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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
January 6, 2014 No. 780
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COLLEGE NEWS
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ROSENTRATER TO HEAD DISTILLERS GRAINS TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
The Distillers Grains Technology Council has named Kurt Rosentrater, agricultural and biosystems engineering, to be its executive director and chief executive officer. Founded in the 1940s, DGTC is a nonprofit organization that serves the fuel ethanol industry, the beverage alcohol industry and the livestock industry. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-faculty-member-hea...
STUDENT BUSINESS LAUNCHED THROUGH CALS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
Agricultural Concepts recently launched a product called TrackTill with the help of the CALS Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. Colin Hurd, an ISU 2013 agricultural studies graduate, developed the idea to lower soil compaction. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/student-business-launched-thr...
STUDENT RELISHES CREATING RECIPES FROM PRODUCTS DEVELOPED AT ISU
Lauren Grant, a junior in culinary science, developed two recipes for CALS using crops or food products developed at ISU. Using Crimson Sweet or All Sweet watermelon, the Chieftain apple and Maytag Blue Cheese, Grant created Blue cheese and melon salad and creamy blue cheese dip. Grant was featured in a recent issue of Iowa Farmer Today. More: http://www.iowafarmertoday.com/feature/recipes/student-relishes-creating...
CAREER SERVICES RELEASES SUMMER INTERNSHIP SURVEY
CALS Career Services has released results of its 2013 summer internship survey, with more than 850 student responses – http://www.career.cals.iastate.edu/news/2013-cals-internship-survey-results. Individual departments can receive major-specific data by contacting Mike Gaul (mikegaul@iastate.edu) or Lois Benning (lbenning@iastate.edu).
HARRISVACCINES SHIPS NEW VACCINE TO CURB SPREAD OF DEADLY SWINE VIRUS
Harrisvaccines, founded by Hank Harris, animal science, has shipped about 770,000 doses of a new vaccine that treats a deadly swine virus first detected in U.S. herds last year and has spread to 20 states. Harrisvaccines developed the vaccine called “iPED” in August to fight Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus. More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/24/usa-hogs-virus-idUSL2N0K30VD20...
IOWA LEARNING FARMS LAUNCHES COVER CROP CALCULATOR TOOL
Many farmers are seeking management advice about implementing cover crops into their corn-soybean rotations. To help farmers in their decision-making, Iowa Learning Farms has launched a new tool to help calculate and compare the costs of using cover crops, including seed, application and chemical termination. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/iowa-learning-farms-launches-ne...
CATTLE MARKET LOOKING OPTIMISTIC AFTER YEARS OF DIFFICULTY
For the first time in years, the pendulum is swinging back toward profitability for the American cattle industry, according to Lee Schulz, cattle markets expert in the economics department. With corn prices falling during the second half of 2013, cattle producers are starting to consider growing the herd. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2013/12/17/cattle2014
CALS PARTNER IN UPCOMING FOOD AND AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE
CALS is a conference partner in the upcoming Food and Agriculture National Conference sponsored by Faegre Baker Daniels. The event will bring together national industry leaders, in-house counsel, business executives and regulatory representatives from global market-leading companies in agricultural production and food processing and marketing. The conference is scheduled for May 14 in Minneapolis.
CALS STUDENT FEATURED IN IOWA FARMER TODAY ARTICLE
Brent Drey, senior in agricultural studies, was featured in an Iowa Farmer Today article on phones and other small electronic devices being taken to the field. More: http://www.iowafarmertoday.com/news/crop/phones-other-small-electronic-d...
FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR MIKE PERSIA, JAN. 8
A farewell reception for Mike Persia will be held Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. Persia is joining the department of animal and poultry sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. A brief program will be held at 9:30 a.m.
RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR HANK HARRIS, JAN. 10
A reception honoring Hank Harris, professor of animal science, will be held Friday, Jan. 10, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Harris is retiring after 33 years of service at ISU. A brief program will begin at 4 p.m.
ALDO LEOPOLD’S QUOTES HIGHLIGHT 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
The Leopold Center’s 2013 annual report is sprinkled with thoughts from the many writings of famed naturalist Aldo Leopold. His commentary is paired with news of the Center’s efforts in ecology, agriculture, conservation and local food systems and Leopold’s concern for the health of the land still rings true. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/12-17-2013/leopolds-quotes-highlight...
GINDER INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
Roger Ginder, emeritus professor in economics, was inducted into the Nebraska Cooperative Council Hall of Fame on Nov. 22. Ginder was instrumental in creating and delivering a model Director Certification Program for cooperative directors in Iowa and Nebraska. More than 1,540 cooperative directors from Nebraska have graduated from the DCP since its beginnings in 1978. More: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/about-department/announce/news/01-2014-ginde...
