College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Aug. 22, 2016 – No. 914
Top Stories
Welcome Back! Eat an Apple from the Horticulture Research Station
Redfree apples grown at the Horticulture Research Station are being given away this week to students at five university welcome stations around campus, including one on the west side of Curtiss Hall. David Acker, CALS associate dean of academic and global programs, greets students above. Sixty-four bushels (more than 13,000 apples) were delivered to ISU Dining for the welcoming activities and to be served in the dining centers, which for several years now have featured Horticulture Station apples. The welcome stations are open from 9:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The Redfree apple is an early, medium-sized apple noted for juiciness and crispness. Learn more about the Redfree apple, including nutrition and recipes, at the Horticulture Research Station website.
Impressive Starting Salaries for Recent Graduates in Agriculture, Related Areas
CALS Career Services has released the annual entry-level salary summary for December 2015 and May 2016 graduates earning bachelor’s degrees. The report is the largest ever, with 20 universities participating and more than 3,500 data points. According to Mike Gaul, career services director, the environmental sciences, fisheries, forestry and wildlife biology sector had the highest average salary increase of 3.9 percent. Given economic conditions, most traditional agribusiness sectors remained flat. Top earning majors include technology, agricultural economics/business, agronomy and food science. More
Research
Darr Represents Iowa AgSTATE on Agricultural Data Coalition
Iowa AgSTATE has joined the Agricultural Data Coalition as a founding member. Iowa AgSTATE has been actively involved in digital agriculture strategy and education and summarized its work in a 2014 report on the Digital Transformation of Row Crop Agriculture. Matt Darr, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will serve as Iowa AgSTATE’s representative on the ADC board. More
Teaching and Students
Graduate Students Study Agroecosystems in the Field
Matt Liebman, agronomy, John Tyndall, natural resource ecology and management, and eight graduate students visited the Steve Berger farm in Washington County last week as part of an agroecosystem analysis class. They were in the fields looking at the effects on the soil from long term no-till and cover crop use and viewing soil health up close. The field portion lasts eight days and precedes the regular fall semester portion of the course. The class provides information and tangible examples for the students to draw upon as they study, ready about and discuss farming systems in Iowa and around the world. Berger is a 2014 recipient of the Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture. He has participated in more than 20 field trials on his farm, conducted with researchers from ISU, the Iowa Soybean Association, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Monsanto.
Vote for GRS Alum to Receive Global Citizen Award
Elise Kendall is one of 10 finalists for the 2016 Waislitz Global Citizen Award, which gives a total of $100,000 to three individuals who excel in their work to end extreme poverty. Kendall, who is a 2016 global resource systems graduate, is one of four CALS students who developed the KinoSol, a portable dehydrator, to help farmers reduce post-harvest loss and improve global health. Kendall could win up to $50,000 to continue the KinoSol mission. After Global Citizens around the world pick three favorites, a panel of judges will rank them. You are welcome to vote as often as you like. Vote here. More information about past awards and a video describing the KinoSol dehydrator is available online. Both the Waislitz Foundation and The Global Poverty Project are sponsoring the award.
Extension and Outreach
Stopping the Spread of Palmer Amaranth
Palmer amaranth is an invasive weed that is native to the southwestern United States. Over the last three years, however, the weed has made its way into Iowa and has been identified in at least nine counties. The known cases of Palmer amaranth in the state are isolated right now, and keeping it from spreading is the immediate need, according to Bob Hartzler, agronomy. More
ISU to Share Research with Farm Progress Show Visitors
ISU faculty, extension specialists and students will engage visitors in demonstrations and conversations to connect them with current research at the 2016 Farm Progress Show, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at the showgrounds near Boone. CALS Dean Wendy Wintersteen will be speaking at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 31. Digital agriculture, healthy soil, water quality, monarchs and more are included in the Iowa State exhibit. A complete line up of speakers and experts available at the show can be found online. Information will be available for alumni and prospective students as well. More
Around the College
Conservation Work on Petersen Murals Completed
Conservation work on two Christian Petersen murals in the west entry stairwell of the Food Sciences Building has been completed. “Four Thousande Yeeres” and “For Melke and Chese and Buttere for Ther Bred” are part of the Christian Petersen Art Collection on the ISU campus, dated 1935. CALS provided support for the conservation work. More
CALS Faculty and Staff Invited to Attend Annual Alumni BBQ on Sept. 3
CALS faculty, staff and guests are invited to join the college at the annual barbecue on Sept. 3, 3 to 6 p.m. at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center prior to the ISU vs. UNI football game at 7 p.m. Attendees will enjoy complimentary Hickory Park barbecue, networking with CALS alums and friends and hands-on family friendly activities from CALS student organizations. Shuttle service will be provided to and from the stadium. Register to attend by Aug. 20. More
Volunteers Needed for Annual CALS Alumni BBQ
Volunteer opportunities are available for faculty and staff to welcome CALS alumni and friends at the annual barbecue on Sept. 3. Anyone interested in volunteering may register or contact Haley Cook at hcook@iastate.edu. Please volunteer by Aug. 20. Volunteers are needed for:
- Set-up (1-3 p.m.)
