Issue: 200

................................................... C O L L E G E N E W S ................................................... NEW TIME FOR SEMINAR ON AFRICAN NUTRITIONAL CHALLENGES Fridays seminar on African nutritional challenges has a new time and place. Ruth K. Oniang'o, professor of food science and nutrition at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, will speak at 1 p.m. in 2050 Agronomy. Oniang'o will discuss Nutritional Challenges in Africa with Specific Reference to Vitamin A Deficiency. VANDALISM AT IOWA STATE RESEARCH FOREST INJURES WOMAN Northeastern Iowa authorities are investigating the source of planks with protruding 6-inch spikes placed in Iowa States Brayton Research Forest in Delaware County. One of the spikes injured a Dyersville woman who stepped on a spike-filled plank hidden under dirt and grass while walking in the forest formerly used for research. According to an article in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Delaware County Sheriff John LeClere speculated that those who placed the planks were targeting ATV activity, perhaps turkey hunters upset that the ATV riders disrupt the habitat of their prey. LONG-TERM RESEARCH SHOWS VALUE OF CROP ROTATION Data from two long-term research projects demonstrates the benefits of crop rotation and the effective use of nitrogen fertilizer for corn. One study began in 1954 on the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm near Kanawha. The second study began in 1979 on the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua. In both projects, crop yields under seven cropping sequences and three levels of nitrogen fertilization are measured and compared. Learn more in "Agriculture in Action." ISU ESTABLISHES SURVEY SCIENCE INSTITUTE Iowa State University is creating a new institute that will collect and analyze data about people, households, businesses, the environment and other institutions. The Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Survey Science (IRISS) will bring together several existing ISU centers to conduct research and outreach activities. IRISS will include the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research, Research Institute for Studies in Education and the Survey Section of the Statistical Laboratory. The institute was approved this month by the Iowa Board of Regents. The new institute will conduct research in such areas as agriculture and rural population trends. As a university-wide institute, IRISS will be part of the office of the vice provost for research and advanced studies. INTERNATIONAL PIG CONGRESS COMES TO IOWA STATE One of the largest assemblies of experts on pig health, production and consumer issues will convene at Iowa State University June 2-5 for the 17th International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) congress. Approximately 2,000 veterinarians, producers, animal scientists and others involved in the swine industry from 50 countries will attend. The IPVS congress is recognized as a leading forum for new information on current and emerging diseases. A 30,000 square-feet tent has been erected on central campus to get everyone under one roof for a banquet June 4. Approximately 850 pounds of pork tenderloin, 600 pounds of potatoes, 1,140 bottles of wine, 350 pounds of fresh asparagus, 2,400 cheddar cheese and wheat rolls, 6,000 jumbo shrimp, 703 apple tarts, 720 brownies and 44 turtle cheesecakes will be served. The congress will feature 194 speakers. Technical tours of the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the National Animal Disease Center also will be offered. Information about the program is online. PROGRAM HELPS HOMEOWNERS APPLY LAWN FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES A template is available to homeowners on the ISU Nitrogen and Phosphorus Knowledge web page that will help homeowners determine the correct amount of fertilizer and pesticide to apply to their lawns. Applying the correct amount saves money and reduces environmental pollution to Iowa's surface waters. The template, instructions and a lime table are available online. NEW COMMERCIAL PARTNER JOINS NASA FTCSC Triple "F" Inc. is the latest commercial partner to team up with the NASA Food Technology Commercial Space Center (FTCSC). The Des Moines-based company will concentrate its efforts on improving the flavor of soy-based food products and implementing a dry-extrusion system to process soybeans into food ingredients. Triple "F" is the 12th commercial partner to team up with NASA FTCSC. The company has been marketing a line of soy-based foods under the Premier Harvest brand in Hy-Vee stores in Des Moines. DEADLINES AND REMINDERS May 31: Distinguished Lecturer Seminar on Plant Response to Environmental Stress, 2 p.m., 1414 Molecular Biology Building June 20: Research and Demonstration Farms field day season begins, Northeast farm, 1:30 p.m., west of Nashua, more info: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings June 28: Sign-up deadline, second College of Agriculture Research Grant Writers Workshop beginning Aug. 27, more info: Elena Polouchkina, 4-8493 or elenap@iastate.edu July 1: Nomination deadline for Agricultural Safety and Health Hall of Fame Award July 9: Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open, 10 a.m., Veenker Memorial Golf Course ....................................................................... C O M M U N I C A T I O N S K I O S K ....................................................................... BEWARE OF TWO WORDS THAT SHARE MEANING You can find meanings like "of or relating to a system" for both systemic and systematic in most dictionaries. But systemic tends to mean "within or throughout a biological system" (such as the nervous or circulatory system or an entire organism). Whereas for the most part, systematic means "according to a method or plan." From Word Count by Barbara Wallraff, senior editor of The Atlantic Monthly ................................................... I N F O G R A Z I N G ................................................... REPORT RECOMMENDS BROADENING PUBLIC-SECTOR AG RESEARCH A new report from the National Research Council and USDA's Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources shows that publicly funded research has played an important -- but not an exclusive -- role in changing the structure of agriculture. The report is the result of a 10-member panel convened in 1999 to study the role of public-sector research on changes in farm size and numbers. Panel members included Iowa State's Fred Kirschenmann, director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and Cornelia Flora, director of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. The report showed that public policies (such as commodity payments, crop insurance, etc.) and access to information and intellectual property rights also helped move agriculture toward consolidation. The report recommends that public-sector research be broadened beyond productivity and efficiency to benefit farmers in diverse production systems (part-time, small-scale and organic farmers and value-added producers) and help agriculture produce public goods that serve the general welfare, such as clean water and air. It also recommends that public-sector agricultural research use an interdisciplinary approach that includes the social sciences, and evaluate their impact on various groups. The 158-page report can be downloaded at no cost at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10211.html. ................................................... M A R G I N A L I A ................................................... MANAGERS TRAIN BY HORSING AROUND The University of Virginias Leadership Development Center offers a two-day course to develop management skills taught by a horse gentler. Instructor Louis Wood begins by demonstrating how trust and gentle guidance can be more successful than force in dealing with skittish horses. The lessons in horse sense have attracted such varied students as corporate executives and Virginia fire chiefs hoping to become better bosses. (Washington Post, May 20)