Issue: 251

................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... STUDENT TEAM COMPETES IN TRACTOR COMPETITION The Iowa State Quarter-Scale Tractor Team, made up of students in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, finished 11th out of 30 teams at the American Society of Agricultural Engineers national 2003 Quarter-Scale Tractor Competition. The contest was held May 28 to June 2 at East Moline, Ill. The team designed and built a tractor that was judged on several aspects, including a written report, team presentation and performance in a tractor pull held at the Quad City Downs. The team from Kansas State University won the competition. ECONOMICS OF FOOD SUBJECT OF FRIDAY DISCUSSION Ken Meter, president of the CrossRoads Resource Center in Minneapolis, will lead an informal discussion on the economics of food from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, June 13, 236 Memorial Union. Meter is co-author of "Finding Food in Farm Country," an analysis of the food economy in southeast Minnesota, which is available at: http://www.crcworks.org/ff.pdf. The document has been used in the creation of a regional direct marketing cooperative. The session is sponsored by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture's Marketing Initiative, in association with the Value Chain Partnerships for a Sustainable Agriculture project, and the Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture. Contact Rich Pirog, 4-1854 or rspirog@iastate.edu. PLANT PATHOLOGY TO OFFER CROP BIOTERRORISM COURSE Issues Related to Crop Bioterrorism and Food Security in Iowa is the name of a Plant Pathology Colloquium (PlP 694) to be offered this fall. The two-credit course will study microorganismsand insect pests that can directly affect the health and productivity of crops. Students will develop a list of criteria to rank the importance of biotic pathogens and insect pests that could threaten Iowa agriculture and prepare a prioritized list of pathogens and pests that most threaten the food security and economic stability of Iowa agriculture. The leader of the course is Forrest Nutter, 4-8737 or fwn@iastate.edu. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AVAILABLE FOR INTERNSHIPS Global Agriculture Programs is seeking paid work opportunities for seven international students during the summer and fall. These students are interested in working either full- or part-time. The Global Agriculture Programs office will provide orientation to Iowa State and assistance in obtaining a work permit and social security number. Four students attend the American Farm School in Greece, have agricultural experience and speak English. Three others are from Mexico, Ukraine and Columbia and have experience in the field or labs. The student from Columbia is an Iowa State graduate student in sociology. More information is available by contacting Eduarda Becerra, 4-3972 or ebecerra@iastate.edu. LEOPOLD CENTER DIRECTOR CALLS FOR NEW AG RESEARCH APPROACH New technologies that raise yields or rid crops of pests cannot overcome the complex challenges facing agriculture in the 21st century, said the director of ISUs Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. In a speech June 2 at the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council annual conference in Seattle, Fred Kirschenmann said the research agenda for agriculture needs to shift from a steady stream of new, single-tactic technologies and move to a multi-dimensional systems approach. HORTICULTURE PROFESSOR PATENTS WALNUT TREE Professor Paul Domoto has been a member of the horticulture department for nearly 30 years, where hes well-known for his apple research. Now hes made a name for himself, literally, by obtaining a patent on a new walnut tree named Domoto. Learn more in "Agriculture in Action." NEW COORDINATOR FOR AGRIBUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAM Brent Pringnitz, extension program specialist in agronomy, has been named the new coordinator for the ISU Extension Agribusiness Education Program. Pringnitz will be responsible for revitalizing the program, which is an outreach education endeavor of the departments of agronomy, agricultural and biosystems engineering, entomology and plant pathology. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/jun03/jun0307.html IOWA BEEF CENTER RELEASES TWO NEW PALM OS TOOLS The Iowa Beef Center has released two new tools for beef producers with hand-held computers using the Palm OS operating system. The first can adjust feed batch weights when a feed's dry matter changes or if the quantity of a ration delivered to a pen is to be adjusted by a percentage. The second can help determine plant populations; estimate forage dry matter, grain per acre or bushels of stored grain in bins or piles; and as a note pad. Details at http://www.iowabeefcenter.org. NEW EXTENSION PUBS ON ANIMAL AGRICULTURE AND AIR QUALITY Three new ISU Extension publications on animal agriculture and air quality are available. Gaseous Emissions from Animal Agriculture, (PM 1935) discusses types of emissions from livestock facilities, causes of emissions and how these emissions move or disperse. This publication is available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1935.pdf. Air Quality Resources for Iowa Animal Agriculture (PM 1936) provides a list of current publications related to air quality, links to air quality resources in Iowa and links to research reports. Its at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1936.pdf. Air Quality and Animal Agriculture (EDC 162H) documents past and current research efforts in air quality studies at Iowa State and outlines plans for future air quality initiatives. Find it at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/EDC162H.pdf. WOTEKI TO LEAD FOOD AND NUTRITION BOARD Catherine Woteki has been appointed chair of a national board that studies