College News
Vice Provost for Extension Jack Payne to Visit College
Jack Payne, vice provost for Extension, will visit the College of Agriculture on June 12. He will make a short presentation to faculty and staff followed by a question-answer session at an open forum from 3:10 to 3:55 p.m. in 1951 Food Sciences Building. Payne will meet with the College administrative team and department chairs preceding the forum.
Construction Begins on New Iowa State Dairy Farm
This spring, ground was broken for Iowa State's new state-of-the-art dairy farm south of Ames and officials looked forward to opening the facility in 2007. You can see a rendering of the future dairy farm, plus learn more details of what will be there.
Turning Corn Fiber Into Ethanol
Iowa State researchers have used mold to convert corn fiber into ethanol. The discovery could turn byproducts of corn milling into another source of fuel.
Ultrasonic Boosts Releases Rates of Corn Sugars for Ethanol
A team of Iowa State researchers has used ultrasonic pretreatment of corn in laboratory experiments to increase the corn's release rates of sugars by nearly 30 percent. That could mean each bushel of corn that goes into an ethanol plant could more efficiently produce ethanol for your car's fuel tank.
ISU Borlaug Interns Begin Research Adventures in China, Mexico
Conducting scientific research as an undergraduate student is not uncommon these days -- unless it involves researching world hunger in another country during summer vacation. For the Iowa State University Borlaug Interns, that's exactly what's involved. Michelle Jebsen, Marshalltown, a junior in nutritional science, and Kyle Taylor, Abilene, Kan., a May graduate in agricultural biochemistry, are the 2006 Borlaug Interns.
Two Iowa State Research Farms to Celebrate Anniversaries
The Northern and McNay research and demonstration farms will celebrate the anniversaries of their origins during this year’s field days, which begin June 19. More details: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
June 9: U.S. Pork Center of Excellence news conference, 10:15 a.m., Media Center, World Pork Expo
June 10: Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction & Technology Transfer 10th anniversary celebration, 2 to 4 p.m., with a brief program at 3 p.m., Brenton Center, Curtiss Hall
June 12: Open forum with Jack Payne, vice provost for Extension, 3:10 to 3:55 p.m., 1951 Food Sciences Building June 19: Research and Demonstration Farm Field Days begin, Horticulture Station, near Ames, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
July 11: Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open, Veenker Memorial Golf Course
Communications Kiosk
"And" or "But" are Fine Sentence Starters
"And," to begin a sentence, is quite proper, according to the Experiment Station's "Word Usage In Scientific Writing" guide. You may have been told not to do this in grade school. But the teacher's purpose was to keep you from using fragmentary sentences. Either "and" or "but" may be used to begin complete sentences. And both are useful transitional words between related or contrasting statements.
Infograzing
Soynut Sensory Evaluation Tomorrow
Emily Boge and Terri Boylston, food science and human nutrition, are looking for subjects who would like to participate in a sensory evaluation of roasted soynuts. Participants will be asked to provide demographic information and to evaluate appearance, texture, flavor and overall acceptability of six soynut samples. Testing will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in 2594 Food Sciences Building. If you are interested in participating, please come to the sensory booths during this time. Contacts: Terri Boylston, 2547 Food Science, 294-0077, tboylsto@iastate.edu; and Emily Boge, 2545 Food Science, 641-430-1669, ehollatz@iastate.edu.
Volunteers Needed for Glucose Response Study
The study examines the effect of a new starch on blood glucose response. Participants who are male nonsmokers, 18 to 45 years old, who are not taking any drugs are eligible. Those chosen will be asked to eat 3 to 4 slices of white bread for breakfast after a 12-hour fast and have 10 blood samples taken over a period of two hours and 15 minutes. They will be retested a week later. Compensation is available. Contacts: Sun-Ok Lee, 4-9485, sunok@iastate.edu; Kathy Hanson, 4-4247, kbh1@iastate.edu; and Suzanne Hendrich, 4-4272, shendric@iastate.edu.
Marginalia
Figs Believed to be First Crop
Dried-up figs found in what is modern day Israel may have been the first cultivated crop more than 11,000 years ago, Reuters reported. The discovery pushes back the earliest estimates of when agriculture began by 1,000 years. Researchers believe it suggests that, centuries before they figured out how to plant barley and other crops, people knew how to propagate fruit trees for sweet treats. People were known to have cultivated figs for thousands of years but this finding surprised the experts. Examination of the figs showed they were a variety that produces a large, sweet fruit, as opposed to the wild type, the researchers said. (Reuters, June 2) Next issue: June 12
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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