GENOMICS LAB EXPERIENCES IOWA FARMING
This fall, eight graduate students and staff who work in the Plant Genomics lab of Patrick Schnable, agronomy, had an opportunity to experience the corn harvest on the farm of Deb and Gary Keller, who live near Big Wall Lake in Wright County. They learned that when doing research, it is important to hear from those that research will impact.
HAYNES ON THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENS
A CALS research video featuring Cynthia Haynes, horticulture, looks at the health benefits of gardens. Haynes conducts research on how to teach horticulture and the human issues related to horticulture.
RESEARCHERS STUDY WETLAND HEALTH IN UPPER MIDWEST
Timothy Stewart, natural resource ecology and management, and Kristine Maurer, graduate student, are collecting physical, chemical and biological data from 37 wetlands in northern Iowa that are part of the Prairie Pothole Region. They hope to identify the most reliable indicators of a healthy wetland ecosystem. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/oct/stewart
FALL ISSUE OF IOWA SEED & BIOSAFETY AVAILABLE ONLINE
The fall 2010 issue of "Iowa Seed & Biosafety," the newsletter of the Seed Science Center and Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products, is available online.
2009 CROP IMPACT STATEMENT AVAILABLE ONLINE
During the 2009 growing season, pockets of the state had crops pounded by hail, flooded by heavy rains, extremely wet at harvest or left standing through winter. While some producers harvested record yields, others dealt with decreased yields and adverse quality issues that extended into 2010. ISU Extension educational efforts expanded as severe weather caused crop damage. These efforts are reported in the 2009 crop impact statement, now available online.
ABE PROFESSOR EMERITUS NAMED TO DESIGN ENGINEER HALL OF FAME
Wesley Buchele, agricultural and biosystems engineering professor emeritus, has been named to the 2010 Design Engineer Hall of Fame. Buchele may be most well-known for his patent on the large round baler "“ a machine development with graduate student Virgil Haverdink at ISU that mechanized the process for collecting and transporting hay bales. Today, almost all of the world's hay is collected using the large round baler. While teaching at ISU, Buchele also developed the first classes in the U.S. on agricultural safety.
GRAPE ACRES IN IOWA HAVE GROWING ECONOMIC IMPACT
Iowa's 85 state-licensed wineries and more than 413 vineyards covering 1,200 acres this year had an estimated total economic impact on the state of $234.3 million. Mike White, ISU Extension viticulturist, is on the front line of the work ISU does for the growing industry. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/oct/wine
MEAT JUDGING TEAM COMPETES IN BACK-TO-BACK COMPETITIONS
The Meat Judging Team has competed in two back-to-back competitions this fall. They placed sixth overall out of eight teams competing at the 33rd annual Intercollegiate ISU Meat Evaluation Contest in Ames. The team placed 12th overall and in contest divisions tied for third at the American Royal Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest in Omaha. In this contest, Lori Klootwyk, animal science, placed all 10 contest classes correctly, earning the full 500 points and placing first. According to contest organizers, this feat had not been accomplished in recent memory.
LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM WINS INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Andrew Noland, agricultural studies, won high individual overall at the Premier Stockman Contest in Indiana on Oct. 17. There were 154 senior college contestants representing 13 universities. Jason Lents, agricultural engineering, and Levi Johnson, animal science, finished seventh and 10th, respectively.
RECENT AWARDS TO AGRONOMY GRADUATE STUDENTS
* Former agronomy graduate student Brian Viner received the Summer 2010 Research Excellence Award. Viner studied the pollination of plants using methods that combine state of the art atmospheric modeling with biological controls on pollen release and viability.
* Graduate student Mark Newell received the C.R. Weber Award of Excellence in Plant Science. The award is presented on the basis of academic excellence and professional development.
* Plant breeding doctoral student Milly Kanobe was one of the recipients of the Mrs. Glenn Murphy International Award from the ISU Women's Club. Kanobe was specifically cited for her involvement as a student leader, holding the posts of vice president of the ISU African Students Association, GPSS Agronomy Student Representative, ISU Childcare Center board of directors member, and volunteering during the VEISHEA celebration for agronomy, the Plant Sciences Institute and the International Friendship Fair of YWCA chapter of ISU.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Nov. 1: CALS P&S exceptional performance pay requests due.
Nov. 8: Faculty development seminar on "Student Outcomes Assessment: What have we learned from ABE?" 12 to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Cardinal Room.
Nov. 16: CALS P&S award nominations.
