CALS Online and Dean’s Message
November 14, 2022
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS Colleagues – Only a week until Thanksgiving break! A needed pause we all enjoy. I hope the semester has gone well, as you and your students enter the home-stretch for fall 2022. This week we have two more candidates for the Vice President for Extension and Outreach position. Please check those out if you can… More
Top Stories
Turkeys Placed at Iowa State Teaching, Research Farm
A total of 1,800 poults (young turkeys) were placed inside the new Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility earlier this month. The turkeys are a commercial broad breasted white breed and will provide experiential learning opportunities for Iowa State students through research and independent study projects. Research to address current challenges facing Iowa’s turkey industry, as well as continuing education and outreach programs, will also take place at the farm. More
Research
Roundtable Seeks Faculty Interested in Climate-Smart Research
The Office of the Vice President for Research is hosting a Research and Innovation Roundtable for faculty whose research focus is on climate smart issues. Register by Wednesday, Nov. 16, to participate in the roundtable on Nov. 29, from 1-5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall and South Ballroom. When registering, participants will be asked to rank order a set of prompt questions based on their interest in the topic.
Teaching and Students
Poinsettia Sale Preorders Close on Nov. 18
The Horticulture Club is holding its annual poinsettia sale. Plants may be preordered online by Nov. 18, or purchased at these campus locations on a first come, first served basis: Nov. 30 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Curtiss Hall; Dec. 1 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Beardshear Hall; Dec. 2 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Horticulture Hall; and Dec. 3 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Reiman Gardens. Pot sizes are 4.5, 6 and 10 inches; prices vary from $10 to $40. The poinsettias are grown by club members in the Horticulture Hall greenhouses. Funds raised are used for club activities, traveling expenses and student enrichment.
Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale Begins Nov. 26
The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens parking lot. Trees will be for sale Nov. 26-27, Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11. Hours are Fridays, 3-6 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The club will have Korean fir, balsam fir, Canaan fir and white pine, as well as wreaths. Cash or checks only. Proceeds go toward club activities and student development. Email Jen Merryman with questions, jmerry@iastate.edu.
Extension and Outreach
Schumm and Harbach Join Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
The Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, part of ISU Extension and Outreach, has welcomed two new diagnosticians who will help diagnose plant and insect issues found in Iowa. Zach Schumm is an insect diagnostician and Chelsea Harbach is a plant disease diagnostician. More
Online Food Safety Training Available for Home-based Food Businesses
ISU Extension and Outreach offers online training in food safety, food preparation and Iowa rules and regulations designed specifically for cottage food operators and home food processing establishments in Iowa, according to Shannon Coleman, food science and human nutrition. The training addresses changes from a new law passed in Iowa in June 2022. More
New Guide Explains How to Measure Soil Organic Carbon
ISU Extension and Outreach published a new resource called “Measuring Soil Organic Carbon: A Crucial Iowa Resource.” The four-page guide defines soil organic carbon, explains how it is measured and the roles it plays in agriculture and the environment. More
Registration Open for Women in Ag Leadership Conference
Registration is open for the sixth annual Women in Ag Leadership Conference, scheduled for Nov. 29-30 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Organized by ISU Extension and Outreach, the workshops cover farmland management, discovering leadership strengths, gaining and sharing wisdom through mentoring, and straight talk about farm financial statements. More
Conservation on Tap Event Scheduled for Nov. 30
Iowa Learning Farms and ISU Extension and Outreach is hosting a Conservation on Tap event on Nov. 30 from 6-7 p.m. at Iowa Distilling Co. Hosts will include Matt Helmers, director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Mark Licht, agronomy and extension cropping systems specialist. RSVPs requested. More
Around the College
Pease Receives Hagie Heritage Award
Jim Pease, retired wildlife extension specialist and professor, natural resource ecology and management, recently received the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation’s 2022 Lawrence and Eula Hagie Heritage Award, which recognizes Iowans who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving the quality of Iowa’s natural environment and encouraging others to do the same. More
Provost’s Office Honors Extension Professionals for Innovation
The provost's office has recognized 32 extension faculty and staff with Innovation Awards for their work over the last two years to help Iowans navigate the effects of a pandemic, including economic and emotional challenges, all the while maintaining excellent programming. College award winners are: Christa Hartsook, manager of agri-tourism and small farms; Courtney Long, manager of food systems; Ron Nelson, document accessibility specialist; and Mary Reynolds, beef cattle specialist with the Iowa Beef Center. More
Applications Being Accepted for CALS Associate Dean Opening
Applications are being accepted through Dec. 11 for an associate dean for facilities and operations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The position provides oversight of the college’s on and off campus facilities, equipment, research and demonstration farms, and affiliated infrastructure operations. The position is open to internal candidates. More (Click on “Jobs for Internal Applicants.”)
CALS Online: Next Full Issue Nov. 28
A full issue of CALS Online will not be published on Nov. 21, the week of Thanksgiving. It will resume Monday, Nov. 28.
Calendar
Nov. 16: Conversations about Carbon
Ryan Clark, geologist with the Iowa Geological Survey, is the featured guest for Conversations about Carbon, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16, from noon to 12:50 p.m. The webinar series is hosted by the ISU Bioeconomy Institute in association with CALS. More
Nov. 16: Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at noon, will feature an extension educator discussing farm stress. Sarah Noggle, Ohio State University, will present “Sometimes the Shield is Not Enough,” noting that even superhero farmers sometimes need a helping hand. More
Nov. 22: ISU Creamery Curbside Pickup
The ISU Creamery is offering curbside pickup of ice cream quarts, 8 ounce cups and aged cheddar cheese on Nov. 22 and Dec. 21, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Email your order by noon on Nov. 21 and Dec. 20, respectively, to creamery@iastate.edu. Pickup will be on the east side of the Food Sciences Building in the semi-circle drive. Pay at pickup with credit/debit cards, cash and gift certificates or vouchers. More
Infograzing
Public-Private Partnerships for Ag Research Highlighted in APLU Innovation Award
Iowa State University was one of three land-grant universities recognized with the Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Iowa State took the top national honor in the “Innovation” category, which recognizes exemplary initiatives spurring innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development. This is the fourth time since 2017 that Iowa State has been a top winner. More
P&S Council Holding Donation Drive for SHOP Food Pantry
Iowa State’s Professional and Scientific Council is sponsoring a food donation drive through Nov. 30 to benefit the campus food pantry, SHOP. The goal is one ton of donations, and participants are encouraged to consult SHOP's requested items list (although all donations are welcome). More
Volunteers Needed to Keep Food Pantry Open during Exam, Break Weeks
The SHOP student food pantry invites university employees to volunteer during fall break week, prep week, finals week and over winter break to help keep the pantry open for students who remain in Ames. The food pantry, located in 1306 Beyer, will not be open on university holidays. Volunteers may sign-up for shifts online. More information is sent automatically in an email. Questions may be directed to SHOP advisor Breanna Wetzler (bwetzler@iastate.edu, 4-4875). 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 Thursday.