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
March 12: CALS Spring Awards Program, 4:10 p.m., Memorial Union South Ballroom
April 15-16: 2014 Egg Industry Issues Forum, Indianapolis, http://www.ans.iastate.edu/EIC/Forum.dwt
April 29-May1: Global Food Security Consortium Spring Symposium, Ames.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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USDA RELEASES AFRI FY 2014 FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM RFA
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program supports research grants to continue building a foundation of knowledge critical for solving current and future societal challenges. The FY 2014 program offers two new program areas—Critical Agricultural Research and Extension and Exploratory—in addition to the six priority program areas funded in the past. Grant types include single-function research projects, multi-function integrated projects, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants. More: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/foundationalprogramafri.cfm
FULBRIGHT NEXUS PROGRAM 2014 COMPETITION
The Fulbright NEXUS program supports scholars from the United States and other Western Hemisphere countries to engage in multidisciplinary group research. The five research areas of interest are Renewable Energy, Social and Behavioral Adaptation to Climate Change, Measuring Climate Change and its Impact, Climate Change and Biodiversity, and Climate Change and Food and Water Security. Scholars will receive $35,000 to support travel costs, research materials and assistance for grantees. More: http://www.cies.org/NEXUS/
BORLAUG LEAP FELLOWSHIPS DUE MAY 1
The Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program offers fellowships for graduate students from developing countries for agricultural research at U.S. universities. The program invites applications from citizens of USAID-assisted countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Each research project is coordinated by a university in the student's home country, a university in the United States and a mentor in CGIAR. Applications are due by May 1. More : http://borlaugleap.org/
ARS POSTDOC RESEARCH PROGRAM
The USDA Agricultural Research Service Postdoctoral Research Program is open to applicants who have received a doctorate degree in an appropriate discipline within five years of the desired starting date. Appointments are available throughout the United States. Participants will receive a stipend as support for their living and other expenses during this appointment. More: http://www.orise.orau.gov/usda-ars/default.htm
CAYUSE 424 JANUARY WEBINARS
Two Cayuses 424 webinars are scheduled for Jan. 7 and Jan. 8 at noon. The target audience for the 30-minute seminars are users new to Cayuse 424. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/node/171
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/
Jan. 20, April 20, Aug. 18 (letter of intent): NIH Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Molecular Analysis Technologies for Cancer Research (R33). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-14-004.html
Jan. 21 (preapplication): DOE Systems Biology of Bioenergy-Relevant Microbes to Enable Production of Next-Generation Biofuels; $1.5 million over three years. More:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=249458
Feb. 5: National Wildlife Foundation Five Star/Urban Waters Restoration Program. More: http://www.nfwf.org/fivestar/Pages/2014rfp.aspx
Feb. 18: EPA Human and Ecological Health Impacts Associated with Water Reuse and Conservation Practices. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=249315
March 18: NSF STEM-C Partnerships: MSP; science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including computing. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505006
March 19: NSF Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies – Exploration Projects. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14526/nsf14526.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
March 19: NSF Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies – Development and Implementation Projects. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14526/nsf14526.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
April 3: NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity FY2014. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14525/nsf14525.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
April 22, July 22, Oct. 22: NSF Catalyzing New International Collaborations. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13605/nsf13605.htm
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INFOGRAZING
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PROVOST’S OFFICE FUNDS RECRUITMENT RESOURCE
The Provost’s Office has funded a recruitment resource available to all colleges and departments at ISU seeking to diversify faculty candidate pools. The National Registry of Diverse and Strategic Faculty is a service designed to help connect current and prospective faculty members from underrepresented groups with institutions of higher education seeking to hire qualified candidates for open faculty positions. For more information contact Dawn Bratsch-Prince, associate provost for faculty, deprince@iastate.edu, 4-6410.
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INTERNAL VOICES
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MYERS: SWINE TEACHING FARM HAS ALL STAGES OF PRODUCTION
For nearly 50 years, the swine teaching farm at ISU has been helping students learn about pork production. The farm was built to provide pigs for the students taking classes at Iowa State as a tool for their education, and that continues to play a big role today, according to farm manager Jacob Myers. “The teaching farm has all stages of production from breeding to farrowing to finishing,” Myers says. “As far as how it’s run, the operation is similar to commercial production, and that’s vital to help prepare students for understanding how today’s operations are structured.” More: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/resources/learn-pork-production-iowa-state-...
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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IN HAWAII, A QUEST FOR FACTS ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS
From the moment the bill to ban genetically engineered crops on the island of Hawaii was introduced in May 2013, it garnered more vocal support than any the County Council had ever considered. Like some others on the council, Greggor Ilagan was not even sure at the outset of the debate exactly what genetically modified organisms were. He often despaired of assembling the information he needed to definitively decide on the bill. Every time he answered one question, it seemed, new ones arose. Popular opinion masqueraded convincingly as science, and the science itself was hard to grasp. People who spoke as experts lacked credentials, and G.M.O. critics discounted those with credentials as being pawns of biotechnology companies. “It takes so much time to find out what’s true,” Ilagan said. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/us/on-hawaii-a-lonely-quest-for-facts-...
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MARGINALIA
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MY AMERICAN FARM RELEASES GLOBAL AGRICULTURE GAME
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released a new educational game titled “The Great Seed Search” that gives learners the opportunity to experience the global nature of the agriculture industry. In this simulation game, players enter coordinates and pilot a plane around the world collecting important seeds. Through challenges in the game, players learn about other cultures, geography and agricultural products. The Great Seed Search is part of My American Farm, an educational game platform launched in 2011 to engage pre-K through fifth grade learners in the discovery of relevant agricultural issues. Today the free site offers 19 agriculturally-themed games and more than 100 free educator resources such as lesson plans, activity sheets and comics. More: http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/news/farm_youth/my-american-farm-relea...
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
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