College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
April 17, 2017
Top Stories
ISU Forestry Club Hosts Cutting Edge Competition
ISU placed third in the 65th Midwestern Foresters’ Conclave and Stihl Timbersports Competition held earlier this month at Saylorville Lake, which was hosted by the Forestry Club. Olivia Rauen, senior in forestry from Bankston, placed first in the women’s ax throw competition. More
Legislative Proposal Would Eliminate Leopold Center
Legislation currently under discussion in the Iowa Capitol would eliminate funding for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. CALS has been working with the university administration to address the proposed action. This morning a public hearing on the action was held at the Capitol, attended by Dean Wintersteen and John Lawrence, acting vice president for extension and outreach. The Alliance for Iowa State message distributed last week contained several points the college provided to the President’s office on the value and relevance of the center. The college also distributed information and impact points on the center in alerts sent to several external groups, including a grassroots group of citizens who support legislative requests for the Agriculture Experiment Station, leaders of local ISU Research and Demonstration Farm associations and the college's young alumni group. Please remember that faculty and staff who feel strongly about this issue should follow university guidelines on political activities prepared by the University Counsel, especially related to one’s time and equipment.
Research
USDA Releases Video on CALS Poultry Research
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Center for International Programs has released a video on CALS researchers collaborating with the University of Edinburgh to understand how chickens and turkeys respond to avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), a costly and infectious disease. “The long-term goal of our research is to reduce the negative impact of respiratory APEC on the poultry industry through the development of veterinary and breeding control strategies,” said Susan Lamont, animal science. The video was produced by Barb McBreen, CALS Communications Service. More
Teaching and Students
GPSA Research Symposium Scheduled for April 19
The Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture Research Symposium will be held April 19, 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Memorial Union South Ballroom. Karl Zimmerer, professor of environment and society geography and director of the GeoSyntheSES Lab at Pennsylvania State University, will present “Strengthening the Sustainability of Agricultural Biodiversity.” The evening will begin with a poster session featuring current research from GPSA students and faculty. A reception will follow the presentation. More
Student Organic Farm Offering Shares for 2017 Season
The ISU Student Organic Farm has shares available for the 2017 season. This consists of 14 plus weeks of fresh vegetables grown at the farm, located north of Ames at the Horticulture Research Station. A working share costs $50 and includes working two to three hours per week through October and weekly produce during the harvest season. A paid share costs $350 and includes weekly produce during the harvest season. More
Two CALS Students Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Rebekah Reynolds, entomology, and Maggie Jones, natural resource ecology and management, were recently awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions.
Southeastern and NACTA Meat Judging Contests a Success for ISU
The 2017 ISU Meat Judging Team placed third in the Southeastern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest held April 7-8 at the Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky. Divisional honors included first place in beef judging, lamb judging and total reasons, and second place in overall beef and specifications. Individual honors included Annika Johnson, senior in animal science, second in total reasons; Stephani Martin, senior in animal science, first in lamb judging, second in specifications and third in total reasons; Drew Wilson, senior in animal science, first in beef judging and total placings; and Beth Zuber, senior in animal science, first in total reasons and second in beef judging. The 2015 Meat Judging Team won the 2017 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest, held April 6-8 at Kansas State University. Alex Conover, senior in animal science, placed second in high individual in overall contest, and first in beef grading, total placings and questions. Carl Frame, senior in animal science, placed third high individual in overall contest. More
Extension and Outreach
National Agricultural Tax Expert Joins CALT
Phil Harris (’73 economics), emeritus professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, has joined ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation in a part-time role as a visiting professor. Harris will augment the center staff’s efforts, assisting with analysis, writing and instruction on tax issues important to Iowa and agriculture. More
Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference Turns 90
The Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference, the longest-running conference at ISU, is turning 90. The conference will be held May 17 at the Scheman Building. This year’s program will examine current issues in rural property management, appraisal, sale and purchase. More
New Fact Sheet Provides Guidance for Grazing Contracts
Patrick Gunn and Joe Sellers, extension beef specialists, have created a new fact sheet, Pasture and Grazing Arrangements for Beef Cattle, for those who use pasture and grazing rentals in their operations. More
Miller Receives Honorary Iowa FFA Degree
Gerald Miller, professor of agronomy and associate dean emeritus for CALS, was awarded an Honorary Iowa FFA Degree at the 89th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference held in Ames on April 10. The award was for ISU leadership for high school soil judging and the Iowa FFA State Soil judging contest, which Miller initiated in 1982. Also, Miller wrote the manual for Iowa high school soil judging. Lee Burras, agronomy, began leading the state contest in 2011. Extension field agronomists Angie Rieck-Hinz and Virgil Schmitt have assisted with the state contest as well. Burras, Rieck-Hinz and Schmitt accepted the award on Miller’s behalf.
Lawrence on ISU’s Land Grant Legacy
Through the Land Grant Legacy project, Iowa is the first state to identify the land that generated funds for the Iowa Agricultural College beginning in 1862. “To continue to grow our democracy, our nation needed to provide access to education about agriculture and the mechanical sciences – what we now call engineering – and other practical pursuits,” said John Lawrence, acting vice president for extension and outreach. “People may think the land that the federal government gave to the state of Iowa is the land in Ames that the university is built upon. But it’s not.” More
Around the College
Unconscious Bias Next in CALS Cultural Competency Series, Friday, April 21
The CALS Office for Diversity Programs is continuing its cultural competency series on Friday, April 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in 368A Heady Hall. Damion Jones, Monsanto diversity and inclusion lead, and William Warren, Monsanto senior university relations talent specialist, will facilitate a discussion on what unconscious bias is, how it can show up in academia and the workplace, and what people can do to begin countering its affects. Please RSVP by noon on Tuesday, April 18, to Theressa Cooper, assistant dean for diversity, tncooper@iastate.edu. Lunch will be provided.