- Registration (2:30-5 p.m.)
- Greeting (2:30-5 p.m.)
- Beverage service—Shift 1(2:30-4:30 p.m.)
- Beverage service—Shift 2 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)
- Tear down (6-7:30 p.m.)
Calendar
Aug. 24-25: USDA Pathways for Recent Graduates
CALS Career Services office will host a USDA Pathways for Recent Graduates event on Aug 24-25 in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. More than 35 recruiters from Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services will be on campus for the event. The federal initiative targets recent graduates (less than two years out; six years for those with military experience) and Dec. 2016 graduates for training programs within the designated agencies. Under this initiative, recruiters are able to conduct on-site interviews and offer direct hires, thus minimizing the potential lengthy application process often associated with these positions. Interviews will be conducted in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. More
Aug. 26: Northeast Research Farm Celebrates 40th Anniversary
The ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Aug. 26 at its annual fall field day. Iowa State research is conducted on a variety of agronomic crops, fruits, vegetables, soil management, water quality, pest management and soil fertility. The field day includes a free lunch and is open to the public. More
Aug. 27: Bug Village
David George Gordon, known as the Bug Chef, will do cooking demonstrations at the Bug Village on Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the atrium of the Molecular Biology Building. The Bug Village, hosted by ISU’s Insect Zoo, is free and open to all ages. More
Sept. 8: CALS Fall Convocation
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Convocation is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Wendy Wintersteen and recognition for the College’s new faculty and staff since last fall. CALS award recipients will be honored during the program. (The CALS Spring Awards Program, originally scheduled in February, was cancelled due to the weather.) A reception will follow.
Funding Opportunities
Responsible Conduct of Research Course for Faculty, Staff and Post Docs
Seats are still available in a non-credit course on the responsible conduct of research for faculty, staff and postdoctoral associates. Topics include the ethical conduct of human and animal subject research, data management, authorship and publication, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and more. Steve Freeman, University Professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, will lead the discussion-based course. The course will meet each Monday of fall semester at 3:10 p.m. in Sukup Hall. Contact Amy Harris-Tehan (ajotehan@iastate.edu) to register.
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
Aug. 23 (expression of interest to VPR): Dept. of Labor Research and Evaluation Grants, one application per institution, email sueship@iastate.edu to express interest. More
Aug. 31 (expression of interest to VPR): NIH BD2K Research Education Curriculum Development: Data Science Overview for Biomedical Scientists (R25); $450,000 total direct costs, one application per institution, email sueship@iastate.edu to express interest. More
Sept. 19 (letter of intent): NIH Big Data to Knowledge Community-Based Data and Metadata Standards Efforts (R24); $250,000 direct costs per year up to three years. More
Sept. 25: NIH NIAID Resource-Related Research Projects (R24). More
Sept. 25, Jan. 25: NIH NIAID Investigator Initiated Program Project Applications (P01). More
Sept. 30 (letter of intent): NIH CDC Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (U54); $1.35 million over five years, one application per institution, email fundingopps@iastate.edu to express interest. More
Sept. 30: EPA Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water; priorities include rural private wells and decentralized wastewater systems. More
Oct. 2 (letter of intent): NIH BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Analyze Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01). More
Oct. 3, Apr. 3: USFWS Marine Turtle Conservation Fund; typically $50,000 per year, up to five years. More
Oct. 14: NOAA FY 2017 Marine Fisheries Initiative; $525,000 over three years. More
Oct. 23 (letter of intent): NIH BRAIN Initiative: Foundations of Non-Invasive Functional Human Brain Imaging and Recording - Bridging Scales and Modalities (R01); $700,000 direct costs per year up to four years. More
Oct. 26: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service National Clean Plant Network Cooperative Agreements; up to $1,250,000; cost share preferred. More
Nov. 14: NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. More
Communications Kiosk
Each Other or One Another?
Two people look at “each other.” More than two look at “one another.” Either phrase may be used when the number is indefinite: We help each other. We help one another. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2015 edition, pg. 85)
Infograzing
USDA Cultivates Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
In a meeting with new and beginning farmers at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new investment of $17.8 million for 37 projects to help educate, mentor and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. The investment is made through USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. More
Practical Farmers of Iowa Release Cover Crop Research Report
Practical Farmers of Iowa has released results from five years of research on growing cover crops in Iowa. Results show that cereal rye is the most consistent performer in a corn and soybean rotation. More
Marginalia
A Culinary History of the Great Depression
Culinary historians Jane Ziegelman and Andy Coe have co-authored a book, A Square Meal, which examines the impact of the Great Depression on American diets. Cheap, nutritious and filling food was prioritized. In an interview with National Public Radio, Coe said bland is really the operative word in describing Depression-era menus. They didn’t have much flavor; instead, they were a vehicle for nutrition and nutrients. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (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.