College News
Ag 450 Farm Helps Boy Fullfill Make-A-Wish Dream
Sean Dyson, a 13-year-old from the Emmetsburg area, has always been fascinated with large machinery and grain harvesting. Sean, who was born prematurely and has developmental disabilities, has had a dream to help with fall harvest and ride in a combine. That wish was granted last Friday when he visited the Ag 450 Farm. Greg Vogel, Ag 450 Farm ag specialist, said Dyson rode in a combine to harvest soybeans. Dyson also rode in a John Deere 8430 tractor with Isaiah Shnurman, a senior in agricultural studies, to plow part of a harvested field. The Make-A-Wish Foundation had contacted the agricultural education and studies department last summer to set up the visit.
Class Project Benefits Blank Children's Hospital
An assignment in the AgEdS 311 course requires students to demonstrate how a certain activity or project relates to agriculture. Kyle Mowrer and Casey Kent took the assignment and turned it into a gift for children at the Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. Mowrer, a senior in agricultural business, and Kent, a sophomore in agricultural education, put together Halloween baskets and explained how each item in the basket related to agriculture. The class participated in the demonstration and produced 25 plastic jack-o'-lantern baskets filled with candy, toys and a coloring book. The basket includes a College of Agriculture postcard listing how each item relates to agriculture (for example, wheat products in PlayDough, corn syrup in candy corn, butter and popcorn in popcorn bags). The baskets and contents were donated by Mowrer and Kent.
College Hosts Head of Bulgarian University
Svetlin Tanchev, rector of Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, signed a memorandum of agreement for student and faculty exchanges with the College of Veterinary Medicine today, Oct. 9. The College of Agriculture is hosting Tanchev's visit to Iowa State. Last year, the College of Agriculture signed a similar agreement and had invited Tanchev to return. Trakia University includes schools of agriculture, veterinary medicine and medicine with a student body of about 5,000.
State Department Staffer to Speak at Seed Science Center
Tanuja Rastogi, foreign affairs officer, Office of Agriculture and Biotechnology Trade Policy at the U.S. Department of State, will speak on "Biotechnology, the WTO and International Trade Policy," Oct. 17. The event will take place at 9 a.m. in the High Tech Room (106), Seed Science Center. Refreshments will be served following the seminar. Sponsors for the event include the Seed Science Center, the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products and the Institute for Food Safety and Security.
International Insect Center Director to Speak Oct. 20
The entomology department in conjunction with World Food Prize events will present a seminar by Christian Borgemeister, director general of the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), and professor at Hannover University, Germany. The topic of his presentation will be "The 4-H Paradigm of ICIPE and its Contribution to Poverty Alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa." It will begin at 9 a.m., Oct. 20, in 1213 Hoover Hall. A reception will follow in the lobby.
Iowa State Awards $3.69 Million for New Research
Iowa State researchers will use $3.69 million of state funding to advance research in the biosciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing. Research will be funded in advanced food products, bioeconomy, information technology, animal systems, biosecurity and advanced manufacturing.
Ethanol Subject of Economics Department Conference
The economics department is planning a statewide webcast and mini-conference titled "Perspectives on Present and Future Corn-Based Ethanol Industry." It is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 13 in Ames.
Pork Producer Educational Program Expands
Thanks to strong subscriber support and growing demand, the PorkBridge 2006-07 educational series is expanding. The original group of five host universities increases to six. PorkBridge provides relevant and accurate information on specific topics to people who own, manage or work in swine grow-finish facilities. The Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State coordinates the program.
College Helps Sponsor Political Action Week
The College helped sponsor a day of the Government of the Student Body's Political Action Week last week. Thursday's "Flowers or Freeways?" day addressed such topics as global warming, energy policies, urban sprawl, development policies and agriculture policies. Speakers included Denise O'Brien and Bill Northey, candidates for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, and Jami Larson and Erv Klaas, candidates for Ames City Council, Second Ward.
Lonergan and Huffman on Graduate Council
Elisabeth Lonergan, animal science, and Wallace Huffman, economics, have been named to the ISU Graduate Council for a term extending through 2009. They join College faculty member Tom Loynachan, agronomy, on the council. The Graduate Council serves as the executive committee of the graduate faculty.
Get to Know Ag Study Abroads Programs at Barbecue
An Ag Study Abroad barbecue is set for Oct. 25 for College students, faculty and staff. The event will provide information about the College's study abroad programs and access to trip leaders. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Farm Bureau Pavilion. A raffle and activities are planned.
Pork Center Decorations Win Best Theme
The Iowa Pork Industry Center won Best Theme Award in the "Let's get CY-ked" office decorating contest. Part of the decorations was a "I'm Proud I'm a Cyclone" sign in the center's hallway window for signatures before the Nebraska football game.
