College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
May 22, 2017
Top Stories
Video: Collaborating to Combat Poultry Disease
Susan Lamont, animal science, is leading a team of researchers at ISU to collaborate and combat Avian Pathogenic E. coli. The disease is a threat to the $440 billion U.S. poultry industry that provides more than 500,000 jobs. The collaboration with the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh is funded by USDA-NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council as part of the joint NIFA-BBSRC Animal Health and Disease program. More
Research
Lamkey Part of Challenge of Change Commission on Food Security
ISU is taking part in the Challenge of Change Commission, a new effort to address food nutrition and security challenges by leveraging the academic, research and community expertise and experience of land-grant universities. The commission was convened by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and includes leaders from university, government, non-governmental organizations and business. Kendall Lamkey, professor and chair of the agronomy department, is a commission member and chair of the Sustainable Production Systems working group. The Challenge of Change Commission’s report addresses the findings of the working groups, outlines conclusions and suggested actions. More
Economists Awarded USDA Grant
Quinn Weninger and Keri Jacobs, economics, have been awarded a two-year grant from USDA-NIFA, to study “Subjective Beliefs, Decision Making under Uncertainty and the Design of Nutrient Management Policy in U.S. Agriculture.” They will use recently improved methods for measuring farmers’ subjective beliefs about crop yield distributions and the role of nitrogen on crop yields and farm profitability. More
Recent Patent for Darr and McNaull
Matt Darr and Robert McNaull, agricultural and biosystems engineering, were recently issued a U.S. patent titled “Multi-Sensor Crop Yield Determination,” jointly owned with Deere and Company.
Teaching and Students
ISU Students Finalists in Nationwide Banking Competition
A team of five ISU students, including Callen Duffy, junior in agricultural business, and James Howell, senior in economics, is a finalist in a nationwide 2017 Community Bank Case Study Competition. Peter Orazem, economics, and Katherine Lacy, a graduate assistant in economics, are the team’s faculty advisers. More
CALS’ Commitment to Diversity Applauded by Syracuse.com Columnist
In a May 18 article, Christopher Travis, a plant scientist and guest columnist for Syracuse.com, wanted to know why in a nation built on agriculture, there are so few minority farmers. He applauded ISU’s “I’m an Agronomist” program, stating that CALS “is actively recruiting minority students into its program to increase diversity in the classrooms and in the fields. Bravo!” More
Extension and Outreach
Small Town Quality of Life Driven by More than Economics
ISU Extension and Outreach has released a new publication titled “What Drives Quality of Life in Iowa Small Towns?” The data on quality of life and social conditions used in the publication are from the Sigma Study, a long-term USDA-funded research effort in Iowa. Residents of 99 small towns were surveyed in 1994, 2004 and 2014. While quality of life is usually thought of in economic terms, author David Peters, sociology, found a much different result.
Local Foods Team Collaborates on Iowa Commercial Horticulture Survey
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with ISU Extension and Outreach, has released the Iowa Commercial Horticulture Survey. Using data from the 2015 growing season, the survey is the first comprehensive statewide look at Iowa horticulture in more than a decade. More
Iowa’s Wine Industry Continues to Grow
May is Iowa Wine Month and celebrates a $420 million economic impact that the industry makes on the state. The Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute in CALS works to help the wine-making industry in the state continue to grow. Iowa is home to 103 wineries and nearly 300 vineyards.
Around the College
Beitz and Nonnecke Recognized with Inspiration Award
Donald Beitz, animal science, and Gail Nonnecke, horticulture, received an ISU Alumni Association Inspiration Award at the annual recognition reception held May 19. Beitz has been at ISU for 50 years: he has served as major professor to more than 100 graduate students, advised approximately 150 undergraduate students, and taught more than 11,000 students about nutritional biochemistry. Nonnecke has been at ISU for 30 years: she created the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods’ service learning, school garden and study abroad programs, and in 2009 launched ISU’s interdisciplinary academic major in global resource systems. The ISUAA established this award in 2011 as a way for former ISU students to recognize current or former ISU faculty or staff members who had a significant influence in their lives as students at ISU. More
New Website Highlights Forestry Camp History
The natural resource ecology and management department has a new webpage on forestry camp history, listing location, leadership and photos. Fall Forestry Camp, led by NREM faculty members, is a three-week off-campus experience. Students gain additional field experience and meet with natural resource professionals in a forested region outside of Iowa. ISU was among the first to include forestry camps as part of the curriculum in the summer of 1914. More
Calendar
May 24: Retirement Reception for Susan Carpenter
A retirement reception will be held for Susan Carpenter, animal science, on May 24, 1 to 2 p.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. Carpenter joined ISU in 1988 as a faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine for 17 years. She returned to Iowa State in the animal science department in 2009. Recent research efforts examined host-virus interactions at the genomic level.
