College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
May 1, 2017
Top Stories
Graduating Senior Wants to Help Others Understand Importance of Agriculture
Learning to handle a steer for the North American Livestock Competition was just one of many adventures Sarah Mathers enjoyed at Iowa State. A graduating senior in agricultural communications and animal science, Mathers spent most of her life in Philadelphia. She said students with experience in handling livestock helped her learn to handle a large steer when she was a freshman. She realized then that she wanted to work in communications and help others understand the importance of agriculture.
College Convocation to Honor Graduates Saturday, May 6
Faculty and staff are invited to recognize graduating seniors at the College convocation Saturday, May 6, 8:30 a.m. at Hilton Coliseum. Trey Forsyth, agricultural business, is the convocation speaker. Lauren Dunteman, biology, is the college’s student marshal. The Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council will present awards to the following graduates: Timothy Riessen, agronomy, for academic achievement; Rachel Dalton, dietetics, for distinguished service; Joni Erwin, agricultural business, for ambassador of agriculture; Bridget McFarland, agronomy, for leadership excellence; and Dunteman for outstanding senior. Shayne Wiese, animal science, is Agriculture and Life Sciences Man of the Year. Katlyn Kahler, animal science, is Agriculture and Life Sciences Woman of the Year.
Research
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Features ISU-Led Project
All articles in the May/June issue of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation are authored by participants of a six-year regional project led by ISU and funded by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture. While the Sustainable Corn Coordinated Agricultural Project ended in February 2017, researchers associated with the project continue to assess and publish findings.
CALS Researchers Share the Science Behind Cover Crops
The April 2017 issue of Successful Farming includes an article on the science behind cover crops. Alison Robertson and Greg Tylka, plant pathology and microbiology, and Tom Kaspar, a collaborator professor with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, answer “fact or fiction” questions and share the science behind cover crops.
Teaching and Students
FAQs on Differential Tuition for CALS Undergraduates Available Online
CALS has added a list of frequently asked questions on differential tuition to the college website. Juniors and seniors in two CALS majors have been paying differential tuition since 2011. Beginning with the 2017-18 academic year, eight additional majors will pay differential tuition.
FSHN Students Place in Flexible Packaging Competition
Nathan Davis, graduate student in food science and human nutrition, tied for second place in the Flexible Packaging Association’s 2017 Student Flexible Design Challenge. Zenia Adiwijaya, senior in food science, received honorable mention. The entries began as an assignment in a fundamentals of packaging class taught by Keith Vorst, food science and human nutrition.
Food Science Students Place at Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest
The Dairy Products Evaluation Team participated in the 95th Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest held April 12 in Madison, Wis. Zenia Adiwijaya, senior in food science, placed second in ice cream judging; Claire Collins, senior in food science, received the Joe M. Larson Merit Award for exemplary leadership; and Kelsey Choquette, graduate student in food science and human nutrition, placed first in yogurt and milk judging, third in ice cream judging and second overall in all products for graduate students.
Economics Students Place Second at Business Strategy Competition
Economics students placed second on written reports at the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition in Anaheim, Calif., on April 20-22. The team consisted of Charity Elijah, junior in economics; Kenneth Griffin, senior in business economics; Julian Duran, sophomore in economics; Gerald Healy, senior in economics; Dustin Gaede, senior in agricultural business; and Zachary Zwiefel, sophomore in economics.
Students Earn while they Learn with Science With Practice
Skyler Brazel, senior in horticulture, and Emily Southard, senior in agriculture and society, are two of many students participating in the Science With Practice program this semester. Through Science With Practice, students work with faculty and staff to complete projects and tasks for their research.
CALS Class Tours Northwest Iowa Beef Industries
Twenty students from CALS’ Beef Cattle Systems Management class received real life information and advice during a recent tour of three northwest Iowa beef industries. Class instructor and Iowa Beef Center Director Dan Loy said this kind of field trip provides a unique opportunity for students.
EEOB Postdoc Receives Outstanding Dissertation Award
Eric Gangloff, a postdoc research associate in ecology, evolution and organismal biology, received the Karas Award for an Outstanding Dissertation in the Biological Sciences at the Sigma Xi Banquet on April 27. Sara Kvidera, graduate research assistant in animal science, received an honorable mention for the Zaffarano Prize for Graduate Student Research at ISU.
Extension and Outreach
Survey Shows Iowa Farmers Increasing Nutrient Loss Reduction Practices
Results of the 2016 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll indicate that farmers are increasing their use of recommended nutrient loss reduction practices. The poll has examined trends in farming practices and strategies since 2013, the year the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was started.
Schwab Talks with USDA Radio News on Tractor Safety
Charles Schwab, agricultural and biosystems engineering and extension safety specialist, talked with USDA Radio News about the value of rollover protective structures for tractors. Unlike more than 30 years ago, farm tractors these days most likely have safety technology that prevent death and minimize injury in a rollover situation.
Around the College
ABE Faculty Receive Awards
The Iowa section of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers honored two faculty members from the department of agricultural and biosystems engineering at the March 20 meeting. Matt Darr received the Young Engineer of the Year Award and Steve Hoff was named Engineer of the Year.
Cochran Helps Grow Iowa’s Fledgling Hops Industry
Diane Cochran, horticulture, is the latest feature in ISU’s Change Agent series. Cochran is brutally honest about the challenges hop growers face in the state. But she’s also convinced that Iowa hop growers can carve out a niche for themselves given enough time and dedication.
