...................................................
COLLEGE NEWS
...................................................
CANDIDATES SELECTED FOR ANIMAL SCIENCE CHAIR
Four interviews have been scheduled for finalists in the animal science department chair search. Three of the candidates have been announced and the fourth has requested an announcement next week. The first candidate will be Donald L. Boggs, professor and head, animal and range sciences department at South Dakota State University. He will visit campus April 7-8. Maynard G. Hogberg, professor, animal science department at Michigan State University, will visit April 10-11. Ronald L. Horst, leader of the Periparturient Diseases of Dairy Cattle Research Unit at the USDA’s National Animal Disease Center in Ames, will visit April 17-18. April 14-15 has been set aside for the fourth candidate’s visit. The curriculum vita of the announced candidates and detailed schedules are available online.
BARBECUE AND BREAKFAST TO MARK AG DAY
The Ag Council will host an Ag Day barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, in front of Curtiss Hall. The Kildee Pavilion is the rain location. A College of Agriculture faculty breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday, March 27, in the Curtiss Hall rotunda. Doughnuts, juice and milk will be provided. The Ag Man and Ag Woman of Year will be announced.
DEAN SPEAKS AT CELEBRATION OF AGRICULTURE IN CEDAR RAPIDS
On March 20, Dean Woteki spoke before almost 500 people attending the 17th annual Celebration of Agriculture dinner in Cedar Rapids. The dean spoke on the roles of the college and the Experiment Station in promoting economic development, and on the college’s vision and strategic goals. The event took place at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel.
SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO CHANGE
The College of Agriculture’s Summer Research Internship Program will be open to all applicants next year in response to two civil rights groups that maintain the program violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act. Paul Tanaka, university counsel, said the program no longer will be limited to minority students. The change will take effect for the summer 2004 program. "We are committed to continuing to attract students from many different backgrounds to our agricultural programs," said Dean Woteki. "It's important that we reach out to minority populations and encourage them to be involved in agriculture."
NOTE AG COMM WORKSHOP CHANGE OF DATE
The new date for the workshop is April 8. It will begin at noon in Room 8, Curtiss Hall. The topic is “Successful Practices in Ag Communications II: Examples from the Field.” It will focus on practices in adding communication skills and knowledge in technical agriculture courses. College faculty will share what they have done to reach the goal of “communicating to learn.” A light lunch will be available. RSVP Cheryl Abrams at cabrams@iastate.edu to confirm a spot.
COLLEGE CO-SPONSORS ‘RIVERS OF LIFE’ INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
The colleges of agriculture and liberal arts and sciences will sponsor an inaugural international symposium on April 21 with the theme "Rivers of Life: Water, People and Global Development." The symposium will help increase the understanding of the role of water in human development; encourage interdisciplinary work among graduate students in their research; and engage faculty members in discussions of research issues.
RISK-ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR PHARMACEUTICALS TO BE DEVELOPED
No one knows with scientific certainty the likelihood or extent of risks from genetically modified plants not grown for food or feed, such as biopharmaceuticals. Iowa State University researchers are leading an effort to help find the answer within a year. They will develop a risk assessment tool based on science that can be used to make public policy decisions about growing biopharmaceutical-producing crops.
GENETIC DISCOVERY IN COTTON MAY APPLY TO CORN AND SOYBEANS
Researchers led by an Iowa State professor have uncovered a genetic pattern in cotton that is likely to have implications for other crops, including corn and soybeans. The study by Jonathan Wendel, botany, research associates Keith Adams and Ryan Percifield, and Richard Cronn of Oregon State University was published in last week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
OUTSTANDING AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS ALUM NAMED
The Iowa State Agricultural Business Club presented James Borel with the 2002 ISU Agricultural Business Outstanding Alumni Award on March 1 at the club's annual awards recognition banquet. Borel is a 1978 graduate with an agricultural business major and a minor in farm business management. After graduation, Borel joined DuPont as a sales representative in the agricultural products business. He has held positions in sales, product management, operations and human resources in the United States and abroad. Since 1997, he has been the president of DuPont Crop Protection, which has global revenues of $1.8 billion. Borel said his career has given him the opportunity to see agriculture from virtually every perspective and to get to know farmers and others involved in the industry around the world. He advised students to select a career path that fulfills their life's passion.
