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COLLEGE NEWS
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AMERICAN INDIAN PLANT GENETICS OUTREACH PROGRAM HONORED
The Outreach to American Indians in Plant Germplasm and Genomics Program received the USDA–Agricultural Research Service Midwest Area Research Support Awards for Excellence Equal Opportunity Award. The annual program has brought four to six young adult American Indians to Iowa State each summer since 2005. They experience life on a college campus, gain hands-on science experience and are introduced to plant genetics. More
ANIMAL SCIENCE ALUM RETURNS TO ISU AS SWINE FARMS MANAGER
Jay Lampe, B.S. and M.S. in animal science, has returned to ISU as swine farms manager. His position is responsible for the animal science department’s three swine teaching, nutrition and research farms, which formerly were managed by three individuals.
LIEBMAN’S RESEARCH FEATURED ON ASA WEB SITE
The front page of the American Society of Agronomy Web site currently features the research of Matt Liebman, Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture and professor of agronomy. The paper is titled “Fossil Energy Use in Conventional and Low-External-Input Cropping Systems.” More: https://www.agronomy.org/story/2010/apr/fri/fossil-energy-use-in-conventional-and-low-external-input-cropping-systems
FARM OPERATIONS CLUB GARNERS NATIONAL HONORS
Members of the ISU Farm Operations Club earned several top honors at the National Postsecondary Agriculture Students Organization convention, March 17-20 in St. Louis. Danielle Hamilton, sophomore in agriculture and life sciences education from Waverly, was named national president-elect. She also placed first in the agriculture education specialist competition. More
2010 NATIONAL SWINE NUTRITION GUIDE RELEASED
The 2010 National Swine Nutrition Guide contains nutrient recommendations and feeding guidelines about swine nutrition. The guide was developed by the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence at ISU and was written collaboratively by university swine nutritionists and swine industry specialists.
CORN PLANTING STARTED ON APRIL 1 AT RESEARCH FARMS
ISU corn planting started at several research farms on April 1 (no fooling!) as part of a date of planting trial that looks at the effects of planting corn at various dates—early and late. The Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, Sutherland, and the Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm, Lewis, both no-till planted corn in soybean stubble for the first planting date of the research project. (The Northwest Research Farm also reported that there were still snow banks in their windbreaks on April 1, after a long, cold winter.)
MAINTAINING STORED GRAIN TOPIC OF APRIL 9 WEBINAR
A webinar scheduled for April 9, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., will give farmers and grain elevator operators information on keeping their stored grain in good condition. Charles Hurburgh, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will offer ways farmers and elevators can ensure the quality of their stored grain.
AGDISCOVERY PROGRAM SEEKS TEENS FOR SUMMER EXPERIENCE
Teenagers interested in learning about careers in protecting plants and animals are invited to apply by April 10 for a summer experience through a new AgDiscovery program. Rebecca Christoffel, natural resource ecology and management, is co-coordinator of the program. More
FOOD SCIENCE AND HUMANITARIANISM TOPIC OF UPCOMING LECTURE
Food science and humanitarianism is the topic of a lecture to be held April 21 at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room, Memorial Union. The speaker is Alex Buchanan, food scientist and recipient of the Rotary Foundation Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award. His lecture will describe the technological and commercial development of the high protein "Australian milk biscuit," and the technology and trials leading to "Kaset Infant Food" and why is was so successful in the villages of rural Thailand. Free and open to the public.
SEMINAR: ROLES OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN CHEMOPREVENTION
Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of phytochemicals with the ability to suppress the development of cancer. In a food science and human nutrition department seminar, to be held April 22 at 2:10 p.m. in the CCUR Theater, Jung Han Yoon Park of Hallym University in South Korea will present results from a recent study on the roles of phytochemicals in chemoprevention.
RESEARCHERS LOOK AT REDUCING YIELD LOSS FOR CROPS UNDER STRESS
Plant researchers are taking a long look at stress in order to improve crop productivity, especially when faced with issues of climate change. Understanding and eventually curbing crop susceptibility to certain stresses could allow for higher yields during drought years in the agricultural areas of the world, according to Stephen Howell, genetics, development and cell biology. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/psistress
POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN THE MIDWEST
A new analysis from the Leopold Center in collaboration with regional partners estimates potential state and regional economic values associated with increased production of fresh fruit and vegetables in a six-state area. The study includes two scenarios and was conducted by David Swenson, economics. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2010/033010_midwest.html
HARRIS PART OF SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR NEXT VETERINARY MEDICINE DEAN
Hank Harris, animal science, is a member of the search committee for the next dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The committee's first meeting is Wednesday, April 7. The committee will seek a successor to John Thomson, who will retire from the dean position on Jan. 1, 2011.
FIELD AGRONOMISTS WILL COMPETE FOR NATIONAL NACAA AWARDS
ISU Extension field agronomists Mark Licht and Joel DeJong will compete for communication awards from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. Licht’s fact sheet on hail-damaged soybeans and an issue of DeJong’s “Extension Crop Update” newsletter won the fact sheet and newsletter awards categories at the Iowa Association of County Agricultural Agents’ spring meeting. Their winning entries will now compete for Iowa in those categories at the national level.
IOWA PORK REGIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Attendees at the 2010 Iowa Pork Regional conferences learned about pig comfort, energy efficiency and producer profits. These presentations are now available to the public as streaming videos on the Iowa Pork Industry Center Web site.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 5: Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin, 8 p.m., Stephens Auditorium, http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/CorwinLecture
April 9: Thomas Connelly, Jr. presents “A New Biology” seminar, 1204 Kildee Hall, dbrill@iastate.edu for reservations.
