College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Jan. 12, 2015 – No. 831
Top Stories
A New Look
Beginning this week, we have a new look for the CALS Online newsletter. Now in its 21st year, the newsletter has not seen a lot of major changes since its beginning. Let us know your comments and feedback on the new look and organization; send to editor Julie Stewart. We also are changing our deadline for receiving information for the newsletter. Send any items or ideas each week by Friday at noon. College of Ag and Life Sciences Online will continue to be distributed on Mondays. Thank you for reading the newsletter.
Research
Egg Industry Center Publishes Special Report on California Egg Law
In December, the Egg Industry Center released "The California Situation: A Special Report" outlining the market forces being created by the Jan. 1, 2015, implementation of a combination of California laws regarding laying hen production. The report was one of the first to discuss the potential impact the law could have on low-income families as they try to achieve a diet which includes protein. The report points out that uncertainty will remain as the market adjusts to the new consumer supply and demand curve and the choices egg producers are faced with and how that effects the egg markets for the nation. Hongwei Xin, director of the Egg Industry Center, and Maro Ibarburu, associate scientist and business analyst, provided an overview of the report on the Jan. 9 issue of Agribusiness Report on WHO TV.
Rothschild Discusses Genetic Fix for Heat Stress in Radio Interview
Max Rothschild, animal science, discusses “Searching for a Genetic Fix for Heat Stress” in a two-part interview for Successful Farming Radio Magazine on Jan. 12 and 13 at 6:27 a.m. Rothschild is studying a genetic link to heat stress resilience in livestock raised in arid climates that could help boost resilience in livestock in the U.S.
Swenson Calculates Economic Impact of Gas Tax Increase
Dave Swenson, economics, provides an annual calculation prior to the start of the legislative session and said a possible increase in the state gas tax may not cost as much as some Iowans think. This could be the year that Iowa lawmakers take action on the gas tax, a move that Swenson said is long overdue. More
Teaching and Students
Former Animal Science Student Named Chancellor’s Fellow at U.C. Davis
Huaijun Zhou, a former Ph.D. student of Susan Lamont’s, animal science, was named a member of the 2014-15 Chancellor’s Fellows at the University of California Davis. Zhou, animal immunology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, has a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and immunogenetics and a master’s in bioinformatics and computational biology from ISU. More
Extension and Outreach
Iowa Beef Center Releases Fact Sheets on Corn Coproducts
The Iowa Beef Center has developed a series of six new fact sheets on changes in corn coproducts and the subsequent effects on nutritional and economic value for beef cattle. Coproducts can be vital components of beef cattle diets, and IBC director Dan Loy said it's important for producers to understand what's available and how best to use them.
Calendar
Jan. 14: Reception for Ken Koehler, Statistics
A reception honoring Ken Koehler’s service as chair of the statistics department since 2003 will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in 1109 Snedecor Hall. Koehler is a university professor of statistics and remains on the faculty.
Jan. 14: Masinde Honored on Women Impacting ISU Calendar
The 2015 Women Impacting ISU calendar will be unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Dorothy Masinde, associate director and internship coordinator for nutrition education in the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and lecturer in global resource systems, is one of 12 women honored on this year's calendar. More
Jan. 15: Wintersteen to Speak at Farm House Museum Celebration
Following a six-month closure for updates and restoration work, the Farm House Museum will host an open house from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15. An after-hours event including refreshments and live music will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Warren Madden, senior vice president for business and finance, and Dean Wendy Wintersteen, will share remarks at 5:30 p.m. More
Jan. 16: Reception for Maynard Hogberg, Animal Science
A retirement reception for Maynard Hogberg will be held Friday, Jan. 16, 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. Hogberg has served as chair of the animal science department for 11 years. There will be a program at 4 p.m.
Jan. 28-29: Iowa Pork Congress
The Iowa Pork Congress will be held Jan. 28-29 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Iowa Pork Industry Center and ISU faculty and staff will be available in booth 1127. Steve Hoff and Dan Anderson, agricultural and biosystems engineering, also will be presenting seminars. More
Funding Opportunities
Internal Competition: USDA Undergraduate Learning Fellowships
The Office of the VPR is accepting pre-proposals for the USDA NIFA Undergraduate Research and Extension Experiential Learning Fellowships program of the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative. An institution may submit up to three proposals and receive a maximum of one award of up to $300,000. At least 50 percent of undergraduate fellows must come from outside the host institution. Pre-proposals are due Jan. 19 by 5 p.m. Contact: Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu).