ASSOCIATION HELPING SEED GROWERS FOR DECADES
In today's agriculture, a farmer must get the greatest return from each dollar spent. The Iowa Crop Improvement Association, headquartered in ISU's agronomy department, is dedicated to helping farmers get the most for their seed dollars. Learn more in "Agriculture in Action."
ISU GRAD STUDENTS DO RESEARCH, GAIN EXPERIENCE
Pursuing an advanced educational degree can be an arduous task. But it also can involve the chance to conduct interesting research and gain valuable experience. Take the example of three Iowa State University graduate students in the College of Agriculture. Details in "Agriculture in Action."
ISU OFFERS VIDEO ON POULTRY DISEASE OUTBREAK
An ISU Extension veterinarian has released a video on a disease that is having a major impact on the California poultry industry. "Exotic Newcastle Disease and the California Outbreak" is a 53-minute presentation by Darrell Trampel recorded March 4. The video is aimed at producers and suppliers who work with the poultry industry in Iowa. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/mar03/mar0308.html
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
March 25: Application deadline Center for Integrated Animal Genomics Competitive Grants Program
March 31: Deadline for 2003 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture nominations, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu
April 4: Deadline for abstracts, Plant Sciences Institute Symposium on Transposition, Recombination and Application to Plant Genomics to be held June 5-8, more information online
April 7-8: Iowa FFA Leadership Conference, Ames
April 22: Science in Agriculture Day
May 12: Iowa State registration deadline, Plant Sciences Institute Symposium on Transposition, Recombination and Application to Plant Genomics to be held June 5-8, more information online
...................................................
COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
...................................................
NEWSPAPER STUDY: EDITORS POSITIVE TOWARD AGRICULTURE
A recent study among daily newspaper editors in Arkansas found generally positive feelings. Researchers found that editors "possessed positive attitudes toward the agricultural industry, although they were less positive about the image of agriculture or about agriculture's performance in educating the public about the agricultural industry." Editors also "agreed that journalists should receive instruction in agriculture and that K-12 students should be required to take at least one course in agriculture." The research paper is posted in the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center's ACDC News, February.
...................................................
INFOGRAZING
...................................................
AGRICULTURE ALUM HEADS USDA CENTER
ISU animal science alumnus Eric Hentges is the new director of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Hentges will be in charge of coordinating the agency's efforts on nutrition guidance with the Department of Health and Human Services. Hentges previously worked for the National Pork Board. He has master’s and doctorate degrees (1981 and 1984, respectively) in animal science.
AGRICULTURE ALUM NAMED STATE ENTOMOLOGIST
College alumna Robin Pruisner has been named state entomologist by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. She previously served as coordinator of animal feeding rules for the Department of Natural Resources. Pruisner will work as part of IDALS Plant Management and Technology Division and will head the Entomology and Plant Science Bureau. She earned a bachelor’s degree in entomology and pest management in 1994.
ISU ALUM LEADS COMMUNICATIONS AT IOWA FARM BUREAU
Iowa State alumna Sara Payne has been named the new marketing and communications director for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. In this position, she will oversee the publications, electronic media and public relations divisions, and direct its marketing and communications efforts. College alum Darryl Jahn, who died in November, was the previous communications director.
...................................................
EXTERNAL VOICES
...................................................
MANY INVENTIONS START OUT INCONSEQUENTIAL
"We are more ready to try the untried when what we do is inconsequential. Hence the fact that many inventions had their birth as toys."
American social philosopher Eric Hoffer
...................................................
MARGINALIA
...................................................
YOU CAN REALLY TASTE THE CURRY
Unilever, the world's biggest ice-cream maker, plans to develop new flavors such as curry and cheese in a bid to increase sales and counter competition. The Anglo-Dutch company, that owns brands such as Ben & Jerry's and Magnum, will increase its investment in ice cream by 20 percent over three years with funds going to promotion and innovation. Unilever is developing flavors such as parmesan and chili with a Spanish chef. (Reuters, March 13)
Next issue: March 31 Deadline: March 28
........................................................
AG ONLINE
........................................................
EDITORS
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu, and Brian Meyer, bmeyer@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
SUBSCRIBE
Ag Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag Online subscribe" to edadcock@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag Online unsubscribe."
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 1031 Wallace Road Office Building, Room 101, (515) 294-7612.