May 25: Farewell Reception for Patrick Gunn
A farewell reception will be held for Patrick Gunn on May 25, 3 to 4 p.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. As an assistant professor of animal science he conducted applied research and co-instructed the senior-level beef systems management course. As an extension beef specialist, his primary responsibility was beef cow-calf extension.
Funding Opportunities
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.
Continuous: NSF Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-CorpsTM Teams); additional support to NSF-funded researchers to accelerate innovation and attract third-party funding. More
June 14 (letters of intent, non-MAPP only): NOAA Climate Program Office 2018; $150,000 to $600,000.
June 28 (letters of intent, MAPP only): NOAA Climate Program Office 2018 - Modeling, Analysis, Predictions and Projections Program; up to $1.5 million. More
June 28 (notice of intent): NASA ROSES Terrestrial Hydrology. More
June 30: Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program; $250,000 to $350,000, chronic disease prevention and management, and prevention and/or reduction of opioid misuse and abuse. More
July 12: Department of State U.S. Mission to India - Women in STEM Roadshow; workshops for girls and young women about pursuing opportunities in STEM. More
July 12 (pre-proposals): DOD FY 2017 Vision Research Program - Technology/Therapeutic Development Award.
July 24: Feed the Future Senegal Cultivating Nutrition; $40 million, one award. More
July 25: Office of the Director of National Intelligence - Proteos Program Pre-Solicitation Notice and Proposers’ Day. More
July 28, Nov. 3, April 14 (pre-proposals): DOD U.S. Special Operations Command Broad Agency Announcement for Extramural Biomedical Research and Development; topics include human health and performance, canine medicine and others. More
Aug. 31: NASA ROSES 2017 New (Early Career) Investigator Program in Earth Science; up to $270,000 total over three years, carbon cycle and ecosystems, climate, water and energy, and others. More
Sept. 8: Toyota Foundation - Exploring New Values for Society; up to 8 million yen (approx. $70,250) for joint grants and up to 2 million (approx. $17,500) for individual grant; topic areas include natural resources management, environmental sustainability, science and society, diversity and others. More
Communications Kiosk
Using “None” as Singular and Plural
When using “none” to mean no one, not one or no amount of it, none takes singular verbs and pronouns: None of us is perfect. None of the seats was in its right place. None of the coffee was poured. When the sense is none of them, use plural verbs and pronouns: None of the consultants agree on the same approach. None of the horses were in their stalls. None of the taxes have been paid. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2016 edition, pg. 196)
Infograzing
Memorial Day Ceremony Scheduled for Alumni Center on May 29
ISU employees, retirees and spouses who died during the past year will be remembered at the university’s annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 29, at 9 a.m. in the Reiman Ballroom at the ISU Alumni Center. From the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Helen Atkins, spouse of Richard Atkins, agronomy; Dean Foley, agronomy; Rick Hall, natural resource ecology and management; and George Ladd, economics. More
Applications Being Accepted for AAAS Fellowship Program
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is now accepting applications for 2018-19 Science and Technology Policy Fellowships. The program offers hand-on opportunities to apply scientific knowledge and technical skills to important societal challenges. The yearlong assignment takes place in a selected area of the executive, legislative or judicial branch of the federal government in Washington, D.C. A video series is available with alumni and current fellows sharing their story. A live chat series is also available, beginning Thursday, May 25. More information on the application process is available online.
Marginalia
ISU Research Farm Gives a Hoot about Owls
ISU’s McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm, located in Lucas County, is hoping barn owls will soon be its newest residents. The farm installed two owl nesting boxes last fall as part of a conservation effort for the species. While barn owls have been spotted in the area, they have yet to take up residence in the boxes. These nocturnal birds have been considered an endangered species in Iowa since 1977, due to significant loss of nesting and prey habitat. For those who would like to help with conservation efforts, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources encourages establishing large grassland areas for the birds to hunt and creating homemade owl nesting boxes for habitation.
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.