College News
PESEK Featured in Progressive Farmer Magazine
"Mr. Sustainable" is how Progressive Farmer magazine refers to John Pesek, agronomy emeritus professor, in a feature in its June/July issue. The article reviews Pesek's leadership of the team that wrote the 1989 report, "Alternative Agriculture," which was published by the National Research Council.
Pedigo to be Given Integrated Pest Management Award
Larry Pedigo, entomology emeritus University Professor, will be honored by the Entomological Foundation at its 15th Annual Benefit Dinner and Dance. He will receive the foundation's Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management. Pedigo was cited for his teaching and publishing efforts during his 32-year career.
ISU-Developed Technology Wins Award
The Impellicone anhydrous ammonia manifold, developed at Iowa State, was judged among the top 10 entries in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers's AE50 Awards. The technology was designed by Mark Hanna, extension agricultural engineer, and Paul Boyd, a former graduate student in agricultural and biosystems engineering, and is marketed by the CDS-John Blue Co., Huntsville, Ala. The 20th annual AE50 recognition program honors companies offering the best products engineered for agricultural, food, biological and related systems available on the market for the first time in 2006. The award will be presented this weekend at a society meeting.
ABE Hosts FFA Competition
Twenty-seven schools and more than 95 high school students competed June 7 at Davidson Hall in the area of "materials handling." The top school was the Sioux Center FFA Chapter and the top individual was Paul Kleyer from Sioux Center FFA, who will go on to represent Iowa in the national contest in Indianapolis in October. Tom Brumm, agricultural and biosystems engineering, coordinated the event with the help of department faculty, staff, graduate students and volunteers from across the state.
View Soy Art in Curtiss Hall
A soybean sculpture titled "The History of Soy" is on display in Dean Wendy Wintersteen's main office. The creation is one of 18 giant legumes being displayed around the state. The soy sculptures were created by Iowa artists and will be auctioned off at Living History Farms on Sept. 5. The auction proceeds will fund scholarships for Iowa students who are pursuing degrees in agricultural areas. Along with displaying one of the sculptures, the College of Agriculture is running a student recruitment ad in the July issue of the Iowa Soybean Review magazine's "Soy on Parade" insert. If you'd like to see the rest of the sculptures, you can view them at the Howard County Fair June 19, Jordan Creek Mall from June 24-30, Wapello County 4-H Expo from July 18-22, Bremer County Fair from Aug. 1-4, the Iowa State Fair from Aug. 9-19 and at the benefit auction on Sept. 5 at Living History Farms.
Iowa State Fact Sheets Offer Basics on Biomass Crops
Iowa State has published the first two entries in a series of fact sheets on biomass crops. The publications on switchgrass and miscanthus were written by agronomy faculty. Additional fact sheets on other biomass crops are planned.
ISU Hosts Meeting to Address Colony Collapse Disorder in Bees
Iowa State University will host an international meeting of pollination experts who will address, among other topics, Colony Collapse Disorder - the latest phenomenon that is affecting the number of bees pollinating food crops in America and Europe. The conference will run from June 24-28 at Scheman.
McEowen to Speak at July Conference
Roger McEowen, agricultural education and studies and director of the Center of Agricultural Law and Taxation, will talk about legal issues at an Iowa Women in Agriculture conference. "Taking Charge of Your Farm's Future... A Toolkit for Ag Women," is scheduled for July 25-26 at the West Des Moines Marriott. More: http://www.iowawomeninag.org/ or (515) 251-3202.
Alum Begins Today as Extension Field Agronomist
Aaron Saeugling started today, June 11, as the Central Area extension field agronomist. He will be housed in the Madison County Office and serve Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren Counties. Aaron's responsibilities will also include providing leadership within the Central Area in organizing applied on-farm research in cooperation with the Corn and Soybean Initiative and aiding plot research near Ames. The ISU Research and Demonstration Farms is providing 40 percent of his salary. His base for on-farm research activities will be the ISU Ag Engineering/Agronomy Research Farm. Saeugling earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy from Iowa State.
