College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
June 4, 2018
Top Stories
Iowa Leaders Celebrate Fifth Anniversary of Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Hongwei Xin, CALS assistant dean for research and interim director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, spoke May 29 at an event at the BioCentury Research Farm to observe the fifth anniversary of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The event drew a broad cross section of Iowa political, agricultural and community leaders. In the five years since the strategy was finalized on May 29, 2013, there has been significant work by farmers, landowners, communities, businesses, stakeholders and CALS researchers and their partners to help improve water quality in Iowa. More
Baker Named Director of Beginning Farmer Center
Dave Baker has been named director of the Beginning Farmer Center in CALS. Baker joined the center in 2006 as an extension farm transition specialist. He has been serving as interim director since January 2018. Created by the Iowa Legislature in 1994, the Beginning Farmer Center assists in facilitating the transition of farming operations from established farmers to beginning farmers. More
Research
GDCB Plant Scientists Use Big Data to Map Stress Responses in Corn
Recently published research led by CALS plant scientists maps the stress response detected by the endoplasmic reticulum, an organelle in cells of corn seedlings. The study shows how cells transition from adaptation to death when faced with persistent stress and could help plant breeders develop stress-resistant crop varieties. Stephen Howell, genetics, development and cell biology, is senior author of the study. Renu Srivastava, Plant Sciences Institute, is a co-author. More
Teaching and Students
CALS Graduate Serves as 2018 World Food Prize Carver Intern
Hannah Schlueter, a 2018 global resource systems graduate, is one of 14 World Food Prize Foundation George Washington Carver summer interns for The World Food Prize. The interns learn first-hand about operating an international nonprofit organization and the international fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. With the help of one-on-one mentors, the GWC interns will play an integral role in the Foundation’s communications, educational programming, event planning, archives and more. More
Extension and Outreach
Videos are Guide to Crop and Pest Management Techniques
The Integrated Pest Management program has introduced a YouTube channel that promotes efforts of ISU scientists and researchers who provide means-tested crop and pest management solutions to stakeholders in Iowa and beyond. Viewers will find content detailing the efforts of the IPM program, best practices and information, as well as demonstrations on how to properly identify and evaluate various insect and disease pests and their impacts on field crops. More
Iowa Learning Farms Releases Updated Field Day Toolkit
Iowa Learning Farms has released an updated Field Day Toolkit on how to hold an effective field day from planning to evaluation. Since 2004, Iowa Learning Farms has coordinated more than 250 field days and workshops across the state and found that there is a relationship between farmers attending field says, adopting conservation practices and influencing other farmers to use conservation. More
Around the College
McNay Research and Demonstration Farm Welcomes New Co-Managers
Agricultural specialists Logan Wallace and Brad Evans are the new co-managers at the ISU McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm near Chariton. Wallace’s responsibilities include forages and pastures, facilities and infrastructure, crops and research plots. Evans will be responsible for beef cattle operations, including inventory, calving and breeding records, heifer development, research cattle records and overall herd health management. More
Calendar
June 8: Dairy Farm Open House
The ISU Dairy Farm will host its 10th annual open house on Friday, June 8, from 6 to 11 a.m. Tours will be given every 30 minutes, with stops including the milking parlor, the milk house and dairy barns. Visitors can sample free dairy products while learning about commodity group activities in the Ag Discovery Center. The open house includes modern technology demonstrations and best practices in animal care, product quality, safety and environmental stewardship. More
Research Development Announcements and Funding Opportunities
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.
Various dates: USDA AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program. More
June 25 (internal deadline): NSF Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections; limited submission, express interest to fundingopps@iastate.edu. More
July 9: USDA NIFA Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program. More
July 15: Economic Development Administration Denver - University Center Program 2018. More
July 16 (internal pre-proposal): NSF Innovations in Graduate Education Program; limited submission, contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) for pre-proposal guidelines. More
July 20: USDA NIFA Renewable Resources Extension Act - National Focus Funds. More
July 31: EPA Gulf of Mexico Program Cooperative Agreements 2018; water quality improvement, coastal habitat and ecosystems enhancement, restoration and/or protection; environmental education and outreach, and community resilience in Gulf of Mexico region and watersheds.
Aug. 29: Department of Commerce FY 2018 Regional Innovation Strategies Program; 50 percent cost share. More
Oct. 3: The VentureWell E-Team Program, students and faculty working together to bring an invention to market. More
Communications Kiosk
Three Ways to Maximize Effective Meetings
Jon Mertz offers three ways to adjust meetings for maximum effectiveness and to cut down on stress and frustration:
- Let town hall meetings be organic. This style of meeting is important, as it offers leaders an opportunity to listen to employees.
- If you have a meeting in which a decision needs to be made by the end, make it known beforehand and prepare everyone for the task at hand.
- Creative does not mean unstructured. Even brainstorming sessions can have objectives.
Mertz’s advice was in the June 4 issue of Advancement Weekly of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Infograzing
Survey: Iowa FFA Youth Interested in Livestock Farming
According to a recent survey of Iowa FFA members, 66 percent of students indicated they plan to farm after completing their education, with 92 percent interested in raising livestock or a combination of livestock with crops. The survey was conducted by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers at the recent FFA state convention. More than 230 students completed the survey. More
Marginalia
Cyclone Power Pullers Applauded for Sportsmanship
A tweet went out May 31 applauding the sportsmanship of the ISU Cyclone Power Pullers at the International Quarter-Scale Tractor Competition. A competing team was having problems with their hydraulics and, according to the competitor, may have needed to drop out of the competition. The ISU team helped with a box of spare hydraulic parts. More
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.
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