................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... MAX ROTHSCHILD FIRST PRESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY LECTURER Max Rothschild will present the first Presidential University Lecture, "From a Sow's Ear to a Silk Purse: The Promise of Genomics." Rothschild, C.F. Curtiss Distinguished professor of agriculture in the department of animal science and was named co-director for the Center for Integrated Animal Genomics, a new ISU presidential initiative. The lecture will be held at 8 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Great Hall, Memorial Union. For more information call 4-9934. PRESENTERS NEEDED FOR SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP Next April, high school students will learn about the relationship between applied science and agriculture at a BioSecurity Investigations workshop. Vanessa Stoffel, coordinator, said the workshop will provide a recruitment opportunity for presenters. Students will learn about identification, control and prevention of biosecurity threats, as well as the economic, social and environmental impacts of biosecurity incidents. The workshop will be held on campus from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 21. Some funds are available for laboratory supply costs. Faculty or staff who wish to participate should contact Stoffel at 4-8653 or vlutz@iastate.edu by Nov. 12. LISTERIA CONTROL MEETINGS WELL-ATTENDED A total of 133 meat processors and meat inspectors attended one of four meetings dealing with "Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Products" held Oct. 20 through Oct. 23. The meetings were held in Atlantic, Storm Lake, Iowa City and Independence. Topics covered the new Food Safety and Inspector Services Listeria control regulations, use of antimicrobials, computer modeling to estimate Listeria suppression, sanitation and environmental testing. RIDE AND DRIVE FIELD DAY ON FRIDAY Farmers will be able to test drive tillage equipment at a field day this Friday just north of Nevada. The Ride and Drive Field Day is sponsored by the Agriculture Systems Technology Club and will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tractors and tillage equipment from AGCO, CNH, John Deere and Krause will be available to test drive. The field day will be held at the Bill Couser farm which is located four miles north of Nevada, one-half mile west of highway S-14 on highway E-29. For more information: John Hagerty, (563) 260-3877 or Jay Harmon, 4-2255. ROLE OF LIFE SCIENTISTS TO BIOTERRORISM THREATS Ronald Atlas of the University of Louisville will present a seminar addressing the role of science as it relates to bioterrorism on Nov.14 at 4:10 p.m. in 1414 Molecular Biology. The seminar is part of the Science and Policy Seminar Series. Atlas is co-director of the Center for the Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism. The seminar series is supported by the Global Agricultural Science and Policy Initiative through an endowment to the agronomy department. Supporting departments include agronomy, economics, plant pathology, political science, sociology and the Office of Biotechnology. For more information: Clare Hinrichs, 4-5154 or hinrichs@iastate.edu LEARN ABOUT SUMMER AG COURSE IN PANAMA THURSDAY ISU students can take an eight-week course this summer to learn about tropical ecology and sustainable agricultural development in Panama, The course is supported by a USDA Challenge Grant partnering ISU with other U.S. and Panamanian universities. Fabrice DeClerck and Kraig Kraft of the University of California at Davis are coordinating the class and will speak to students from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday in 111 Curtiss. ISU faculty also are being recruited to teach a week-long module during the summer. Faculty interested in teaching a module should contact Shelley Taylor at 4-5393 or sztaylor@iastate.edu. SEMINAR FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Sissel Waage of The Natural Step will hold a seminar on sustainable business on Nov. 12 at 3:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gold Room. Waage, who directs the group’s sustainability research program, will present “Sustainability and Changing the Way We Do Business.” The Natural Step uses a science-based, systems framework to help organizations and communities understand and move toward sustainability. The group has worked with McDonald’s, Home Depot and Bank of America. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Office of Biorenewables Programs at Iowa State are hosting the seminar. For more information: Rich Pirog, 4-1854 or rspirog@iastate.edu. APPLES AVAILABLE FROM HORTICULTURE CLUB The Horticulture Club has apples for sale following its weekend sale: 20 bags of Chieftain apples, $8 a bag; bags of medium Golden Delicious, $4 a bag; and 10 bags of large Golden Delicious, $5 a bag. All apples are sold in 10-pound bags or one bag can be split. To submit an order, e-mail Darin Enderton, denderto@iastate.edu. Apples can be picked up after 3 p.m. today, 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and after 3 p.m. Wednesday. REIMAN GARDENS SCARECROW CONTEST WINNERS Ten scarecrows were designed for the first annual scarecrow contest at Reiman Gardens held on Oct. 25. Bill Boon, Eric Hoiberg and Linda Naeve judged the entries. The winners included: 1st place, Story City Lafayette Leaders 4-H Club 2nd place, Agronomy Club 3rd place, Genesis Development in Boone Honorable mentions: Ames Garden Club and Meeker School students PIONEER HI-BRED GIVES $150,000 FOR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP A gift of $150,000 from Pioneer Hi-Bred International will establish the Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Fellowship in Seed Science at Iowa State University. ISU STUDENTS TAKE SECOND IN SOIL JUDGING CONTEST The Iowa State soil judging team placed second in the group-judging division of the American Society of Agronomy regional soil judging contest Oct. 23. Erik Christian, a junior in agronomy from Story City, placed fourth out of 38 students in the individual portion of the contest. The ISU team placed fourth overall out of seven teams that participated in the contest. ORGANIC FARMING IS FOCUS OF ISU RESEARCH, CONFERENCE The transition from conventional to organic farming in the United States has been steady, with a 20 percent annual expansion in organic production. The interest in organics will be evident Nov. 17 when an anticipated 300 people attend the third annual Iowa Organic Conference at Iowa State. Learn more in "Agriculture in Action." EXTENSION 4-H YOUTH BUILDING TO BE DEDICATED NOV. 8 Iowa State’s new Extension 4-H Youth Building will be dedicated Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m. "The new Extension 4-H Youth Building sends the message that Extension and 4-H are vital parts of Iowa and Iowa State University," said Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy. ALLIANCE ORGANIZED TO SUPPORT VALUE-ADDED BUSINESS Iowa State has been awarded a grant from USDA Rural Development to organize a cooperative business development center, one of 21 awarded nationwide. The Iowa Alliance for Cooperative Business Development will combine outreach and research programs that encourage rural economic development and will be housed in the economics department. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/oct03/oct0321.html CROP RISK MANAGEMENT SEMINARS PLANNED ISU Extension and Farm Credit Services of America have teamed up to deliver ISU Extension Corn Train: Strategies for Managing Crop Risks in 2004. This four-hour seminar, offered December 1-12 in 17 locations across Iowa, is designed to help producers evaluate and capitalize on various marketing, financial and crop insurance tools available that can maximize income and reduce risk. Details: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/nov03/nov0301.html DEADLINES AND REMINDERS Nov. 3: 2003 Shivvers Lecture, “EPA's Perspective on Agriculture and Its Relation to Water Quality in Iowa,” Jim Gulliford, Region 7 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4:10 p.m., Pioneer Room, Memorial Union Nov. 4: Issues Related to Crop Bioterrorism and Food Security seminar, Christine Baker, Plant Pathology, 4:10 p.m., 210 Bessey Nov. 9: Alpha Zeta banquet, 5:30 p.m., Hotel at Gateway Center, contact: Nicky Webb at 232-4737 or nwebb@iastate.edu Nov. 12: Sustainable Business Seminar, Sissel Waage, from The Natural Step, 3:10 p.m., Gold Room, Memorial Union, hosted by The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Office of Biorenewables Programs Nov. 13: Presidential University Lecture, “From a Sow’s Ear to a Silk Purse: The Promise of Genomics,” Max Rothschild, C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture in animal science, 8 p.m., Great Hall, Memorial Union Nov. 18-19: 2003 Beef Feedlot Conference, Hotel at Gateway Center, more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2003/oct03/oct0310.html Nov. 19: How to Work with the Leopold Center and its New Initiatives, 4 to 6:30 p.m., 2050 Agronomy Nov. 17: Iowa Organic Conference, Scheman Building, more: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/1103/organic.htm Nov. 21: Deadline for nominating faculty and staff for College and ISU Foundation awards ................................................... COMMUNICATION KIOSK ................................................... SAVE THOSE JPEGS AS SOMETHING ELSE After a JPEG image from a digital camera has been modified by cropping, resizing, sharpening, lightening, darkening or altering its color balance, it should not be saved as a JPEG again, according to an article in the New York Times. That compresses the file further, losing data and picture details. Use the Save As command and store the picture in an uncompressed format, like TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), which preserves all remaining details. (New York Times, Oct. 30, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/30/technology/circuits/30basi.html?th) ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... IPRT OFFERS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The Institute for Physical Research and Technology (IPRT) at Iowa State University is a network of scientific research centers that focuses on moving technologies and innovations from the researcher’s bench to the marketplace. To support economic development in Iowa, IPRT Company Assistance helps Iowa companies leverage their R&D investments with contract research and development cost-sharing funds for product and process development or improvement. If you are discussing a collaborative research project with an Iowa company or you are an entrepreneur looking to launch a technology-based company, IPRT Company Assistance may be able to provide cost-sharing funds. For information contact Kim Bentley at 4-5754 or kbentley@iastate.edu or Carey Novak at 4-2293 or cnovak@iastate.edu or check our website. RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE NOV. 17 The Iowa Renewable Energy & Agriculture Conference will be Nov. 17 at the Polk County Convention Complex, 501 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. The conference theme is: Economic Development Opportunities and Practical Challenges. Register online or contact the Iowa Environmental Council at 515-244-1194. It is being sponsored by The Energy Foundation, Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy. ................................................... EXTERNAL VOICES ................................................... WHY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE GRADUATES ARE IN DEMAND Why do employers seek out College of Agriculture graduates? Here’s what a few employers attending Agriculture Career Day on Oct. 21 said: - "Students here in the Ag College are outstanding. They are extremely mature, they know what they are looking for and we've had outstanding luck recruiting employees." --Dean Warras, Cargill Inc., Sioux City, district general manager - "We have three full-time positions open and this is the place to recruit. We feel the best candidates are here at Iowa State." --Stephanie Vinton, Rhea & Kaiser assistant account executive, public relations, Naperville, Ill. - "We're here to fill 50 internships and a lot of full-time positions. The College of Ag students are excellent and that's why we're here." --Jeff Fuhrmeister, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., employment specialist, Des Moines - "This is a great turnout. This is my third career fair this month and there are more companies represented here than any of the other events I've attended. We are here because Iowa State has the students we are looking for, especially in animal science." --Rebecca Polzin, Wakefield Pork Inc., Gaylord, Minn. ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARS The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) yesterday, Nov. 2, began a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary. The agency’s more than 100 locations in every state and several foreign countries are planning ceremonies today to mark the occasion. Ames area facilities include the National Soil Tilth Laboratory, National Animal Disease Center, Plant Introduction Station, Swine Odor and Manure Management Laboratory. President Eisenhower signed the legislation creating ARS on Nov. 2, 1953, which brought most of USDA's research functions into a single agency. Next issue: Nov. 10 ........................................................ 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.