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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 27, 2014 No. 783
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COLLEGE NEWS
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ETHANOL Q&A ADDED TO CALS WEBSITE
An ethanol question and answer has been added to the Ethanol and Biofuels issue feature on the CALS website. Robert Brown, the Iowa Farm Bureau director of ISU's Bioeconomy Institute, answers common questions about ethanol production in a PDF, including its effect on food prices and the environment. It is available at: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/content/ethanol-and-biofuels
HEATON SEEKS ANSWERS THROUGH LANDSCAPE BIOMASS PROJECT
Emily Heaton, agronomy, is one of 12 principal investigators on ISU's Landscape Biomass Project. They are seeking cropping systems that are profitable for farmers and balance societal needs for food, feed, fuel, energy and clean air and water. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/project-seeks-cropping-system...
EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO TOPEL AND CHENG ART COLLECTION
An exhibition dedicated to the Topel and Cheng Art Collection will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, 5 to 7 p.m. in the upper rotunda and periodical room of the Parks Library. The inaugural exhibition of Chinese jades, hard stones and scrolls from the Topel and Cheng Art Collection celebrates a promised gift to the University Museums Art Collection. More: http://www.event.iastate.edu/event/32084
PLAN TO ATTEND HARL PORTRAIT UNVEILING, FEB. 5
A portrait of economics professor emeritus Neil Harl will be unveiled on Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. in the Neil and Darlene Harl Commons in Curtiss Hall. A reception will take place following the event.
IOWA LEARNING FARMS MARKS 10 YEARS IN 2014
Iowa Learning Farms is commemorating 10 years in 2014. Since 2004, ILF has reached approximately 75,000 people through field days, a newsletter, website and radio, print publications, how-to videos and the "Culture of Conservation" videos. ILF is a partnership of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, ISU Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/iowa-learning-farms-marks-10-ye...
ISU TO MONITOR IOWA LAKES
The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission has contracted with ISU to test and monitor nearly 140 Iowa lakes over the next three years. The information will be used in determining impairment of the lakes and deciding on lake restoration activities in addition to contributing to the assessment of the Iowa Nutrient Strategy. The project will be led by John Downing and ISU’s limnology lab (http://limnology.eeob.iastate.edu/). More: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2014/01/21/state-enters...
LEOPOLD CENTER AWARDS 2014 RESEARCH GRANTS
The Leopold Center has awarded grants to 24 research and demonstration projects that will help Iowa farmers improve soil health, take advantage of opportunities related to local foods and fine-tune alternative practices that protect the environment while using fewer outside inputs. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/01-23-2014/leopold-center-awards-201...
EGG ISSUES FORUM OFFERS FDA FOOD DEFENSE WORKSHOP
The Egg Industry Center is providing a Food Defense Plan Building Workshop in response to FDA's release of the Food Safety Modernization Act proposed rule on intentional adulteration of food. The workshop will be taught by FDA representatives and will immediately follow the conclusion of the Egg Industry Forum on April 16. More: http://www.ans.iastate.edu/EIC/2014Forum/Food_Defense_Wkshp.dwt
WEED CONTROL RESULTS NOW AVAILABLE?
The 2013 ISU Weed Control Results are now available. The reports provide unbiased comparisons for a large number of herbicides used in corn and soybean production. Research was conducted at a number of Iowa sites. More: http://www.weeds.iastate.edu
P&S CYTATION AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Dan Burden and Jacqueline Comito are two of eight individuals selected to receive the Professional and Scientific Council’s CYtation awards for fall 2013. Burden is a program coordinator with Value-Added Agriculture Extension. Comito is program manager for Iowa Learning Farms.
LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM PLACES SECOND
The ISU Livestock Judging Team placed second in the Sioux Empire Farm show this past weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D. Amber Shipe, junior in agriculture and life sciences education, placed second overall. Team members included: Shipe, Kyle Ruth, senior in agricultural business; Sean Robinson, junior in animal science; Logan Stutsman, junior in agricultural studies; Tanner Stutsman, junior in agricultural studies; Austin Lane, senior in animal science; Tim Johnson, senior in animal science; and Matt Romoser, junior in animal science.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Feb. 5: Agriculture Career Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Memorial Union.
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.
May 14: Food and Agriculture National Conference, Minneapolis
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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BAILEY AWARD APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 3
Established as an estate gift from Carl A. and Grace A. Bailey, the Bailey Research Career Development Award is intended to foster research that is innovative, increases knowledge and has practical applications. Any full-time tenured associate professor or professor may apply. One award of $50,000 per year for two or three years will be made. Interested individuals should email their application to Joe Colletti (colletti@iatate.edu) by March 3. More: http://www.vpresearch.iastate.edu/en/funding/bailey_award/
CERES TRUST 2014 GRAD STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM
The Ceres Trust, a privately-administered Midwest-based charitable trust, focuses on the support and promotion of organic and sustainable agriculture. Up to 10 one-year grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to support organic research by full-time graduate students enrolled at accredited colleges and universities in the North Central region. Applications are due by March 15. More: http://cerestrust.org/organic-research-by-graduate-students/request-for-...