April 14: Pfizer Animal Health Product Day (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and Research Seminar (12 to 1 p.m.), 1226 Vet Med., llorenzen@iastate.edu for reservations.
April 19: CALS Student Computer Fee Proposals due
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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TRAINEE SUPPORT TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RESEARCH WEEK
The University of Iowa is inviting all interested ISU students, faculty and staff to attend Research Week in Iowa City on April 13 through April 15. In addition, the University of Iowa will cover the expenses of attending the event for up to 25 ISU trainees, including five trainees from underrepresented groups. Please contact Roxanne Clemens (rclemens@iastate.edu) by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, if you'd like to be considered for having expenses paid. If more than 25 trainees sign up, the VPR/ED's office will select the individuals whose expenses will be paid.
INFORMATION AND WEBINARS FOR NIFA AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE
The information page for the NIFA AFRI competitive grants program can be found online. Webinars for all the individual programs except the Fellowships Grant Program can be found online.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
April 15 (letter of intent): Food Aid Nutrition Enhancement Program; awards range up to four years and up to $3 million depending on type of project, $3.7 million total anticipated funding.
May 6: Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program (canola crop research); awards up to $210,000, up to five years, $780,000 total anticipated funding.
May 10: Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program; $4,500 to $258,000 per award, $516,000 limit per institution, $3.6 million total anticipated funding for FY2010.
May 14: U.S. China Clean Energy Research Center; three awards of $2.5 million per year per award for five years, 50% cost share.
May 24 (letter of intent): Decadal and Regional Climate Prediction using Earth System Models; NSF, USDA and DOE, 20 to 30 awards, $45 million to $50 million total anticipated funding for FY2010. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10554/nsf10554.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
June 1: Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program; up to $350,000 for one year, $1.5 million total funding for FY 2010.
June 3: Smith-Lever Special Need Program (innovative Extension education); 100% cash match required, $460,000 total anticipated funding for FY2010.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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NEW PRIDE POINTS POSTED ON CALS WEB SITE
As part of Iowa State's sesquicentennial celebration, 150 points of pride related to the College were posted online during the 2007-2008 academic year. Building on 150 years of excellence, 12 new points of pride have been added to the CALS Web page, highlighting science, education and research activities in 2009-2010. More
ENTITLED VS. TITLE
Entitled – a right to do or have something. She was “entitled” to the promotion.
Titled – having a title. The book was “titled” Gone with the Wind.
(The Associated Press Stylebook, 39th ed., 2004)
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INFOGRAZING
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SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK APRIL 5-9
The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and the National Weather Service have declared the week of April 5-9 Severe Weather Awareness Week. This is an annual event to remind Iowans that severe weather is part of living in our state and that understanding the risks and how to respond to them can save lives.
PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR STUDY ON FOOD INTAKE IN OLDER PEOPLE
Participants are needed for a research study investigating the effect of food fortification on food intake in older people. Those interested must be at least 65 years of age, nonsmokers, relatively healthy, willing to taste foods, no allergy or sensitivity to MSG and foods used in the study, and have had no serious head trauma incidents. Participants who qualify will make five visits to the Nutrition and Wellness Research Center and receive up to $100 compensation. Contact Visha at arumugam@iastate.edu, 4-1990.
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INTERNAL VOICES
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PLANT PATHOLOGY’S JESSE ON IMPLICATIONS OF NATIONAL LADYBUG PROJECT
Last week, a USA Today story outlined how scientists in a South Dakota lab are on a mission to save ladybugs on the brink of extinction. Among their tactics: getting students involved in a nationwide search and creating optimum lab conditions for ladybug reproduction. The Lost Ladybug Project has important agricultural and environmental implications because ladybugs dine on crop-damaging pests, says Laura Jesse, an ISU Extension entomologist at Iowa State University's Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic in the Department of Plant Pathology. A healthy ladybug population can keep pests low, protecting corn, soybeans and other crops and reducing the need for insecticide by eating certain types of bugs that cut into crop yields.
GARDNER ON TRIBAL LEADERS’ ROLE IN RESEARCH
Coordinators of an effort to involve American Indian students and researchers in plant genome research at ISU involve tribal elders, who are invited to serve on an advisory board and travel to Ames to work with the students. “When the elders visit they are very happy to know about the maize genetics resources programs, and that the corn is treated with respect.” Candice Gardner, USDA – Agricultural Research Service. The Outreach to American Indians in Plant Germplasm and Genomics Program has been honored by USDA-ARS. (See College News item.)
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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ICA NAMES NEILL 2009 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association named Ralph Neill as the 2009 ICA Hall of Fame Award recipient. The Neill’s family farm sits in western Adams County near Corning. Because of their environmental stewardship activities, the ISU animal science department and Extension have used the farm for various research projects. “The Neill family claims the university has turned over every rock on the farm twice and some even more,” according to the article in “Iowa Cattleman,” February 2010, http://www.iacattlemen.org.
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MARGINALIA
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INTEGRATING STUDY ABROAD INTO THE CURRICULUM
In the late 1990s, the University of Minnesota wanted to send 50 percent of its students overseas as part of its strategic goal to become a more international institution, yet only about 15 percent studied abroad. To get more students overseas, Minnesota officials decided they needed to focus on what was happening back at home, by working to better integrate study-abroad opportunities into the curriculum. The university’s solution has served as a model for other institutions. The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 28, 2010, https://www.chronicle.com/article/u-of-minnesota-integrates-study-abroad-into-the-curriculum/
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
SUBSCRIBE
Ag and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag and Life Sciences Online subscribe" to jstewart@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe."
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