Drawing Set for United Way Fundraiser
In association with this year's Iowa State United Way campaign, the College of Agriculture is holding a drawing to give away a football autographed by Dan McCarney or a voucher for four men's basketball tickets (good for any home game except Kansas). To enter, donate nonperishable items (food and toiletries) or a cash donation (suggested amount of $3 or more). Items will be delivered to the Mid-Iowa Community Action Food Pantry and the cash collected will be given as a lump sum to United Way from the College of Agriculture. One entry per person. The deadline for donations is Oct. 20 and drawing will be Oct. 23. You can donate at the following sites: 2101 Agronomy Hall, 253 Bessey Hall, 138 Curtiss Hall, 201 Curtiss Hall, 102 Davidson Hall, 107 East Hall, 2312 Food Sciences, 260 Heady Hall, 106 Horticulture Hall, 109 Insectary, 1221 Kildee Hall, 1210 Molecular Biology Building, 3212 NSRIC, 339 Science II, 102 Seed Science. Contact Carla Persaud, 4-1823 or cpersaud@iastate.edu.
Deadlines & Reminders
Oct. 12: Corn research plot commemoration, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. with a brief program at 3 p.m., from the intersection of Lincoln Way and State Avenue, proceed south 2 miles, turn west on Zumwalt Road and proceed 1/8 mile. The plots are on the south side of the road.
Oct. 13: Deadline for ordering hams from Meat Science Club, call 4-1548 or 4-8294, email holiday_hams@hotmail.com or by fill out an order form at the Meat Lab Sales Counter
Oct. 15: Deadline for Brenton Center Distance Education Grants, more: http://www.brenton.iastate.edu
Oct. 16: 2006 Norman Borlaug Lecture, Margaret Catley-Carlson, chair of the Global Water Partnership, 8 p.m., Sun Room
Oct. 19-20: Agricultural Entrepreneurship Institute, Reiman Gardens, contact: Stacey Noe, 4-4945, more: http://www.entrepreneurship.ag.iastate.edu/Institute.html
Oct. 19-20: World Food Prize Symposium
Communications Kiosk
College of Agriculture Shirts to be Ordered
Friday, Oct. 13, is the deadline for ordering College of Agriculture shirts through Agriculture Administrative Services. The office at 133 Curtiss has several samples of shirts for men and women. Prices depend on the shirt style. Order forms are available in the office. Administrative Services will send the orders to the vendor, which will send the shirts directly to the buyer. Contact: Rita Knight, 4-0249 or rknight@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
World Food Day Teleconference Oct. 16
The role played by hundreds of grassroots movements working for a world free of hunger will be examined during the 23rd annual World Food Day teleconference. World Food Day, Oct. 16, is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and action to alleviate hunger. The teleconference airs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ISU will host a down link site at the Extension 4-H Youth Building, Room 1141. If you are interested in attending this satellite, register by contacting: Joyce Greving, ISU Families Extension, 4-3079 or jagrevin@iastate.edu. Additional information about World Food Day can be online.
Council on International Programs Seeks Proposals
The Iowa State Council on International Programs seeks proposals for up to $5000 in internationalization/globalization grants. The grants will fund individual and group projects led by faculty and staff to enhance the infusion of international perspectives into the learning, discovery, and/or engagement activities of the university. Funds are to be spent by June 30, 2007. The deadline for submission is Nov. 3. Contact: Penni Bryant, pabryant@iastate.edu.
Proposals Sought for Iraqi Extension Training
The USDA seeks proposals from land-grant institutions to strengthen agricultural extension and training at Iraqi agricultural universities. The Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization Project (IAER) will provide extension training programs for Iraqi nationals. The training will enhance agricultural management, production, and marketing related to small- and medium-sized production enterprises. Partnerships between U.S. land-grant universities and Iraqi agricultural universities in each of five governorates of Iraq will provide the training. The goal is to build strong institution-to-institution partnerships to link American expertise in extension training and advisory services with agricultural colleges in Iraq and with Ministry of Agriculture personnel. More: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=20…
External Voices
Inspire Students to Seek Agriculture
"As the new agriculture increasingly becomes an area of basic sciences related to wellness and sustainability, we must ask ourselves what more can we do to help young people prepare for and embrace this very exciting future? We must find new ways to inspire students to seek agriculture as a lifelong profession and help them recognize that this industry is filled with opportunity and reward and fulfillment. ... Teachers, parents, and students need to understand that 21st century agriculture is a global enterprise based in science, which needs constant growth in discovery and in application. We need to expand to be more innovative, up-to-date, and assertive through agricultural educational programs, right from K through 12. Of course high schools must educate kids about more than just the opportunities in agriculture. Our young people need to learn the basics of science and they need a foundation upon which to build."
--Mike Johanns, agriculture secretary, at The National Academy Of Sciences on Education and 21st Century American Agriculture, Oct. 4
Marginalia
ISU Animal Scientist Weighs in on 'Lard Renaissance'
Lard was the subject of a food column in the Seattle Times on Sept. 10 and Joe Sebranek, animal science, provided an expert's view. Matthew Amster-Burton, a Seattle freelance writer, wondered if the country was ready for a "lard renaissance" based on its favorable qualities as a food ingredient and after revelations about the trans-fat content of vegetable shortenings. He called Sebranek for information on lard's fat content. Sebranek told him: "Lard has been criticized for being an animal fat, which seems to imply a saturated fat. Lard has more unsaturated fatty acids than saturated, but most importantly, health issues are more greatly affected by total fat (and calorie) consumption than consumption of lard."
Next issue: Oct. 16
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@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."
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