AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
July 5, 2011 No. 658
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COLLEGE NEWS
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MICKELSON TO HEAD AG AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Steve Mickelson, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will become the next chair of the department effective Aug. 1. An ISU alumnus who serves as director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, co-director of Learning Communities and associate chair for ABE, Mickelson will step down from these posts when he takes over for Rameshwar Kanwar. Kanwar has served as department chair since 2001 and will return to the faculty. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/948/
ISU JOINS SUSTAINABLE HEN HOUSING STUDY
ISU will team with researchers from Michigan State University, the University of California-Davis and USDA's Agricultural Research Service to study the sustainability of laying hen-housing systems. The $6 million study, funded by the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply, will examine the interactions and trade-offs among food safety, worker safety, hen health and welfare, environmental impact and food affordability aspects of three poultry-housing systems. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/947/
DEVELOPING CORN FOR WARMER CLIMATE IS FOCUS OF ISU RESEARCH
The prospect of rising temperatures in Iowa and the Midwest is predicted to lead to a dramatic decline in corn yield. With $5 million grant from USDA, ISU researchers Alan Myers and Tracie Hennen-Bierwagen, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, are looking to develop a corn variety that maintains the region's high yields even as temperatures rise. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/jun/Myers
IOWA LEARNING FARMS HOST FIELD DAY JULY 13
Iowa Learning Farms is sponsoring a field day at the Craig Embretson farm in Clayton County on July 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The field day will include a complimentary lunch, information about strategies for no-till and cover crop management. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/iowa-learning-farms-host-july-1...
THIRD ANNUAL ALL HORTICULTURE FIELD DAY JULY 19
The third annual ISU All Horticulture Field Day will be held July 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa State Horticulture Research Station. The event will include tours of ornamental plant trials, plastic mulch demonstrations, crop production in high tunnels, information on turfgrass care, vineyard and apple orchard trials and insect and disease studies. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/946/
CONSERVATION CONVERSATIONS ON THE PRAIRIE JULY 19
Harold and Kay Whipple, along with Iowa Learning Farms, will co-host "Conservation Conversations on the Prairie" at the Whipples' farm in rural Lacona on July 19, beginning at 3 p.m. The evening will offer an opportunity for area residents and conservation organization representatives to network with one another and explore new partnerships and projects to enhance conservation in Iowa. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/iowa-learning-farms-conservatio...
DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE DEVELOPMENT AWARDS AVAILABLE FOR SPRING 2012
Competitive course development awards are available for CALS faculty interested in converting an existing course to an online format using the new Blackboard Learn. Priority will be given to the development of courses that fill gaps in current offerings and increase access to educational opportunities. The spring 2012 course proposal deadline in Sept. 15. More: http://www.brenton.iastate.edu/grantrfp.html
PODCAST AVAILABLE ON STRIPS AT NEAL SMITH PROJECT
A podcast about the Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairies project at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is available online at Ear to the Ground 103, http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/podcast.html. The STRIPS project involves an interdisciplinary team of researchers, educators and extension specialists from six departments and one center at ISU, the University of New Hampshire, two federal research labs and the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, studying the impacts of strategically integrated strips of prairie within row-cropped agricultural landscapes. More: http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPs/index.php
QUICK REFRESHER TO YOUR ONLINE COURSE
The Brenton Center and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching are collaborating to offer training on Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 240 Bessey. The training will focus on practical tips and the selection of tools for designing and developing an online course, as well as a discussion of BlackBoard Learn, the new course management system on campus. Maximum enrollment is 25. Register for the training through the employee tab in AccessPlus; select HRS Training and "CELT/CALS "“ A Quick Refresher to your Online Course for College of Ag & Life Sciences Faculty."
ECONOMICS ALUM AND FORMER FACULTY MEMBER DIED JUNE 24
Hylke "Ike" van de Wetering, an alum and former faculty member, died June 24. He was 75. van de Wetering earned a doctorate in economics at ISU and then joined the faculty in the Department of Economics. At that time, he was the youngest person to become appointed a faculty member at Iowa State. Services were held July 2. More: http://adamssfh.funeralplan2.com/obituaries.aspx?turl=http://hosting-246...
BIGMAP SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS ONLINE
Video presentations from the 2011 BIGMAP Symposium are available online. The Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products event on "Co-existence, Choice and Sustainability for Crop Production," was held April 19-20. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/broadcasts/BIGMAP/default.htm?file=Hurd...
