College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Jan. 14, 2019
Top Stories
Hansen: It’s a Great Life for Someone Innately Curious
Becoming a national expert in ruminant nutrition was not on the radar when Stephanie Hansen arrived at Iowa State as a first-generation college student. She just wanted to learn more about beef cattle. Hansen is now an associate professor of animal science. “It’s a great life for someone who’s innately curious. Ask a question and look for the answers. That’s what I get to do in research.” Read Hansen’s story in the latest issue of STORIES in Agriculture and Life Sciences, the college’s alumni magazine. More
Workcyte To-Do List: Complete Improved Service Delivery Survey by Friday, Jan. 18
This Friday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. is the deadline for P&S and Merit staff to complete the Improved Service Delivery survey that was emailed on Jan. 9. Employees with finance and human resources responsibilities are strongly encouraged to complete the survey and indicate their interest (yes, no, maybe) in the new specialist positions who’ll work on service teams. If you have not seen the survey in your inbox, please check your junk mail or clutter folder to find the Qualtrics survey email. As survey results come in, HR and Finance representatives are reaching out to those who checked “maybe” to determine what additional information they may need to help them make a definitive decision. Once the survey closes, outreach to staff who indicated “yes” will begin immediately. Final decisions on staff who’ll move into these new roles will be made March 1. If you have questions, please email isd_transition@iastate.edu.
Workcyte To-Do List: Enroll in Okta Multifactor Authentication by March 1
March 1 is the deadline for all ISU employees to enroll in Okta multifactor authentication to support improved computer security. As of Jan. 11, 19 percent of CALS faculty and staff had taken this step. Okta, part of the campus suite of Workday systems, is the identity and access security platform that strengthens protection of university information and provides a bulwark against cybercrime. Multifactor authentication adds one additional step to the login process. Okta offers five options to deliver a single-use security code; for example, a text message or phone call delivered to your campus or cell phone. Choose all five or as many as you can. After March 1, multifactor authentication will be required for log-in, so complete this step before that date to ensure a smooth transition — knowing that IT staff may be flooded with questions from around campus from those who haven’t. See a video on Okta and additional instructions.
Research
Researchers Discuss Precision Livestock Farming
A commentary on precision livestock farming written by Brett Ramirez, Jay Harmon and Steven Hoff, agricultural and biosystems engineering, was published in the National Hog Farmer in December. The article referenced a recent precision livestock farming workshop organized by CALS and the College of Vet Met and discussed the potential of new sensor technologies that closely monitor animal behavior to improve animal production facilities. The authors call for a more interdisciplinary approach that brings engineers together with nutritionists, veterinarians and others to use precision data to create high-performance, sustainable and economic swine production systems. More
Farmers Active in Watershed Groups More Likely to Plant Cover Crops
CALS research shows that active farmer involvement in watershed management groups and other conservation networks is key to adopting conservation practices like cover crops. The study, published recently in the journal Water Resources Research, was based on survey research conducted in three Iowa watersheds. J. Arbuckle and Laurie Nowatzke, sociology, are co-authors of the study. More
Teaching and Students
CALS Spring Career Day Scheduled for Feb. 6
The CALS Spring Career Day is scheduled for Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. A video on Navigating Career Day is available on the CALS Career Services website.
Extension and Outreach
Extension Economist Provides 2019 Livestock Forecast
Lee Schulz, economics, expects record U.S. production for beef, pork and poultry in his forecast for 2019. Demand for U.S. poultry and livestock remains strong, but trade tensions could spark uncertainty for producers in the coming months, Schulz said. More
Upcoming Webinar Features Conservation Chat with Secretary Naig
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, 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. More
Calendar
Jan. 16: Webinar Features Conservation Chat with Secretary Naig
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 12:30 p.m. featuring Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. More
Jan. 16: Sustainable Agriculture Colloquium
The first session of the spring 2019 ISU Sustainable Agriculture Colloquium will be held Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 3:10 to 5 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall. Local food procurement and distribution will be discussed by Adam Calder, produce department manager for Wheatsfield Cooperative in Ames, Karen Rodekamp, manager of ISU Campus Dining Services, and Patty Yoder, executive director and coordinator of Food at First in Ames.
Jan. 17: Retirement Reception for Jack Horner
A retirement reception for Jack Horner, University Professor of genetics, development and cell biology, will be held Thursday, Jan. 17, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Molecular Biology Building atrium. After 50-plus years on the Iowa State faculty, Horner retired last June 30. More
Jan. 23-24: Iowa Pork Congress
The Iowa Pork Congress will be held Jan. 23-24 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. CALS faculty and staff will be available in booth 1601. More
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.
Communications Kiosk
Five Ways to Be a Better Speaker
Darren Menabney offers five tips for improving presentation skills in the Jan. 7 issue of Advancement Weekly, published by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. More
- Think of your audience.
- Use visuals.
- Say the right thing. “Use verbs, stick with active rather than passive voice, and use positive language. Edit down, and make sure each slide has one clear message that the words you choose will support,” writes Menabney.
- Be a storyteller.
- Practice, practice, practice.
Infograzing
CALS a Co-Sponsor for Keynote of MLK Jr. Legacy Series
Brittany Packnett, vice president of National Community Alliances for Teach For America, will present “The Power of Knowing Your Purpose,” the keynote address for the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Series, on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. A former teacher, nonprofit executive director and Fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, Packnett has worked to impart lessons of empowerment, movement building, effective social impact and empowerment for women and girls. CALS is a co-sponsor of the event. More
Monday Monologues Series Continues in Parks Library
Monday Monologues is a lunchtime series highlighting aspects of words through short readings and performances curated by the Iowa State community. Performances run from 12:15 to 12:45 in the Grant Wood Foyer (first floor) of Parks Library. Performances for the spring semester are Feb. 4, Feb. 25, March 25, April 8 and April 22. More
Marginalia
Archives Highlights Milk Maid Contest Hosted by Dairy Science Club
A 1979 article in the Iowa State Daily shows contestants in a Milk Maid contest hosted by the Dairy Science Club. Participants were judged on “the amount of milk they collect, their costume, their display of affection for the cow and the amount of audience support.” There was a parallel contest for mem that included milk chugging, milk can rolling and goat dressing. The Milk Maid contest was highlighted by Olivia Garrison in the Jan. 11 issue of Cardinal Tales, the blog of ISU Special Collections and University Archives. More
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.