issues surrounding the safety and adequacy of the U.S. food supply. Dean Woteki will serve a three-year term as chair of the Food and Nutrition Board, which is a unit of the Institute of Medicine. The institute is part of the National Academy of Sciences. The board receives funding from federal agencies and others to study food and nutrition issues. Its widely disseminated reports have provided government, industry, academia and the general public with information and recommendations on food safety, food security and nutrition. IOWA STATE RESEARCH FARM FIELD DAYS BEGIN JUNE 17 A variety of crop, livestock and gardening topics are on the programs of this seasons field days at ISUs Research and Demonstration Farms. Horses is the subject of a specialty field day June 17 at the research farm near Sutherland in northwest Iowa. Two field days take up the topic of raising grapes on June 21 at the Armstrong research farm near Lewis and the Northeast research farm near Nashua Aug. 16. Also included in the 24 field days are eight that feature plants and flowers for home gardeners. Learn more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings or the farms web site at: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings DEADLINES AND REMINDERS June 18: Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1 p.m., near Crawfordsville June 19: Armstrong and Lauren Christian Swine Research and Demonstration Farms field day, 3:30 p.m., near Atlantic June 24-26: 4-H Youth Conference, more at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/apr03/apr0308.html June 24: Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1:30 p.m., near Nashua June 25: Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 9 a.m., near Sutherland June 26: Northern Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 9:30 a.m., near Kanawha June 30: Deadline for applications to the National Research Initiative 2003 Supplemental, Integrated Program July 8: Lauren L. Christian Pork Chop Open, 10 a.m. shotgun start, Veenker Memorial Golf Course; 4 p.m. reception, 5 p.m. dinner with a program, awards and a fund-raising auction following, registration form online ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNICATIONS MEANINGS DIFFER Rapid changes in information technology are stirring new discussions about a well-worn subject. That is, how do "communication" and "communications" differ? A new book, Transforming communication: technology, sustainability and future generations addresses the question. Authors Sohail Inayatullah and Susan Leggett cite definitions that trace back decades, yet invite continuing renewal. Communication: the quest for satisfactory and deeper human interaction and dialogue, based on a sharing of mutually recognized signs. Communications: technology, systems innovation and the speed and quantity of messages. The authors explore the possibilities of transforming communication from technology to a human act of sharing meaning. "They generally argue that to create sustainable futures, new ways must be found to make communication inclusive, participatory, and mindful of future generations." Source: Agricultural Communications Documentation Center ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... ISU GOLDSHEET SUBMISSION TO GO ELECTRONIC The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration will be offering training sessions this month for those who will be filing GoldSheets online. The new eGoldSheets will begin July 1. Training sessions for those who will be filling out the eGoldSheets (PI's, grant coordinators and possibly support staff) will be from 2:30-4 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, and from 10-11:30 a.m., Thursday, June 12. The sessions will be held in Room 13 Curtiss Hall. Registration is required by contacting Elena Polush at elenap@iastate.edu. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORTS ON STAR PROGRAM The National Academy of Sciences report evaluating the Environmental Protection Agencys Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research grant and fellowship program urges its continuation. The STAR program has established a rigorous, independent peer-review process for selecting grant awardees and funds scientists with impressive track records, who frequently are leaders in their fields, the report said. A press release issued by NAS about the report is located online and the report is located at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10701.html?se_side. ................................................... EXTERNAL VOICES ................................................... TAXING FOOD TO SAVE LIVES "There is an epidemic of obesity in the UK. You are what you eat and if that is the case the British public have a huge problem.  Charging VAT (value-added tax) on saturated foods found in processed meat products like sausages, pies and pastries, butter and cream, may help save some lives. -- Dr. Martin Breach, spokesman for the British Medical Association, which is proposing a 17.5 percent tax on high-fat foods to solve obesity-related problems. ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... WEED-SENSING ROBOT NEW KIND OF TERMINATOR A weed-killing robot being developed by Danish scientists could reduce farmers' need for herbicides, Reuters reported. The robot uses a camera to scan the ground and a face-recognition computer software technique to find the weeds. The first version is a four-wheeled, battery-powered robot that notes weeds position, allowing farmers to target their spraying. The next generation of the robot will go a step further and deposit a few drops of herbicide itself on the weeds. Ultimately, the robot would be advanced enough to pull the weeds and avoid herbicides altogether. (Reuters, June 4) Next issue: June 16 ........................................................ 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.