College News
FAPRI Staff to Present 2005 Outlook Results
John Beghin, Jay Fabiosa and Simla Tokgoz will present the 2005 FAPRI Outlook results March 14-16 in Washington, D.C. They are scheduled to brief the House and Senate on March 15 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 16. They also will hold a meeting for news media and other interested groups March 16. The 2005 FAPRI World Agricultural Outlook Briefing Book will be available on the FAPRI website on March 15.
Alum Named Director of IDALS' Conservation Division
College alumnus Kenneth Tow has been named the Soil and Water Conservation Division director of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. He earned a bachelor's degree in forestry in 1969. Tow began his career in state government in 1976 as the assistant director of the Iowa Department of Soil Conservation. In 1986, he became the Mines and Minerals bureau chief of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. In 2004, Tow was named interim director of the Soil and Water Conservation Division.
Iowa State Ag Research Among Most Cited Worldwide
Over the past decade, Iowa State University was the 10th most-cited institution in the world in agricultural sciences, according to In-Cites, a Web site that tracks the use of scientific information that is mentioned in research papers worldwide. From Jan. 1, 1994, to June 30, 2004, Iowa State ranked 10th among all institutions and fifth among the world's universities. Among American universities, ISU ranked fourth.
Finding Iowa's Food Stories
Folklorist Riki Saltzman has received a $25,000 grant from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to find and document place-based foods in Iowa, that is, foods with a connection to both place and heritage. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2005/food_030205.htm
Farm Families Sought for International Visitors
Last year the ISU International Agriculture Club helped charter the U.S. chapter of the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS). IAAS provides opportunities for students worldwide to participate in agricultural exchange programs. Four international students have applied to come to the United States through IAAS to study agriculture. Faculty members and staff who know of Iowa farm families who would be willing to host an exchange student are encouraged to contact Jason Haegele at jhaegele@iastate.edu.
Apple Consumer Study Seeks Participants
Frode Alfnes and Helen Jensen, economics, are looking for individuals who are willing to participate in a study on consumers' purchase decisions about apples. The study will take place on the ISU campus. Participants will be asked to consider their market decision about apple purchases. They also will be asked to provide demographic data and information about their use of apples. Besides making a contribution to a scientific research project, a monetary reward will be given. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and have purchased apples in the past year. Contact: Karleen Gillen 4-6785 or kgillen@iastate.edu.
Deadlines and Reminders
March 8-9: Agriculture and the Environment Conference
March 9-10: John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, Ames and Centerville
March 11: deadline for award and membership nominations
March 15: Proposal deadline, Grants for Distance Education Program
March 31: Nomination deadline, 2005 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2005/spencer_020805.htm
April 5: Gamma Sigma Delta awards banquet, 5 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union
April 12: Science in Ag Day workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., http://www.agstudent.iastate.edu/biorenewables/biorenewables.htm
Communications Kiosk
Spiritual Mediums are Sometimes the Subject of Media Reports
In scientific context and in reference to mass communications; the plural of medium is media, "some bacteria flourish in several media," or "the media are now issuing reports." But if medium refers to a spiritualist, the plural is mediums, "several mediums have held seances here." (The Chicago Manual of Style, 2003, 15th edition)
Infograzing
PSI's Innovative Grants Program Seeks Proposals Friday
The Plant Sciences Institute announces an Innovative Grants Program for FY06-FY07 to fund research relating to the Institute's new research initiatives: genomics, biopharmaceuticals, nutrition, biorenewables and crop protection. Proposals will be considered that involve or support one or more of the Initiatives. Due date for the proposals is March 11. Contact: Deanne Brill, 4-5255.
Brainstorming may not be Best Way to Find Ideas
Creativity expert Edward de Bono questions the value of brainstorming to find new ideas. He suggests that what you should do is make yourself allocate creative thinking time, designate one person in the organization as a "new ideas champion," introduce formal creative training and do brain-priming exercises, where you focus on a problem, then move on to something else, then come back to it. (The Guardian, Jan 27, 2005)
External Voices
Budget Cuts Risk Abundant Food Supply
"You are putting at risk an abundant food supply and an affordable food supply and a safe food supply. So it's not just about farmers. Anybody who eats ought to be concerned about this."
--Bob Steele, dean of the agricultural sciences college at Pennsylvania State University, in response to a Bush Administration plan to cut funding for three programs on farming, forestry and animal health, mainstays at land-grant institutions for decades, would be slashed from $200 million this year to $100 million next year and nothing in 2007. (Associated Press, March 2)
Marginalia
Channel Catfish Don't Get PETA Reprieve
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman to declare the channel catfish, the state fish, off limits to fishing. PETA launched a campaign last year to ban fishing, arguing that it is a cruel thing to do and that fish are intelligent, sensitive animals. Heineman rejected the request. "Fishing is a time honored tradition in Nebraska, and I have no intention of modifying Nebraska's fishing guidelines," he said. The channel catfish was named Nebraska's state fish in 1997 by then-Gov. Ben Nelson. (Associated Press, March 7)
Next issue: March 14
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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