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COLLEGE NEWS
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FIRST FOOD SCIENCE CHAIR CANDIDATE VISITS THIS WEEK
The first of three candidates for the position of chair of the food science and human nutrition department will visit campus this week. Nancy Betts, professor of the nutrition and health sciences department at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 17 and 18. The other two candidates will be announced 10 days prior to their visits, which are scheduled for March 8 and 9 and March 11 and 12. Agendas for the visits and other information is online.
CARD STAFF MEMBER APPOINTED TO ECONOMIC ADVISERS
Hongli Feng Hennessy, an assistant scientist in the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, has been appointed to Iowa’s Council of Economic Advisers. Gov. Tom Vilsack recently created the new council to provide a comprehensive approach to managing the state's budget. The council replaces the Governor's Economic Advisory Council and the Iowa Economic Forecasting Council.
YOU’RE INVITED TO CELEBRATE FFA WEEK
College faculty, staff and students are invited to the National FFA Week Proclamation signing Friday, Feb. 20. National FFA Week is Feb. 21-28 and is intended to acknowledge FFA activities and services. The event will begin at 7:15 a.m. in the Curtiss Hall rotunda. There will be a short presentation, a light breakfast and the opportunity to interact with other FFA supporters.
OBESITY TOPIC OF THINK TANK MEETING
The next Think Tank on Animal Agriculture will discuss whether increasing the price of food would reduce obesity in the United States. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. with social time, dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Cardinal Room, Memorial Union. Cost of the buffet will be $13, payable at the door. RSVP before noon Friday, Feb. 20 to Julie Roberts, 4-2352 or jrober@iastate.edu.
FACULTY/STAFF DEVELOPMENT TOUR HEADS TO ITALY
This year's faculty and staff development tour, “Food Systems of Northern Italy,” is tentatively scheduled May 17 to 26 in Italy’s Veneto region. Travelers pay airfare while other program-related costs are covered by the College. Faculty, staff and graduate students with appointments in the College of Agriculture or Experiment Station are eligible. Application deadline is March 5. Faculty and staff need to submit a one-page statement on how the trip will support their research, teaching and extension responsibilities, and a letter of endorsement from their department chair. Graduate students are asked to submit a statement describing their international interests and how the trip will impact their academic program. For more information: Shelley Taylor, 4-5393 or sztaylor@iastate.edu.
REGIONAL CENTER RECOGNIZED FOR SATELLITE PROJECT
The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, as part of an Advanced Internet Satellite Extension Project Team, has been awarded the 2003 Bill Murphy Barrier Buster Award. The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service presented the award that recognizes the team's effort in implementing a national videoconference last April. The videoconference showcased advanced networking capabilities using satellite technology to bring high-speed Internet to rural and remote sites at an affordable price. The presentation is available online as a video stream segment. Contact Corry Bregendahl, 4-6250 or corry@iastate.edu.
WINTER BLUES BRIGHTEN HORTICULTURE CLUB SALES
The Horticulture Club made about $1,000 from its spring sale last week. The club will use the funds to help students attend a horticulture meeting in East Lansing, Mich., in March. Bob Smith, a junior in horticulture, was the project coordinator for the spring bulb sale, which included tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, crocus, squill, mini iris, cyclamen, primula and azaleas. Club members attributed the harsh winter weather for increased sales.
GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATIONS DUE MARCH 1
March 1 is the deadline for applying for three scholarships or fellowships for College of Agriculture graduate students. Both the Caine-Bogle Family Graduate Fellowship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Graduate Fellowship are meant for students demonstrating academic and leadership qualities and financial need. Both require submission of FAFSA, which limits them to U.S. citizens. The Dean Kleckner Global Agriculture Graduate Scholarship is for students pursuing careers related to international trade, research, development or a related field. Nomination by the candidate's department chair is required. Submit five copies of a packet containing vita, transcripts and no more than two support letters to department chairs. Use separate packets for each scholarship. Contact: Maureen Stohlmeyer, 4-6614 or mstohlme@iastate.edu.
ARE LAND PRICES TOO HIGH?
In December, an Iowa State survey showed the average value of Iowa land is at its highest ever — $2,275 per acre. The old record set in 1981 was $2,147. That peak was followed by a disastrous decline in land values that contributed to putting many farmers out of business. Is history about to repeat itself? Find out in "Agriculture in Action."
