Iowa landowners asked to help track monarch migration this fall

Iowa landowners are being asked to help document the remarkable monarch migration as thousands of butterflies make their journey south to Mexico this fall. Researchers with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium (IMCC) ask for assistance to identify areas where monarchs rest in clusters, like trees and sheltered areas, when they funnel through Iowa during their trip. Monarch watchers can also help track the migration by identifying the location of tagged monarchs and reporting their location. 

Diving into reproductive microbiology

Lucille Jonas did not set out to become a microbiologist. In fact, she arrived at Iowa State University with a very different goal in mind: to become a veterinarian. A general microbiology course in her first year shifted that trajectory and set her on a path toward graduate research examining a little-understood aspect of animal biology.

Iowa Environmental Mesonet serves the state for 25 years

Twenty-five years ago, Iowa State University rolled out the Iowa Environmental Mesonet website. Since then, it has become the central hub for all things weather-related in Iowa with a reach far beyond the state. But what is a mesonet?

From Ames to Jamaica: Seed Science Center testing supports hurricane recovery

When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in October 2025, the Category 5 hurricane severely damaged agricultural production on the island. Since the crops had been destroyed, access to good vegetable seed became a major concern during Jamaica's recovery.

Three emerging ag leaders named as FFAR Fellows from Iowa State University

Three Iowa State University doctoral students were recently selected for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) 2026-2029 Fellows Program, an honor that recognizes emerging leaders poised to shape the future of agriculture.