ARS Research Participation Program
The USDA Agricultural Research Service Research Participation Program is an educational and training program designed to provide college students, recent graduates, university faculty and established scientists opportunities to participate in project-specific agricultural related research. Participants are administratively associated with Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Appointments for faculty and students are normally 10 to 12 weeks. One-year appointments for post-docs can be extended up to four additional years. Participants receive a stipend to support living and other expenses.
Reminder: Research Administration @ ISU Training Jan. 15
The Office of the Vice President for Research invites faculty new to sponsored funding at ISU to the day-long training session Research Administration @ ISU. Representatives from the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, the Office for Responsible Research, the ISU Foundation and the new Grants Hub will present information on how to navigate the proposal submission process and manage a research program. The training will be held Jan. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact Roxanne Clemens. Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources.
Continuous Submissions (letter of intent): USAID FY 2014-2015 Development Innovation Ventures; $25,000 to $15 million. More
Jan. 23 (letter of intent): Egg Nutrition Center 2015; $200,000, pilot projects $50,000.
Feb. 3 (pre-proposal): NIST Precision Measurement Grant Program; two awards, $150,000 over three years. More
Feb. 12: Dept. of Education College Assistance Migrant Program; $180,000 to $425,000 per year for up to five years based on performance. More
Feb. 12: Dept. of Education High School Equivalency Program; $180,000 to $475,000 per year for up to five years based on performance. More
Feb. 16 (letter of intent): NIH FDA Grants to Enhance Food Safety: National Training, Education, Extension, Outreach and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program (U18); $600,000 over three years. More
Feb. 18 (updated solicitation): NSF Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Statistics and Surveys - R&D, U.S. S&T Competitiveness, STEM Education, S&T Workforce. More
Feb. 20 (letter of intent): DOE The Advanced Research Projects Agency OPEN 2015; $1 million to $10 million, cost share required. More
Feb. 23: The Wellmark Foundation Healthy Communities 2015 Small Grant Program; $25,000, access to nutritious foods and safe places to be active.
Apr. 1: The Gloeckner Foundation Grants; floriculture and related fields, recent grants $6,000 to $14,000. More
Apr. 9: NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity FY 2015; $2 million over five years. More
Communications Kiosk
What Makes a Good Science Story – Adventure
Your time spent in the field might seem workaday to you, but compared to the average person, you live a life of high adventure. Scientists are so focused on the data that you sometimes don’t realize how exciting all the backstory can be. Journalists enjoy witnessing the process of collecting information and how scientists get up close and personal with their subjects, sometimes under extreme conditions. Once you get your audience’s attention you can get them interested in the details. (Escape from the Ivory Tower: A Guide to Making Your Science Matter, 2010, pg. 46 – part 4 of 8.)
Infograzing
ISU Athletics and Iowa Farm Bureau Partnership to Benefit Food Bank
The ISU Athletics Department has joined the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in a partnership that will help share the story of today’s farm families while recognizing exceptional ISU student-athletes who embody the character and work ethic of the Iowa farmer, both on and off the field. The collaboration will also benefit the Iowa Food Bank Association through donations and sales of Cyclone-themed Farm Strong merchandise.
Marginalia
Rare Bird Sighting at Horticulture Station
Nick Howell, superintendent at the ISU Horticulture Station, reported sighting a rare pine grosbeak at the Horticulture Station during the Audubon Christmas bird count. Steve Dinsmore, natural resource ecology and management, confirmed the sighting and said he had not seen this bird in Iowa since 1985.
Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome to Visit ISU Dairy Farm
Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome is scheduled to visit the ISU Dairy Farm during afternoon milking on Saturday, Jan. 17. His visit is in conjunction with ESPN’s coverage of the men’s basketball game. Look for photos of his visit at twitter.com/roaminggnome. https://twitter.com/roaminggnome
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
(515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Friday.
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