College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Jan. 7, 2018
Top Stories
Saturated Riparian Buffers Advanced as Promising Water Quality Practice
A new technology for cleansing nutrients from water leaving Iowa’s tile-drained fields began with two ISU researchers brainstorming after a professional meeting. Their “back of the napkin” discussion in 2010 led to development of saturated riparian buffers, a new conservation practice that is rapidly gaining interest in Iowa and far beyond. The challenge they were addressing – how to make traditional riparian conservation buffers more effective at reducing nutrient pollution – has since become a major research focus for Tom Isenhart, natural resource ecology and management, and Dan Jaynes, a soil scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment on campus and affiliate in agronomy. More
Teaching and Students
New CALS Course Examines Changing Role of Women in Agriculture
Women in Agriculture and the Food System, a new class offered in the fall 2018 semester, was the first to examine the history and changing roles of women in agriculture in the United States. The course used a sociological perspective to critically examine women’s identities, roles and gender relations in the agriculture and food system in the U.S. The class, taught by Carmen Bain, sociology, will be offered again in the fall of 2019. More
Extension and Outreach
ANR Extension Staff Spotlight: David Peters
David Peters is featured in the latest ANR Extension Staff Spotlight. He is an associate professor and extension rural sociologist. For extension, Peters does demographic analysis to help communities deal with either growing or declining populations; helps communities understand social and economic changes; and helps local leaders try to maintain community traditions, maintain a high quality of life and encourages social interactions when they are encountering demographic changes.
Upcoming Webinar Features Conservation Chat with Secretary Naig
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Jan. 16 at 12:30 p.m. featuring Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms program director, and Secretary Naig will discuss conservation, water quality and the secretary’s vision for Iowa. They will also discuss the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and how Iowans are working to meet the nitrogen and phosphorus loss reductions outlined in the strategy. More
Two Swine Distance Education Programs Begin in February
PorkBridge, the distance education series for those who own, manage or work in swine grow-finish facilities, and SowBridge, the distance education series for those who work with sows, boars and piglets, and with genetic and reproductive issues, begin in February. Registration deadline for the year-long programs is Jan. 15. PorkBridge and SowBridge are sponsored by 11 universities – including ISU – from the nation’s major swine producing states.
Around the College
CALS Website Gets Update
Last week the CALS homepage and website were updated to look more like the university’s pages. A larger banner is featured at the top and a video will be regularly located underneath. The news section now includes web features that were less visible before. Social media items are now on the homepage, reflecting daily posts. And STORIES magazine articles also have a more prominent place. Menu items lead to redesigned lower level pages.
Entomology Faculty and Staff Move Out of Insectary
Four entomology scientists previously housed in the Insectary have moved to the Advanced Teaching and Research Building – Joel Coats, Aaron Gassmann, Erin Hodgson and Matthew O’Neal. Other faculty and staff in entomology are moving from the Insectary to Science II – Donald Lewis, Betsy Buffington, Jacque Pohl, Kristine Schaefer, Mark Shour and Kathy Wilson. Staff from the research and demonstration farms handled the move.
Calendar
Jan. 30: CALS Spring Awards Program and Wine and Cheese Reception
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Spring Awards Program, honoring faculty and staff achievements, is scheduled for Jan. 30 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Interim Dean Joe Colletti and recognition of our 2019 CALS faculty and staff award recipients. A wine and cheese reception will follow the program.
Feb. 4-5: Soil Health Conference
ISU Extension and Outreach is hosting the Soil Health Conference in Ames on Feb. 4-5. The event will consist of two full days of presentations on topics concerning soil health, with invited guest speakers from around the country. “The goal of the conference is to focus on management practices that influence soil heath, sustain productivity and reduce agriculture’s footprint on the environment,” said Mahdi Al-Kaisi, agronomy and committee chair. More
Communications Kiosk
When to Use a Hyphen in “Follow-Up”
Use a hyphen in “follow-up” when it is a noun or adjective. Use two words (no hyphen) in “follow up” when it is used as a verb. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2018 edition, pg. 114)
Infograzing
New Workcyte Workshops in January: Student Workers, Time Tracking, Worktags
Three new Workcyte workshops are available in January to learn more about the coming new Workday systems in 2019. New workshops are:
- Managing Student Employees in Workday – Tuesday, Jan 22. All faculty and staff who employ students are strongly encouraged to attend.
- Time Tracking for Managers and Timekeepers with Nonexempt [Overtime Eligible] Employees - Wednesday, Jan. 30. Audience: Campus managers and timekeepers with nonexempt employees.
- Foundation Data Model (FDM) and Worktags – Wednesday, Jan. 30 (this workshop will be available to register on Jan. 9).
To learn more and to register, go the Workcyte Events site. February and March workshop information will be available soon.
Another Chance to Attend (or View) Previous Workcyte Workshops
Previously offered Workday workshops that are returning are listed below; if you did not get a chance to join any of these workshops in 2018, please take this opportunity to participate:
- Expenses – Wednesday, Jan. 9
- Compensation – Tuesday, Jan. 15
- Resignation Through Separation – Wednesday, Jan. 16
- Job Change – Wednesday, Jan. 16
- Onboarding – Thursday, Jan. 17
- Employee Self Services and General Navigation – Tuesday, Jan. 22
To learn more and to register, go the Workcyte Events site. Also, recordings of eight Workcyte workshops are available to view online for you to gain a better understanding of each subject area.
Nominations Due Feb. 15 for NIFA Partnership Awards
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture invites all land-grant universities and cooperating institutions and organizations supported by NIFA to submit nominations for the 2019 NIFA Partnership Awards Program. This program recognizes outstanding contributions in support of NIFA’s mission and aligned with USDA strategic goals. Awards will recognize excellence in: Mission Integration of Research, Education and Extension; Multistate Efforts; Innovative Programs and Projects; Effective and Efficient Use of Resources; and Program Improvement through Global Engagement. Nominations are due Feb. 15. More
Marginalia
A Very Wet Year at Ag Engineering/Agronomy Farms
In 2018, the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms near Boone received 49.77 inches of rain, the third highest total in the last 10 years. In 2008, the AEA farm received 49.94 inches of rain and in 2010, 50.39 inches. The 2018 total is 17.45 inches above normal. Rainfall data are from the National Weather Service station on the farm and are collected daily from a manual rainfall container.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://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.