CALS Work in Uganda’s Kamuli District Featured in VISIONS
Since 2004, CALS’ Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods has made an impact on nearly 60,000 people in Uganda’s Kamuli District by improving access to clean water, nutrition and health for mothers and infants, school gardens, livestock and entrepreneurial activities, and crop and livestock extension programs. Last summer, VISIONS editor Carole Gieseke and photographer Jim Heemstra spent six days in the Kamuli District visiting schools, farms, homes and nutrition centers. The CSRL program was featured in the winter 2017 issue of VISIONS magazine. More
Development Office Hosts Scholarship Appreciation Event
The CALS Development Office hosted an Administrators Scholarship Appreciation event on April 14 in the Curtiss Hall rotunda. The breakfast open house was to thank college and departmental scholarship committees, college staff and faculty, university administrators and ISU Foundation Donor Compliance Services for their help in administering college scholarships.
Calendar
April 18: Retirement Reception for John Schroeter
A retirement reception for John Schroeter will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2:30 to 4 p.m. with a program at 3 p.m., in 368A Heady Hall. Schroeter will retire on May 31 after 34 years of service as professor, interim chair and director of graduate education in the Department of Economics.
April 21: Retirement Reception for Sharon Colletti
A retirement reception for Sharon Colletti, Center for Crops Utilization Research, will be held Friday, April 21, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Food Sciences Building atrium. Colletti has been with ISU for 47 years, the last 10 years as an administrative specialist with CCUR.
April 28: Retirement Reception for Russ Mullen
A retirement reception for Russ Mullen, professor of agronomy, will be held April 28, 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. A program will begin at 3:30. Mullen has taught for almost 40 years at ISU. More
Funding Opportunities
Request for Applications: USDA AFRI Foundational Program
The USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program FY 2017 Request for Applications is open for submissions. Letter of Intent deadlines, proposal deadlines and maximum awards vary by program priority area. More
Request for Applications: USDA Crop Protection and Pest Management
The USDA FY 2017 Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants program supports research to develop new IPM approaches and extension to disseminate IPM knowledge and improve adoption of IPM practices. Applications are limited to one per institution for the Extension Implementation Program Area. Contact the Office of the VPR (fundingopps@iastate.edu) by April 18 to express interest in an EIP submission. There is no limit on the number of submissions to the Applied Research and Development Program Area. Proposals are due May 9. More
Limited Submission: USDA FSN Mobile Technology for CN Innovation Laboratory
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service anticipates awarding one new cooperative agreement for up to $1.5 million to support the creation of a Mobile Technology for Child Nutrition Research Innovation Laboratory. The lab will support the development, testing and implementation of innovative mobile technology-based solutions to improve services, effectiveness, participation and customer satisfaction in child nutrition programs through subgrants. Submissions are limited to one per institution. Contact the Office of the VPR at fundingopps@iastate.edu by April 21 to express interest in this opportunity. The USDA deadline for Letters of Intent is May 3. More
Webinar: USDA WAMS Grant Program
The USDA Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program supports research and extension activities that will increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines. An informational webinar about the WAMS program will be held on April 26 at 2 p.m. Details about this limited submission opportunity are forthcoming from the Office of the VPR. The USDA deadline for applications is June 8. More
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.
April 24, May 1: United Soybean Board; various research areas. More
May 12 (concept paper): USAID Feed the Future Partnership with Partners in Food Solutions; $10 million, alliance to strengthen the food processing sector in Africa. More
May 19: IDALS State Soil Conservation Committee Research and Demonstration Grant Program; $50,000 total over three years. More
May 24 (notice of intent): NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences - Terrestrial Hydrology. More
June 8: USDA Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields; $100,000, one application per institution. More
Aug. 28 (letter of intent): Food Specific Molecular Profiles and Biomarkers of Food and Nutrient Intake, and Dietary Exposure (R01). More
Sept. 1: NSF-USDA Plant Biotic Interactions; $300,000 per year, up to four years. More
Continuous: DOD Army Research Laboratory/Army Research Office Core Broad Agency Announcement for Basic and Applied Scientific Research for Fiscal Years 2017 through 2022. More
Communications Kiosk
Avoid Dangling Modifiers
Avoid modifiers that do not refer clearly and logically to some word in the sentence. “Taking our seats, the game started.” Taking does not refer to the subject, game, nor to any other word in the sentence. “Taking our seats, we watched the opening of the game.” Taking refers to we, the subject of the sentence. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2016 edition, pg. 73)
Infograzing
Project LEA/RN Workshop Scheduled for May 9-10
Project LEA/RN is hosting a workshop on Introduction to Learning-Centered Classes and Meetings on May 9-10 in 2622 Lagomarcino Hall. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss learning and teaching theories and brain research. Enrollment is limited to the first 20 educators who register. Contact Jan Wiersema, janw@iastate.edu.
Memorial Fund Established for Young Agricultural Journalists
A memorial fund has been created to honor Marcia Zarley Taylor, an award-winning agricultural journalist and CALS alumna who died in February. She was executive editor at DTN/The Progressive Farmer at the time of her death. Iowa State has established the fund to benefit talented young people who may follow in her footsteps. Donations to the Marcia Zarley Taylor Memorial Fund in Agricultural Communications can be made online, or by contacting Bobbi Jo Burkhart, assistant director of development with the CALS Development office, by calling (515) 294-1118.
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.