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COLLEGE NEWS
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COMPLEXITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK
"Workshop on Complexity in the Environment" will be held July 16 in 220 Scheman Building. Margaret Leinen, National Science Foundation assistant director for geosciences and coordinator for environmental research and education, will be visiting ISU to discuss the new NSF program on Complex Environmental Systems (http://www.nsf.gov/geo/ere/ereweb/acere_synthesis_rpt.cfm). The workshop will feature a presentation by Leinen and follow-up discussion opportunities that will provide feedback to NSF and identify opportunities for ISU research on managed landscapes of the Midwest. There will be discussions on coupled human and natural systems, coupled biological and physical systems and people and technology. To register, contact Darlene Pruismann, darlene@iastate.edu, by July 11 with your name as you want it on a nametag and a two-word description of your environmental interest.
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER PLAY TO BE PERFORMED NEXT MONDAY
“Listening to the Still Small Voice: The Story of George Washington Carver” will be performed from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 14, in the Food Science Courtyard (rain location is in Curtiss Hall Auditorium). Paxton Williams wrote and performed the play as a student at Iowa State. The performance is made possible by the generosity of Sande and Margo McNabb. More info about Paxton's play can be found at: http://thegwcstory.tripod.com/index.html
LEOPOLD CENTER RELEASES PROGRESS REPORT
Weed control, more efficient anhydrous ammonia application, rotational grazing and manure management are just a few of the topics covered in the 2003 Center Progress Report, now available from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. In addition to projects directly related to agricultural production, the report also details investigators’ efforts to establish local food marketing and distribution systems and encourage institutional purchases of local foods. To receive a free copy of the 2003 Center Progress Report, contact the Leopold Center at 209 Curtiss Hall, 4-3711, or leocenter@iastate.edu.
PLANT PATHOLOGY GRAD STUDENTS WIN REGIONAL COMPETITION
Iowa State plant pathology students won two of the six graduate student awards oral and poster presentations at the North Central Division Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society. Blucher Menelas received first place for his presentation and Anuthep Pasura placed third in the poster category.
NEW ISU DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON NATURAL RESOURCES
It’s been a year since the forestry and animal ecology departments merged at Iowa State. “We’ve taken two good departments and created one that’s even better,” says Mike Kelly, chair of the new Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. Details in "Agriculture in Action."
ISU MESONET SYSTEM SPEEDS SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS
Thanks to an Iowa State University connection, Story County residents received a severe weather warning on June 18, alerting them to hail, rain and high winds.
THIS IS IDEAL TIME TO LOOK FOR SOYBEAN CYST NEMATODE
At this time of the growing season the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), a widespread and serious pest of soybeans throughout Iowa, is easy to find on roots. “It takes about four to six weeks for the first SCN females to appear on the roots of the new soybean crop,” said Greg Tylka, Iowa State University nematologist.
ISU EXTENSION PUBLICATION OFFERS WEED MANAGEMENT ADVICE
The ISU Extension “Issues in Weed Management for 2003” publication now is available. This year's topic examines managing weeds using post-emergence tactics. “Early in the growing season, weeds negatively affect crop production efficiency by reducing yields, reducing harvest efficiency and contributing to future problems through weed seed production,” said Mike Owen, ISU Extension weed specialist. The publication is on the Web at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1898.pdf
NATIONAL PLAN FOR AGRICULTURAL SAFETY RESEARCH ANNOUNCED
The culmination of two years work by agricultural safety specialists from across the country has resulted in a national report that outlines 12 key areas where land grant institutions and agricultural experiment stations should focus future safety research. The committee that produced the report was chaired by Charles Schwab, associate professor in ISU's ag and biosystems engineering department.
USDA REPORTS STILL LEAVE ROOM FOR GRAIN PRICE VOLATILITY
The USDA’s June 30 grain stocks and crop acreage reports remove some of the uncertainty about grain and soybean supplies for the year ahead. However, Robert Wisner, Iowa State economist, says continuing uncertainty about yield prospects and limited U.S. and world old-crop reserve supplies will make corn prices potentially responsive to changing weather conditions through late July. Details: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/jul03/jul0307.html
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
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
July 8: Northern Research and Demonstration Farm specialty field day on weeds, 6:30 p.m., Kanawha
July 10: Canadian Wheat Board presentation, 1:15 p.m. in 1951 Food Sciences Building. Contact: Robert Wisner, 4-6310 or rwwisner@iastate.edu
July 14: Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 4 and 6:30 p.m., near Fruitland
July 18: Deadline to identify spring semester off-campus courses, contact: Neena Bentley, 4-1862 or nbentley@iastate.edu
Aug. 16: Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm specialty field day on grapes, 8:30 a.m., near Nashua
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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GOVERNMENT PORTAL HELPS WITH SEARCHES
Visitors to firstgov.gov (http://www.firstgov.gov) can search through more than 180 million pages of federal, state and local government sites. The site helps citizens, businesses and government employees find the right pages. Included is grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/), which explains the new federal E-Grants Initiative.
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INFOGRAZING
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NEW FRINGE BENEFIT RATES SET
New rates have been set for fringe benefits that should be charged on research proposals. The new rates have been established by the ISU Vice President for Business and Finance and are effective for proposal budgets created July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004 (or until new rates are posted). The rates are posted online.
MEASURE SEEKS MORE ACCESS TO FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
The Public Library of Science, a nonprofit organization of scientists and physicians, has created a public campaign aimed at making the world's scientific and medical literature a public resource. The group contends that taxpayers would have better access to scientific information if the results of federally funded research were made public. Rep. Martin Sabo, D-Minn., has introduced a bill seeking the greater disclosure, called the Public Access to Science Act.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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ONE OF THE MOST BEWITCHING SIGHTS IN THE WORLD
"I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil … ."
--Nathaniel Hawthorne
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MARGINALIA
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KRAFT TO REFORMULATE OFFERINGS
Kraft Foods, the nation's biggest food manufacturer, announced last week that it will change its recipes and reduce portion sizes in an effort to fight obesity. The company will eliminate promotions in schools, including posters and free samples, but its snacks will still be stocked in school vending machines. According to the Associated Press, a 10-member advisory panel of experts on behavior, nutrition, health and communications, will review Kraft's products and recommend changes in its single-portion packages of cookies, crackers and other snacks. The company said it hopes to develop its standards by the end of the year and put them into effect over two to three years. (Associated Press, July 2)
Next issue: July 14
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AG ONLINE
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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.