Nearly 200 Participants Attend Egg Industry Issues Forum
Nearly 200 industry partners attended the Egg Industry Issues Forum, hosted by CALS Egg Industry Center and held April 19-20 in Columbus, Ohio. Participants learned about the challenges and opportunities of colony, aviary and outdoor housing systems, flock management and research surrounding air quality and emissions in cage-free as well as the roles of wild birds, rodents and insects in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Presentations will soon be available online at the Egg Industry Center website.
Steve Fales, Retired Agronomy Department Chair, Dies
Steve Fales, retired agronomy department chair, died on April 24. He was 70 years old. Fales served as department chair for agronomy from 2001 to 2006, and later as Biomass Research Coordinator of the Bioeconomy Institute.
Calendar
April 24: ISU United Way Food Drive
Non-perishable items will be collected through May 4 for Story County food pantries as part of the ninth annual ISU LIVE UNITED Food Drive. Campus collection boxes can be found at Curtiss, Agronomy, Bessey, Science I, Science II, Beardshear, MacKay, Gerdin, Coover, Lagomarcino, Palmer, Town Engineering and Marston. Contact Carla Persaud with questions, cpersaud@iastate.edu, 4-1823.
May 10: Retirement Reception for Wade Miller
A retirement reception for Wade Miller, agricultural education and studies, will be held May 10, 3 to 5 p.m. (with a program at 3:30) in 224 Curtiss Hall. Miller has been at ISU for 37 years, and served as interim chair of the department for seven years.
Funding Opportunities
Limited Submissions: USDA Education and Literacy Initiative, May 11
The USDA’s Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative includes two limited submission opportunities. The Professional Development for Secondary School Teachers and Educational Professionals program area supports research, education, extension or integrated projects that promote faculty expertise and encourage widespread implementation of educational innovation at the K-14 levels in the food, agricultural, natural resources and human sciences. The Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program area supports research, education, extension or integrated projects that provide undergraduate students with experiential learning opportunities. Submissions are limited to three per institution for each of the two program areas. Internal expressions of interest for either program should be submitted to fundingopps@iastate.edu by May 11.
ISU Cost Sharing ? Research Instrumentation Funding Proposals, Oct. 31
The ISU Cost Sharing ? Research Instrumentation Funding program provides faculty and core facilities with cost?sharing funds to purchase new equipment, replace or add new components to existing research instruments, or de novo assemble an integrated new instrument whose cost falls out of the range of federal major instrumentation grants or is not permitted in typical individual federal research proposals. All faculty, departments and ISU units are eligible to apply. Each proposal can request up to $300,000 from ISU funds, with a maximum of one-third contributed by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Webinar: USDA AFRI Foundational CARE Program, May 2
The USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program supports research and extension efforts that quickly yield solutions to critical problems that impede the efficient production of agriculturally important plants and animals. USDA will hold a webinar on May 2 at 12 p.m. to provide information about the Critical Agricultural and Research Extension program area and the application process. Contact: Olivia Kwong, (202) 720-7536.
Preparing Winning Grants for Food and Nutrition Programs, May 11
Delaware State University, in collaboration with USDA NIFA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, will host the “1st Conference on Preparing Winning Grants." The conference will focus on NIFA’s food science and nutrition competitive grant programs, with an emphasis on mentorship and successful grant writing. Participants may submit abstracts by May 2. The conference will be held on May 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, gozbay@desu.edu, (302) 857-6476.
Department of Defense SBIR/STTR Topics
The Department of Defense has released a list of topics for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs for the 2017 Broad Agency Announcement. Researchers can view topics, ask questions on-line and connect with the DOD staff member listed as a Technical Points of Contact for each topic area. The BAA will officially open for proposal submission on May 23. Proposals are due by June 21.
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
May 12: Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU; amphibian phenology, $62,808.
May 16: EPA Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research; $1.2 million, collaborative training by EPA-MED scientists (mentors) in Duluth, Minn., and university scientists for undergrad, graduate and post-doc trainees.
May 24: VentureWell Faculty Grants, student innovation and entrepreneurship.
June 1: Department of Interior Water Resources Research; $250,000.
June 6: USDA NIFA Food Safety Outreach Program; $50,000 to $400,000.
June 9: USAID South Asia Regional Connectivity Program; environmental capacity building - agricultural and water pollution.
June 22: Department of State FY 2018 Survey of International Educational Exchange Activity in the United States; $500,000.
June 26: USDA Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs; $1.8 million.
July 16, Nov. 16: NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03).
April 26: DOD DARPA Broad Agency Announcement - Biological Technologies Office.
Communications Kiosk
Do Not Use “First Annual”
An event cannot be described as “annual’ until it has been held in at least two successive years. Do not use the term “first annual.” Instead, note that sponsors plan to hold an event annually. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2016 edition, pg. 17)
Infograzing
CAST Communication Award Goes to Jayson Lusk
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology has announced that the 2017 Borlaug CAST Communication Award goes to Jayson Lusk, a communicator who promotes agricultural science and technology in the public arena. Lusk is with the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University. He uses multiple forms of media to advocate for science, as he explains how innovation and growth in agriculture are critical for food security and global progress. The award presentation will be held in October.
Marginalia
Nusser: Federal Research Funds a Wise Investment
Sarah Nusser, vice president for research at ISU, talked about federal research funds being a wise investment in a guest column written for The Cedar Rapids Gazette on April 23. “Even if you’ve never stepped foot in a research laboratory, every day you witness the results of research all around you,” wrote Nusser. “The smart phone in your pocket. Wind turbines dotting the horizon. Clean water flowing from the drinking fountain. All of these improvements to our health, environment and human experience started with research.”
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://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 Friday.