USDA ENCOURAGES EARLY SUBMISSION FOR HEC CHALLENGE GRANTS
USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant applications are due April 10. Applicants are urged to submit proposals several days prior to the due date in the event that technical issues would be encountered. More: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/educationchallengehigheredhep.cfm
IRB IS FOCUS OF FEB. 14 BROWN BAG WORKSHOP
The College of Design and the CEAH Grants Office are sponsoring a brief series of research workshops during spring 2014. On Feb. 14, Kerry Agnitsch, interim director of the Office for Responsible Research, will present “Institutional Review Board (IRB): What all researchers need to know.” Topics will include determining when IRB approval is required, how to seek IRB approval, and what the IRB looks for when reviewing research. The workshop will include a brief presentation, general discussion and time for Q&A. The workshop will be held from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in Room 130 College of Design. The workshop is a casual brown bag session, and cookies will be provided. Faculty from all colleges are invited.
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. 31, 2015 (proposals accepted continuously): DOD Broad Agency Announcement - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). More: http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=250248
Feb. 14 (notice of intent): NASA Space Technology Research Grants Program, Early Career Faculty Grant. More: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init...{652EA8D6-AB98-5B26-22DD-DB02B6EB3659}&path=init
Feb. 19 (concept paper): FY 2014 Vehicle Technologies Program Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement. More: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/
Feb. 24: USFWS Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Landscape Conservation Cooperative. More: https://absilcc.org/science/SitePages/nofa.aspx
March 14: EPA Particulate Matter and Related Pollutants in a Changing World. More: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2014/2014_star_pm.html
March 14: EPA Early Career Awards - Particulate Matter and Related Pollutants in a Changing World. More: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2014/2014_star_pm.html
Apr. 3: USDA NIFA Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA); awards up to $300,000. More: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/secondaryeducationchallenge.cfm
Apr. 10: USDA: Higher Education Challenge Grants Program. More: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/highereducationchallenge.cfm
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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LEARNING ABOUT PRAGMATICS
Getting your message across involves more than simply cobbling together a collection of words with roughly the right meanings. Context is everything. Who exactly are you speaking to (or writing for)? What is your relationship with them? Is the setting familiar and informal or formal? The answers to these questions determine the vocabulary choices that are most appropriate to the situation. A Macmillan Dictionary Blog posting from Jan. 21 refers to this as pragmatics. More: http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/learning-about-pragmatics-a-usefu...
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INFOGRAZING
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THE LIFE CODE: GENOMIC RESEARCH TOPIC OF LECTURE, FEB. 6
Juan Enriquez, managing director of Excel Venture Manager, will speak on “The Life Code: Changing Lives, Changing Business” on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Enriquez is one of the world’s leading authorities on the uses and benefits of genomic research and the impact of the life sciences on business, technology and society. More: http://www.lectures.iastate.edu/lecture/30990
2013 EXTENSION AND OUTREACH ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE
ISU Extension and Outreach's 2013 annual report is available online. This year's report is in an infographic format and shows how Extension is making a difference for Iowans. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/our-story/node/21115/
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INTERNAL VOICES
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WINTERSTEEN: AG MUST LEAD IN PRESERVING NATURAL RESOURCES
Dean Wendy Wintersteen provided a guest article last week on the Clean Water website, part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. She stated that just as agriculture is critical to the success of Iowa’s economy, agriculture must be central to the success of protecting our natural resources. “Just as the world looks to Iowa for agricultural production, we should strive to be sure the world looks to Iowa for clean water solutions,” said Wintersteen. More: http://www.cleanwateriowa.org/article.aspx?id=46&Guest+article%3a+Wendy+...
ALUM ON COLLECTING BUTTERFLY DATA
Nathan Brockman ('00 entomology), butterfly wing curator at ISU's Reiman Gardens, has garnered worldwide attention for collaborating with the ISU computer engineering department to create an app called the Unified Butterfly Recorder. The app allows butterfly enthusiasts a standardized tool to record data on butterfly sightings. "Someone could be taking a walk with their dog recording butterflies and someone else doing a transect survey, and this app can pull that research together," Brockman said in an article for The Omaha World Herald. More: http://www.omaha.com/article/20140108/NEWS/140109136/1707. Also, more information is available in an ISU news release: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2013/12/23/butterflyapp.
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MARGINALIA
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CALS’ GRADUATES SHARE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
At the CALS convocation on Dec. 21, nearly 300 students graduated. Several used the opportunity to share plans for the future or some final thoughts. Examples include:
* Precision agriculture specialist, Premier Technologies, Clear Lake
* Marketing representative, Caterpillar.
* Account manager for Premier Crop Systems, West Des Moines.
* Production management associate with Cargill, Mason City.
* Service representative for Kinze Manufacturing.
* Industrial engineer for Paragon International.
* Agronomist with Heartland Cooperative.
* Ag instructor and FFA advisor at Oelwein High School.
* Farming with family in eastern Iowa and continuing to serve as infantry noncommissioned officer in Iowa National Guard.
* Will help in development in the new nation of South Sudan.
* Research associate with AgReliant Genetics, Ames
* Individual pig care specialist with TriOak Foods in southeast Iowa
* Work on a horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
* Vaccination manager with Jennie-O in southern Minnesota.
* Intern at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
* Commodity broker and crop insurance agent, TCFG.
* Corn research position with Stine Seed, Adel.
* Beef specialist with River Valley Cooperative in eastern Iowa.
* Taking over family business as a fifth-generation hog producer.
* AmeriCorps volunteer.
* Local producer of vegetables and meats in northeast Kansas.
* Continuing education as graduate student in greenhouse production at ISU.
* Animal specialist at Cub Creek Science Camp.
* Intern at Turpentine Creek Big Cat Sanctuary in Arkansas.
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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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