LEOPOLD CENTER'S JULY NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ONLINE
The July issue of Notes from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture is available online. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/notes/LeopoldNotes_0711.pdf
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
July 19: Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open, Veenker Memorial Golf Course, ipic@iastate.edu
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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NEW FRINGE BENEFITS RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 1
The FY 2012 fringe benefits rates are available on the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration website (Policies tab). The BOB budget form has been updated with the new fringe benefit rates and will also be available on OSPA's website, along with revised versions of NIH and NSF budget forms. More: http://ospa.iastate.edu/
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UPDATE: ANTICIPATED RELEASE DATE FOR REMAINING AFRI RFAs LATE AUGUST
Recent information from USDA indicates that Requests for Applications for the remaining three challenge areas within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative is likely to occur in late August. More: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources, http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/
July 11: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers Unit - Data Integration to Model Climate Impacts on DOI Landscapes; one award, $225,000. More: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=101653
Aug. 1 (letter of intent): Grand Challenges Canada, Grand Challenge 3. Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health - Saving Brains: Unlocking Potential for Development. More: http://www.grandchallenges.ca/grand-challenges/maternal-neonatal-and-chi...
Aug. 15: Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant; $200,000 awards for technical assistance, university cannot be PI. More: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-06-29/html/2011-16262.htm
Aug. 21 (letter of intent): Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D43). More:Â http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-260.html
Aug. 21 (letter of intent): Planning Grant for Global Infectious Disease Research Training Program (D71). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-262.html
Sept. 1: ARPA-E Conferences, Outreach & Networking for New Energy Communities & Tech. (CONNECT) Grant; $5,0000 to $25,000. More: https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/
Sept. 16: MARC Ancillary Training Activities Grant (T36); to facilitate training/development of individuals from groups underrepresented in biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-243.html
Sept. 30 (preliminary proposal): G8 Multilateral Funding Initiative, Interdisciplinary Program on Material Efficiency - A First Step Towards Sustainable Manufacturing; requires at least three partner countries. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11068/nsf11068.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT....
Oct. 19: Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (P30); one new award. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-11-012.html
Nov. 9: NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students; $5,000 stipend plus travel and living expenses. More: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=56514Â
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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WEATHER TERMS
The following are definitions used by the National Weather Service.
* Flood "“ Any high flow, overflow or inundation by water that causes or threatens damage.
* Flood Crest "“ Maximum height of a flood wave as it passes a certain location.
* Flood Plain "“ In hydrologic terms, the portion of a river valley that has been inundated by the river during historic floods.
* High Wind "“ Sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for one hour or longer, or winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration.
More: http://www.weather.gov/glossary/
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INFOGRAZING
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ONLINE GLOSSARY DEFINES CORN RESEARCH TERMS
The National Corn Grower's Association has a new research glossary that covers the terms most frequently used in agricultural discussions of genetics. It provides an accessible resource for those looking to better understand and communicate on programs such as the corn genome sequence. More: http://ncga.com/online-research-glossary-defines-terminology-facilitates...
IOWA WOMEN IN AG CONFERENCE AUG. 4
Women Cultivating Success, the fifth annual conference sponsored by Iowa Women in Ag, is scheduled for Aug. 4 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. The event will feature speakers and topics to help women improve risk management skills. More: http://www.iowawomeninag.org/
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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AUTHOR ON HISTORY AND STORIES OF SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE
"I realized that it is just as important to tell the history of Seed Savers Exchange as it is to preserve the collection of seeds." Diane Ott Whealy, co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange, discusses her new book "Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver." Based in Decorah, Iowa, Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds. More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdFzJNh9QG0&feature=player_embedded
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MARGINALIA
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FARM EQUIPMENT MANUAL BUSINESS GOES GLOBAL
Tyler Finchum sells digital copies of operator manuals to farmers and agrarian workers through his website, giving producers of the world's food supply information they need to keep older farm equipment operating. Farm Manuals Fast debuted in March 2010 when Finchum was a junior at Muscatine High School. He has now sold manuals to farmers in 19 countries on every continent except Antarctica, and delivered to every state in the U.S. except Hawaii. More: http://qctimes.com/business/article_d01b325c-8e1f-11e0-a7e4-001cc4c03286...
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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