AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Aug. 20, 2012 No. 714
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COLLEGE NEWS
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IMPRESSIVE SALARIES FOR RECENT CALS GRADS
CALS Career Services has released its annual salary summary for December 2011 and May 2012 graduates earning bachelor's degrees. The report is the largest ever, with more than 1,400 salary data points from 15 universities across the country. Mike Gaul, career services director, said positive increases were seen for numerous majors. Top earning majors include technology, agricultural business, food science and agronomy. More:Â http://www.career.ag.iastate.edu/news/new-1112-entry-level-salary-inform...
AUG. 21 WEBINAR: GRAIN QUALITY DURING DROUGHT
Iowa crop and livestock producers are invited to attend an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach webinar Aug. 21 to learn about grain quality issues and marketing options related to drought. County extension offices will be hosting the webinar, which begins at 1 p.m. There is no charge to attend. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/aug-21-webinar-looks-grain-qual...
PLANT PATH AND MICROBIOLOGY ARTICLE IS RECOMMENDED READING
A journal article co-authored by Vijayapalani Paramasivan and W. Allen Miller, plant pathology and microbiology, has been recommended by F1000 Faculty as being of special significance in its field (http://f1000.com/717948814). F1000 is an in-depth directory to the top articles in biology and medicine as recommended by expert scientists and clinical researchers. "Interaction of the trans-frame potyvirus protein P3N-PIPO with host protein PCaP1 Facilitates Potyvirus Movement" was published in the April 12 issue of PLoS Pathogens, a peer-reviewed, open access journal. More: http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat...
ISU LICENSES TECHNOLOGY ON HOW NEMATODES ATTACK PLANTS
The ISU Research Foundation and an agricultural biotechnology company have signed a license agreement to develop nematode-resistant plants. The agreement is based on ISU's breakthrough research in deciphering how plant-parasitic microscopic roundworms infect plants. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/1034/
EXTENSION SEEKS INPUT AT TOWN HALL MEETINGS, BEGINNING AUG. 27
ISU Extension and Outreach will be hosting five town hall meetings to hear from Iowans about how ISU, in partnership with counties, can best serve citizens. Cathann Kress, ISU Extension and Outreach vice president, and Terry Maloy, Iowa Association of County Extension Councils executive director, will participate in these conversations with Iowans in Ames, Aug. 27; Atlantic, Sept. 10; Storm Lake, Sept. 17; Oskaloosa, Sept. 18; and Waterloo, Sept. 19. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/isu-extension-and-outreach-sche...
FARMER ENTREPRENEUR PANEL DISCUSSION, SEPT. 12
A Farmer Entrepreneur Panel Discussion will be held Sept. 12 in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. Organized by CALS and the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative and sponsored by the Farm Credit Bank of Texas and the Nancy Pellett Fund, the panel will bring together successful farm operators, agricultural business owners and students for a dialogue regarding the future of production agriculture, the opportunities for value creation and innovation in operations and the family dynamic that is a part of Midwest farming. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception for guests and entrepreneurs, followed by the panel discussion. Registration is free, but seats are limited. Interested students, faculty and staff should contact Carly Cummings (carlyc@iastate.edu) by 4 p.m. on Sept. 5.
AgMRC CAN HELP IN APPLYING FOR USDA VALUE-ADDED GRANTS
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center provides producer groups with information for use in applying for the USDA Rural Business and Cooperative Service value-added producer grants, announced in the Federal Register Aug. 15. Located at ISU, AgMRC is a national center for value-added agriculture resources. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/agmrc-assists-ag-producers-appl...