MANURE NUTRIENT VALUE SOFTWARE AVAILABLE FROM IPIC
Livestock producers can use a new software program to help determine nutrient values from all types of manure. The Manure Nutrient Value Calculator is a spreadsheet program that works with Microsoft Excel 97 or later. It is available from ISU’s Iowa Pork Industry Center. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2004/feb04/feb0417.html
SOUTH AMERICAN SUPPLIES IMPACT WORLD SOYBEAN MARKET
With prospects this summer for the tightest U.S. soybean supplies in nearly 40 years, South American soybean crop prospects have more than their usual importance to Iowa cash grain and livestock producers. Conditions through early February continued to point to record South American production but perhaps producing a slightly smaller crop than projected earlier, according to Robert Wisner, ISU Extension economist. Details: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2004/feb04/feb0414.html
PORK REGIONAL CONFERENCES WILL FOCUS ON INCREASING PROFITS
Iowa pork producers are invited to learn more about improving profitability at any of the five one-day 2004 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences scheduled this week. Iowa Pork Industry Center, Iowa Pork Producers Association and ISU Extension are cosponsoring the annual series of meetings. Details: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2004/feb04/feb0412.html
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Feb. 19: “Selective Entry, Persistent Contact: Reflections on How to Work the Hill,” Larry Burmeister, associate professor of community and leadership development at the University of Kentucky, 4 p.m., 2020 Agronomy
Feb. 19: Stories and slides from the book “Renewing the Countryside – Iowa,” Jerry DeWitt, ISU Extension entomologist, 7 p.m., Hughes Auditorium, Reiman Gardens
Feb. 21-28: National FFA Week
Feb. 26: Value Chain Partnerships for a Sustainable Agriculture anniversary, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Jischke Honors Building
Feb. 28: 33rd Annual Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference, Ottumwa, more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2004/jan04/jan0406.html
Feb. 27: University Professional & Scientific Award nominations due
Feb. 27: Proposal deadline to college for computer projects sought by Computation Advisory Committee
March 1-2: Agriculture and The Environment Water Quality Conference, Scheman Building
March 3-4: John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, Daryll Ray, director of the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center at the University of Tennessee, 2:30 to 4 p.m. March 3, Oak Room, Memorial Union; and 7 to 9 p.m. March 4 in the Center for Energy and Environmental Education Auditorium, University of Northern Iowa
March 12: Deadline for nominations, Gamma Sigma Delta awards
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COMMUNICATION KIOSK
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PRETENSE OR PRETEXT
A pretext is something that is put forward to conceal a truth: He was discharged for tardiness, but the reason given was only a pretext for general incompetence. Pretense is a false show, a more overt act intended to conceal personal feelings: My profuse compliments were all pretense.
-- The Associated Press Stylebook, 2002
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INFOGRAZING
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DESIGN EXCELLENCE OF DEERE, HON AND MAYTAG SHOWCASED
A new John Deere 7920 tractor will be on display on the front lawn of the College of Design until Feb. 22. In the gallery, a hood from a 7920 will be on exhibit along with Deere & Co.’s prototype autonomous tractor and a kiosk explaining the role of design in the company’s success. Deere is one of three Iowa businesses featured in the College of Design's exhibition illustrating "Good Design. Good Business." Other businesses are The HON Co. and Allsteel Inc., Muscatine, and Maytag Corp., Newton.
6TH ANNUAL PET PIG SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD AT ISU
Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine will host the sixth annual pet pig symposium June 4-6. The symposium will cover topics on pet pig management and health. Registration fee for the public is $65 before April 30 and $75 after. The fee for veterinarians is $90 before April 30 and $100 after. Contact: Janean Berhow, 4-3837 or jaberhow@iastate.edu.
FEB. 28 IS DEADLINE FOR GRANT-WRITING SEMINAR
A two-day seminar on "Writing Competitive Grants and Proposals" is set for March 4 and 5. Registrations are due Feb. 28. The cost is $260. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research will consider requests from eligible principal investigators to partially cover participant fees. A brief letter of interest by e-mail is requested from PIs interested in applying for the cost share. Contact: Sreeparna Mitra, 4-1538 or mitra@iastate.edu.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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CREATIVITY, BEYOND CHILDHOOD
“Creativity is not merely the innocent spontaneity of our youth and childhood; it must also be married to the passion of the adult human being, which is a passion to live beyond one's death.”
-- Rollo May, American psychologist (1909-1994)
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MARGINALIA
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HOIBERGS TAKE PART IN BASKETBALL CEREMONY
Over the weekend, Eric Hoiberg, associate dean of academic programs, and his wife Karen accepted the honor of having their son Fred’s number retired as an Iowa State basketball player. Fred Hoiberg was unable to attend the ceremony Saturday during halftime of the Iowa State-Texas game. Now in his ninth NBA season, Fred Hoiberg was an all-American and played for the Cyclones from 1991 to 1995.
STOFFEL LEAVING STUDENT SERVICES FOR BEAR COUNTRY
Student services specialist Vanessa Stoffel will leave the College of Agriculture Friday, Feb. 20, to take a job at Bear Country USA. She will manage the zoo and develop educational programs for the tourism site just west of Rapid City, S.D., along the way to Mount Rushmore. Stoffel received her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and studies from Iowa State in 1998 and will graduate this spring with a master's degree in community and regional planning.
Next issue: Feb. 23
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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/
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