Issue: 1124

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
September 21, 2020

Research

Heavy Rainfall Drives a Third of Nitrogen Runoff, According to New Study
Extreme rain events that occur on nine days a year drive around a third of all nitrogen yields on farmland in the Mississippi River basin, according to a new study by Chaoqun Lu, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, and Jien Zhang, EEOB doctoral student. The research could inform how and when farmers apply nitrogen fertilizer to their fields and has environmental implications for the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. More

ARS, ISU Researchers Produce Innovative Results for Water Quality
A collaboration between researchers with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and Iowa State University has produced a string of notable water quality studies influencing conservation research and practice nationwide. ARS scientists choose projects linked to their national program goals and gain an eager cadre of graduate students to support federal research. For Iowa State, the presence of ARS’ National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment has attracted additional resources and attention, often providing a national stage for local innovation. More

Teaching and Students

Dairy Science Students Receive National Scholarships
Three Iowa State dairy science students were recently named national dairy scholars by the National Dairy Shrine and the Klussendorf Association: Jessica Schmitt, senior in dairy science and agricultural communications; Brianna McBride, senior in dairy science and food science; and Jack Myers, recent graduate in dairy science. More

GRS Student Selected for World Food Prize Internship
Luke Sloterdyk, senior in global resource systems, is one of six students selected for the George Washington Carver Internship program by the World Food Prize Foundation. Interns will assist in the promotion and facilitation of a virtual World Food Prize annual week of events this fall. More

Nominations for Senior Awards Due Friday
The CALS Student Council is seeking nominations for fall 2020 senior awards. Every fall and spring semester, CALS Council recognizes graduating seniors through six different awards: outstanding senior, leadership excellence, academic achievement, distinguished service, outstanding ambassador of agriculture and life sciences, and commitment to diversity. Nominations are due Friday, Sept. 25.

CALS Virtual Career Fair Set for Oct. 13-14
CALS will host a virtual two-day career fair on Oct. 13-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to interact with companies and employers online through a virtual event hosted by CareerEco. Registration is required and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the platform prior to the event. More

Video: Jodi Sterle on Working with Students
Jodi Sterle, animal science, is focused on student success. This semester she is teaching both virtual and in person classes. She advises students and helps them connect with faculty, industry leaders and peer mentors. More

Three CALS Students Part of Borlaug-Ruan Internship
Three CALS students participated in the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program this past summer, through the World Food Prize Foundation. The following three students interacted with scientists and policymakers around the world during the online internship to address issues related to reducing poverty and advancing global food security: Arilyn Tegtmeier-Oatman, freshman in global resource systems; Hannah Schiesl, freshman in animal science; Grace Reiss, junior in nutritional science. More

Extension and Outreach

Field Crop Production Handbook Offers Valuable Insight for Iowa Growers
ISU Extension and Outreach has released the Field Crop Production Handbook: An Introduction to Farming Practices. The 144-page handbook provides a general overview of the essential aspects of producing field crops in Iowa. It focuses on the basics of crop establishment, but also on care and harvest, as well as the impacts on soil, water and wildlife. It’s written for those new to agriculture and is well-suited for high school and college agriculture programs wanting to offer a primer in crop production. The handbook is available as a printed copy or to download digitally from the ISU Extension Store. Primary authors are Mark Licht, agronomy, Erin Hodgson, entomology, and Adam Sisson, plant pathology and microbiology. More

Farm Safety Week Resources Available from Extension
In recognition of National Farm Safety and Health Week (Sept. 20-26), ISU Extension and Outreach is publishing a series of news releases beginning today, Sept. 21. This year’s theme is “Every Farmer Counts” and will include topics related to tractor rollover protection, personal safety skills and making safe choices while harvesting downed or damaged crops. Charles Schwab, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is an extension farm safety specialist. More

Water Rocks! Debuts Outdoor Classroom Programs
The Water Rocks! educational program for youth is offering outdoor programming at schools, in response to the social distancing requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team has created a program that can be delivered at school sites while complying with Iowa State, government and school policies for social distancing and safety. More

Around the College

ABE Undergraduate Program Ranked No. 2 in U.S.
The agricultural and biosystems engineering undergraduate program is ranked No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report’s newly-released 2021 “Best Colleges” ranking for the second year in a row. The department’s 43 faculty encompass a global view of the entire food production system – the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling and use of food, fiber and other biological products. ABE is jointly administered by CALS and the College of Engineering. More

Lamont Receives Iowa Poultry Association Award
Sue Lamont, animal science, will receive an Honorary Member Award from the Iowa Poultry Association at its 50th Fall Festival and Annual Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, as part of its Virtual Awards Celebration Webinar. The award is given annually to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the poultry community in Iowa.

Lamkey Receives Plant Breeding Impact Award
Kendall Lamkey, agronomy, received the 2020 Public Sector Plant Breeding Impact Award from the National Association of Plant Breeders. As department chair, Lamkey provides leadership and direction for education, research and extension. His research program focuses mainly of corn breeding with an emphasis on the quantitative genetics of selection response, inbreeding depression and heterosis. More

In Memoriam: Forrest Nutter
Forrest Nutter, retired professor in the department of plant pathology and microbiology, died Sept. 12. He was 67. Nutter retired in 2018 after 28 years of service at Iowa State. He was a noted pioneer in the fields of plant pathology and disease epidemiology. More

Calendar

Sept. 22: CAST Webinar
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is presenting a free webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at noon on The Importance of Communicating Empirically Based Science for Society. It will include a Q&A with a panel of task force authors, including Ruth MacDonald, food science and human nutrition. More

Sept. 23: Water Quality Research Seminar
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center will begin a new series of virtual water quality research seminars, beginning Sept. 23 from 3 to 4 p.m. The online event will continue Oct. 28 and Nov. 18. More

Oct. 6: Save the Date
The CALS Study Abroad office will be hosting a virtual study abroad fair from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 6. The fair will be held within a Canvas module and will include break-out sessions during the 2-hour program. More

Communications Kiosk

How to Cite Conferences Canceled Due to COVID-19
When a research paper is accepted for a conference that is later canceled, is there a place for it in a vitae? Lorrie Pellack, interim associate dean and head of the research services department at the University Library, recently offered guidance on this question and its variations: the paper was approved but the conference was canceled, the in-person conference was canceled and it was held virtually instead, or the conference was held but attendance was not allowed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. She summarizes style recommendations from the Modern Language Association and the American Psychological Association.

Infograzing

OVPR Launches New FY21 Bioscience Research Seed Grants
The Office of the Vice president for Research is introducing two new research seed grants for the 2021 fiscal year to support university-industry collaboration in the digital and precision agriculture and vaccines and immunotherapeutics bioscience platforms. Proposals for both categories are due Oct. 15.

Daily Data Added to COVID Testing Dashboard
A new tab, Daily Public Health Data, has been added to the COVID-19 Testing website. This tab will be updated Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; the main tab gets updated on Mondays. What’s the current percentage of positive cases? What’s the daily numbers on employee and student testing? What’s the most up-to-date positive case data for Story County? Answers to these and other questions can be found on the new tab.

Marginalia

Wiedenhoeft’s Interpretation of Agronomy Courtyard Sculpture
Janus Agri Altar, the sculpture in the Agronomy Courtyard created by artist Beverly Pepper in 1986, was designed to be reminiscent of an image reflected in a pool of water. Agronomist Mary Wiedenhoeft’s interpretation of the sculpture is a representation of crop production that you see above ground and crop production that is occurring below the soil surface.

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.

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