Dec. 12: Student applications due for Borlaug-Thomson Summer Internship in Cresco. More: David Acker, dacker@iastate.edu, 4-6614.
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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NSF PIRE INTERNAL COMPETITION REOPENED
The VPR/ED's office is accepting additional preproposals for the internal competition for the NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education program. Two projects have been selected and ISU can submit one additional project. Researchers should submit preproposals to Dorothy Pimlott, dpimlott@iastate.edu, by Nov. 15. Review will be completed by Nov. 22. Guidelines: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09505/nsf09505.htm.
UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR NSF IGERT INTERNAL COMPETITION
The VPR/ED's office has adjusted the schedule for the NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program. Lead PIs in CALS should contact Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) no later than Nov. 1 to indicate interest in submitting a preproposal. Guidelines: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10523/nsf10523.htm. More: Dorothy Pimlott, dpimlott@iastate.edu.
UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR NSF STC INTERNAL COMPETITION
The deadline for the internal competition for the NSF Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships program has been extended by one month. Preproposals for CALS PIs are due to Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) by 5 p.m. on Nov. 23. Faculty split between colleges may submit to only one college. The deadline to the VPR/ED office is Dec. 6. Guidelines: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08580/nsf08580.htm. More: Dorothy Pimlott, dpimlott@iastate.edu.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Nov. 15-22: Graduate Research Fellowship Program; 2,000 new fellowships contingent upon funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10604/nsf10604.pdf
Nov. 17: Small Business Technology Transfer Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2011 (STTR); only small business concerns may submit applications, university researchers may be collaborators. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10590/nsf10590.pdf
Nov. 19: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in the Directorate for Biological Sciences; 100 to 120 awards, $1.6 million total annual funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08564/nsf08564.pdf
Nov. 19 (preproposal): Bill and Melinda Gates Next Generation Learning Challenges Wave 1: Building Blocks for College Completion; using educational technology to make students successful, 32 awards, $250,000 to $750,000, potential for $5 million follow-on funding for highly effective projects.
Dec. 13: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act Grant; includes regional projects, $97,000 average award, $2 million total anticipated funding.
Dec. 15 (funding cycle 1): FY2011 Public Works, Economic Adjustment and Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund Programs.
Jan. 5 (letter of intent): Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01) Grant. $200,000 to $650,000 (direct costs) per award.
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INFOGRAZING
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INFLUENCE OF MEDIA COVERAGE ON MEAT DEMAND
Kansas StateUniversity's Glynn Tonsor, agricultural economics, has a selection of short videos, journal articles, presentations and fact sheets on the topic of Livestock and Meat Marketing: Animal Well-Being and Welfare" on K-State's Ag Manager website. The most recent addition, "U.S. Meat Demand: The Influence of Animal Welfare Media Coverage," looks at actions and impacts that affect consumer meat-buying decisions. More: http://www.agmanager.info/livestock/marketing/AnimalWelfare/default.asp
AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY LITERATURE COLLECTION
A new collection of agricultural machinery product literature is now available at Parks Library. The collection contains catalogs, advertisement cards, price lists and other ephemera relating to agricultural implements and machinery dating from 1838 to 1999. Lawrence Skromme, who graduated from Iowa State College in 1937 with a degree in agricultural engineering, compiled the collection.
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INTERNAL VOICES
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CORTES ON COMPILING NATIONAL SEED CATALOG FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA
"In southern Africa for the first time, whether farmers are growing groundnuts or any one of 20 crops in the area, they can go to a single source and get the information they need on the available seed denominations in the area. That includes details on characteristics such as potential yield, growth habits or drought and disease tolerance "“ and all the information is handy and available in one place. It will make a big difference in their decision-making process." Joe Cortes, Seed Science Center global seed program leader, on developing a catalog of existing national seed varieties available in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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FIRST GRADUATE IN ONLINE SEED TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS PROGRAM
"I use what I learned pretty much every day. Sometimes I use the agronomy part, and sometimes the business part, but everyday I use it"¦It is part of who I am and my life now. It is just how I think and work." Melissa Eiswirth, Monsanto North America cotton and special crops lead. Eiswirth is the first graduate of the ISU seed technology and business online graduate program.
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MARGINALIA
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ISU RESEARCH FARMS COMPETE TO GROW BIGGEST PUMPKIN
Not all results are in yet, but so far the Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm pumpkin weighs 144 pounds, the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm pumpkin weighs 123 pounds and the Central Iowa Farms pumpkin weighs more than 50 pounds.
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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