CALS COLLECTING BOOKS FOR ISU/UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER
CALS is collecting books for an ISU/United Way Campaign fundraising event this fall. Donations of paperback and hardcover books (not textbooks), comic books and DVDs are being collected in 111 Curtiss Hall (Carla Persaud) and 2102 Molecular Biology Building (Linda Wild). Last year's college book sale raised more than $900. Sale dates are to be determined.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Sept. 4: CALS Convocation, 4:10 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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MODIFICATION OF FY 2012 AFRI FOOD SAFETY CHALLENGE AREA RFA
USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has made several modifications to the FY2012 AFRI Food Safety Challenge Area Request for Applications released on June 25. The FY 2012 RFA has been combined with the FY 2013 RFA. Funding amounts have been increased to approximately $10 million for new awards. For the combined FY 2012/2013 RFA, the new due date for letters of intent is Sept. 17 and the new due date for applications is Dec. 5. More: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/pdfs/2012_2013_afri_food_safety.pdf
BECKMAN FOUNDATION YOUNG INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator Program is intended to provide research support to young faculty members in the early stages of academic careers in the chemical and life sciences, particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open new avenues of research in science. Proposed research that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries is encouraged. Grants may be in the range of $750,000 over the term of the project. Applications require institutional signatures and should be sent to Chitra Rajan (rajanc@iastate.edu) by Sept.17. Applicants are responsible for submitting their proposal. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/node/140
NCR-SARE CALL FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PREPROPOSALS?
The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program released the 2013 call for preproposals for its Research and Education Grant Program. This program is for researchers and educators involved in projects that explore and promote environmentally sound, profitable and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems. Projects must include a strong outreach component and significant farmer/rancher or other end user involvement. Grants range from $10,000 to $200,000. NCR-SARE expects to fund eight to 12 projects. Preproposals are due Nov. 9. More: http://goo.gl/1PvAE
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/
Sept. 4 (letter of intent): DOE Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer;Â universities can be collaborators. More: http://goo.gl/lASV3
Sept. 20 (letter of intent): NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers; 15 to 20 awards, $20 million total anticipated funding. More: http://goo.gl/1oBws
Sept. 30 (letter of intent): NIH Secondary Analyses of CALERIE Data Set and Stored Biospecimens to Address Research Questions Related to Effects of Caloric Restriction in Humans and Adherence to Caloric Restriction Interventions (R01); up to $300,000 over two years for direct costs. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-13-008.html
Oct. 5 (letter of intent): NIH Molecular Mechanisms of Circadian Clocks in Aging Tissues (R01); up to $200,000 direct costs per year over five years. More: http://goo.gl/xnIjH
Oct. 5: NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant "“ Adaptation to Drought; $1 million for up to three years, 1:1 match required. More: http://goo.gl/wD7An
Oct. 9 (white paper): DOD FY 2013 Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative; $1 million to $2.5 million per year for up to five years. More: http://goo.gl/NWJcT.
Oct. 30: NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503622
Nov. 8: East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for Graduate Students. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284
November: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201
Proposals accepted anytime:Â NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Workshop Opportunities; five awards, $500,000 total available funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503341
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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DEFINITE vs. DEFINITIVE
"Definite" means clear or exact (a definite yes). "Definitive" means conclusive, final or most authoritative (a definitive treatise).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., 2010
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INFOGRAZING
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LEATH NAMED TO IFDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Steven Leath has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Muscle Shoals, Ala.-based International Fertilizer Development Center. IFDC works to increase and sustain food security and agricultural productivity through the development and transfer of effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness expertise. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/08/15/leathifdc
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INTERNAL VOICES
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LASLEY: PULLING TOGETHER IN RESPONSE TO DROUGHT
"Every spring farmers put millions of dollars behind their hopes and optimism that a bountiful harvest will result. However, this year's harvest is going to fall far short of expectations"¦Beyond the loss of income are the substantial psychological impacts of watching one's hard work and best practices wither in the heat"¦Dealing with adversity is part of the culture of farming. How communities pull together in cooperative activities of mutual support in times of adversity is as important as formal government responses." Paul Lasley, sociology, in an opinion piece in the Aug. 20 issue of the Des Moines Register. More: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120820/OPINION01/308200033/?o...|head&nclick_check=1
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MARGINALIA
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AGRICULTURE ART AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Larry Mendenhall of Altoona and Erika Matsuyama of Ankeny were named winners of the inaugural Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Award contest at the Iowa State Fair. The contest, sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, is a juried competition of artwork that innovatively celebrates the natural beauty of Iowa and its role as a global leader in agriculture. More: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/2012press/press08152012b.asp
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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