2020 News & Featured Stories Archive

Select a date to see news items from that year.

Harris named new chair of Iowa State University Departments of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Entomology

December 16th, 2020
Steven Harris
AMES, Iowa – Steven Harris will be the next chair of the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University effective by April 1. The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management will...

Iowa State Researchers Find Overexpression of a Soybean Gene Might Lead to Resistance Against Major Pathogens

December 14th, 2020
Headshot of professor Bhattacharyya
AMES, IA -- Any number of different soybean pests can derail a good season. Soybean farmers in Iowa know how devastating they can be, with some causing millions in losses each year. A new study by a research team led by Madan Bhattacharyya,...

Castro Awarded George Washington Carver Spirit of Innovation and Service Award

December 8th, 2020
AMES, Iowa – Javelis Marín Castro, a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, has been selected to receive the George Washington Carver Spirit of Innovation and Service Award. Marín Castro, from Humacao...

Iowa State Researchers Find Antibody Response to Vaccination Helps Predict Swine Reproductive Success

December 7th, 2020
AMES, Iowa — Measuring antibody response to a commonly used vaccination against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, or PRRSV, could better predict swine reproductive success than common genetic selection strategies, according to...

Iowa State University Welcomes National Thanksgiving Turkey at Public Open House Dec. 5

December 4th, 2020
Video and images of the turkeys and official welcome remarks are available upon request. AMES, Iowa – The Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University is holding a public open house on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m....

Angela Shaw Receives Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research

November 23rd, 2020
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presented the Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research to Angela Shaw, associate professor in food science and human nutrition and extension...

Iowa State University Department of Animal Science Announces Artz Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science

November 23rd, 2020
Professor with a computer in campus office
Iowa State University Department of Animal Science Announces Artz Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State University Department of Animal Science is pleased to announce that...

Iowa State University to be home to the 2020 National Thanksgiving Turkey

November 18th, 2020
Ron and Susie Kardel holding baby turkeys
AMES, Iowa – For the first time, Iowa State University will serve as the home of the official National Thanksgiving Turkey following next week’s National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation at the White House. The official Thanksgiving Turkey and...

Iowa State Researchers Find Biochar Mitigates Manure-related Odors and Emissions

November 17th, 2020
AMES, IA – A new study from Iowa State University shows that carbon-rich biochar could be used to mitigate many odors and potentially toxic volatile organic compounds emitted from swine manure. “The results of this study and related research...

Which Small Towns Attract Start-ups and Why

November 2nd, 2020
Picture of downtown, Carroll, Iowa
AMES, Iowa – While many small rural towns face economic distress, some manage to overcome the odds to succeed in attracting new firms and job opportunities. It’s well-known that small rural towns often face economic distress. Along with losses...

Iowa Egg Council pledges additional support to the Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm at Iowa State University

October 26th, 2020
Educational infographic showing a large, white chicken head and text
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa Egg Council has pledged an additional $150,000 to the Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm at Iowa State University. “Iowa is the...

Gift from Tyson Foods supports Beef Up Iowa with Processing at Iowa State University

October 19th, 2020
Group of people representing Tyson Foods and the Beef Up Iowa program, pictured holding a large check
AMES, Iowa - A gift from Tyson Foods will provide 80,000 meals* to food insecure Iowans through Beef Up Iowa. The Beef Up Iowa program is a partnership among Iowa State University, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Food...

Iowa State University Scientists Advance Plant Breeding for Organic Industry

October 15th, 2020
Two scientists in fall corn field
A new federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) will support Iowa State scientists and collaborators as they develop improved seed corn tailored to the needs of the rapidly...

Capacity building grants to underscore seed systems development and ag biotech innovation in the Philippines and Africa

October 13th, 2020
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center (SSC) has been awarded two back-to-back grants to strengthen the capacities of national seed and biosafety authorities in the Philippines and Africa.   The Center will lead a grant from...

J. Drew Lanham, Naturalist, Author, Birder, to Present 2020 Errington Lecture, Oct. 22

October 5th, 2020
AMES, Iowa - This 2020 Errington Memorial Lecture “Coloring the Conservation Message” will be presented by birder, naturalist, author and educator Drew Lanham, Thursday Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. The online event is free and open to all. Details,...

Iowa Soybean Research Center Funds Three Iowa State Research Projects

October 1st, 2020
Compiled image of ISU faculty selected for ISRC grants
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa Soybean Research Center has awarded over $250,000 in funding to three soybean research projects at Iowa State University. The center’s Industry Advisory Council met at its annual meeting in September to discuss 22 research...

Iowa State agricultural and biosystems engineering undergraduate program ranked No. 2 in U.S.

September 21st, 2020
Building on Iowa State University campus
AMES, Iowa - According to the newly released U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 “Best Colleges” rankings in the biological/agricultural engineering category, Iowa State’s agricultural and biosystems program is the No. 2 ranked undergraduate program...

Iowa State University Researchers Investigate Ag Supply Chain Resiliency

September 21st, 2020
Headshot of woman in suit
Ames, IA – A new grant will allow Iowa State University researchers to study how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the U.S. food supply chain with the goal of finding short- and long-term solutions to increase resiliency against future...

Five Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty recognized for innovative teaching amid COVID-19

September 21st, 2020
Spring 2020 Teaching Innovation Award recipients
AMES, Iowa - With a mere 10 days advance notice, Iowa State faculty members last spring had to quickly convert their in-person classes to online formats due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The extraordinary, creative efforts of a number of faculty to...

ISU Agriculture and Life Sciences Virtual Career Fair Set for Oct. 13-14

September 15th, 2020
AMES, Iowa – The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host a virtual two-day Career Fair on Oct. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year students will have the opportunity to interact with companies and employers online through a...

Iowa State University Leads New Project to Build ‘Genome to Phenome’ Research Community Across Crops and Livestock

September 9th, 2020
Student punching holes in corn plant leaves for DNA testing
AMES, Iowa - A new federal grant will support an Iowa State University-led effort to spur development of a “genome to phenome” infrastructure for scientific collaboration across crops and livestock. The three-year, $960,000 project will provide...

Insect Zoo: Available to (virtually) come to a classroom near you

September 9th, 2020
Young girl watching millipede crawling on her arm during Live with Bugs program
With so many variations of in-person and online learning going on, staff at Iowa State University’s Insect Zoo don’t want students to miss out on the opportunity to learn about bugs. The Insect Zoo is offering virtual Live with Bugs programs...

Huff-Lonergan recognized for innovative teaching efforts

September 9th, 2020
Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan
AMES, Iowa - For Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan, being able to share her knowledge of meat sciences with students is something she enjoys. Recently, she was recognized for the innovative teaching methods she uses in the classroom to help students learn...

Iowa Nutrient Research Center Funds 11 New Water Quality Studies

September 1st, 2020
wetland in farm field under cloudy sky
AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University announces funding for 11 new water quality and nutrient management projects for 2020-2021. “This round of projects represents over $1.3 million for water quality research...

Media Advisory: Iowa State University Agronomist and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture to Discuss Fall Conservation Considerations, Cost-Share Programs, Cover Crops

September 1st, 2020
Joint media availability will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. AMES, Iowa – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Agronomist Mark Licht and United States Department of...

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