Deadlines & Reminders
June 12: Research and Demonstration Farms demonstration garden field days begin
June 24-28: Ninth International Pollination Symposium, Scheman Building, more: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/plantbee/home.html
June 30-July 1: Webcast conference on horse-human relationships
July 10-11: Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture 20th Anniversary Celebration, more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2007/anniversary_052307.htm
Communications Kiosk
Reading up on Really Simple Syndication
Need to know more about Really Simple Syndication or RSS? Some of the items to look at include: "An Introduction to RSS," Using RSS News Feeds," "RSS: Your Gateway to News & Blog Content," "RSS Utilities: A Tutorial." One of the links is http://rss.userland.com, which identifies Userland as "a leader in RSS technology and applications." The company goes beyond the use of RSS for blogs, stating, "RSS can easily be applied to other types of content. RSS can be used to replace e-mail distributions or as an alternative newsletter format." (Writing That Works, October 2005)
Infograzing
Benefit to Aid Former ISU Extension Staff Member
Pam Kirkhart, former extension administrative assistant who worked with Stan Johnson and Jack Payne, was paralyzed in an auto accident last December. Two efforts are underway to help her and her husband, Tom, who was also in the accident. Contributions may be made by sending cash, money orders or checks to the Kirkhart Benefit Fund, Bank of the West, 525 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010, (515) 232-8664. Also, a benefit dinner and auction will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. June 23 at the Memorial Lutheran Church, 701 11th St., Nevada. A silent auction will held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the live auction will start at 6:30 p.m.
Submissions Sought for CSREES Awards
The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service seeks applications for its partnership awards program that honors teams and individuals at land grant universities or other cooperating organizations it supports. The award categories are: mission integration, multistate efforts, innovative program models and effective and efficient use of resources. The deadline is July 10. Contact: Mary Oxner, (301) 504-1368 or Janet Allen, (202) 720-2677.
Virtual Grower Software Aids Greenhouse Management
The U.S. Department of Agriculture created Virtual Grower to help growers design greenhouses, schedule temperature set points throughout the year and predict heating costs for more than 230 sites. Different heating and scheduling scenarios can be predicted with a few inputs. More: http://www.ars.usda.gov/services/software/download.htm?softwareid=108
Science-Based Food Safety Information Needed
Last year's E. coli outbreak in spinach has forced a reassessment of food safety practices for produce. A feature in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Amber Waves magazine reviews the issue and finds that producers and government agencies seek science-based practices to reduce risk at the minimum cost.
External Voices
Iowa's Manure Cycle Exhibit Featured at Blank Park Zoo
Visitors to Des Moines' Blank Park Zoo this summer are learning about the value of livestock manure in Iowa in an interactive exhibit. "This is an opportunity to tell the story of how livestock manure is used in Iowa," says Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation. "We're pleased to be partnering with the zoo on this project this summer and excited to help explain "Iowa's Manure Cycle." The exhibit brings an opportunity to show how the manure of all animals is used in nature. The exhibit will also teach children and adults the value of manure in Iowa's livestock industry and the impact cow, pig, chicken, turkey and sheep poop has on growing Iowa crops for feed, food and fuel. Visitors can test their knowledge by identifying manure from different livestock species, and learn how manure is used to fertilize crops that produce feed for the livestock, food for people and fuels such as ethanol and soy biodiesel. The exhibit also challenges visitors to identify the everyday products are possible through the cycle of crop production that hinges on the availability of 'nature's nutrients' - manure. For example; renewable fuel production depends on having manure as a source of crop fertilization. "Iowa's Manure Cycle" exhibit is sponsored by Iowa agricultural groups as a complement to the Zoo's new "Scoop on Poop" exhibit. The Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa Cattlemen, Farm Bureau, Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship, Iowa Egg Council, Iowa Manure Management Action Group (which includes as members the College of Agriculture, ISU Extension, Iowa Beef Center and Iowa Pork Industry Center), Iowa Sheep Industry Association, Iowa Soybean Association and Midwest Dairy Association of Iowa.
Marginalia
Meet the College's Young Alum of the Month
Kelly Mitchell, who graduated in agricultural studies in 2003, is featured on the College of Agriculture Career Services Web site as the Young Alum of the Month. Mitchell works for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a self-described "bug lady," working to coordinate surveys for potential pests to Iowa. Read more: http://www.career.ag.iastate.edu/alum/
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."
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.