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College News
IOWA STATE AG PROGRAMS TOP-RANKED IN U.S., WORLD
Iowa State University’s agricultural programs have been ranked among the world’s best by a British organization. For the fourth straight year, Iowa State was ranked in the top 10 for programs in agriculture and forestry by the QS World University Rankings. QS ranked Iowa State 10th worldwide and seventh nationally. Iowa State’s agriculture and biosystems engineering program also recently jumped another spot to No. 2 in U.S. News and World Report’s national graduate school rankings. More
BOOSTING BIOMASS, NITROGEN RETENTION VIA COVER CROPS
Research at ISU, funded by the United Soybean Board, suggests an additional period of cover crop growth prior to soybeans results in high cover crop biomass production, nitrogen retention and has no negative effect on yield. More
UNDERSTANDING RISKS OF WINTER RYE
Cover crops offer a valuable tool for farmers to reduce nutrient loss and help ensure clean water in Iowa waterways. But some farmers have reported planting winter rye as a cover crop may reduce corn yield. A team of researchers at Iowa State are investigating why there may be an occasional decrease in corn yield after planting winter rye. More
KEEP UP CONSERVATION TO KEEP MONARCH NUMBERS UP
The number of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico has sharply rebounded. Leaders of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium say Iowa crop and livestock farmers, landowners and conservationists will play a key role in helping ensure the population response noted this winter can become part of a positive trend for the future. More
FSHN TO LEAD REGIONAL CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY
The Food and Drug Administration awarded ISU a three-year, $950,000 grant to establish the new North Central Regional Center for Food Safety Training, which will provide guidance to food processors and growers in 12 Midwestern states. Angela Shaw (’03 animal science, ’06 MS meat science), assistant professor of food science and human nutrition, will lead the effort. Shaw said food safety has grown as a topic of concern for the American public, and the food safety regulations needed to be modernized. More
LAMONT: MENTORING FOR SUCCESS
Sue Lamont was recognized by CALS with its 2016 Diversity Enhancement Award. She serves as the college’s equity adviser leading efforts to transform STEM fields for women and faculty of color. Lamont began her career as the first female faculty member in the Department of Animal Science, became a C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and served as department chair. More
FARM POLL: FARMERS TAKING STEPS TO AID SOIL HEALTH
Farmers’ perspectives on soil health were featured in the 2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll. 76 percent responded that they had taken recent steps to improve soil health and poll results indicate farmers made substantial changes to their tillage approaches over the last decade. Learn more about farmers’ beliefs, knowledge and management capacity on soil health practices in the summary report. More
IOWA SOYBEAN FUNDS MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN ISU RESEARCH
A study seeking to develop soybean “disease signatures” detected with devices such as unmanned aerial vehicles is one of 19 research projects funded this year by the Iowa Soybean Association. They have invested more than $2 million soybean checkoff dollars supporting Iowa State research projects. More
CALS CONVOCATION MOVES TO HILTON
Iowa State University will recognize graduating students Saturday, May 7 at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. CALS convocation will take place at 8:30 a.m. the same day in Hilton Coliseum – a new venue for the college celebration. View details on the CALS event and links to the Iowa State Commencement Ceremony. More
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
Alumni News
HILDEBRANT HONORED FOR COMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE
Dale Hildebrant (’71 ag journalism), of Farm and Ranch Guide, received the National Farmers Union Milton D. Hakel Award for Excellence in Agricultural Communications during the organization's annual convention March 5. Hildebrant has been reporting on farm and ag news for more than 40 years. More
WEBER, SORENSEN ELECTED TO NATIONAL PORK LEADERSHIP
John Weber (’71 animal science), a pork producer near Dysart, was named president of the National Pork Producers Council at the organization’s annual business meeting March 7. In addition to raising hogs that are processed by JBS, he manages with his son Valley Lane Farms Inc., a grain and livestock operation. Jen Sorensen (’01 animal science), of Ankeny, Iowa, with Iowa Select Farms, was elected as a new member of the board for a three-year term. More
BRENNEMAN, TEKIPPE-SCHMITT HONORED BY FARM CREDIT
Two CALS alumnae were recently honored as Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Honorees as part of a nationwide search to identify and honor 100 leaders who are changing rural America. Erin Brenneman (’04 animal science), left, farrowing manager for Brenneman Pork and farmer near Wellman, was selected as an honoree in the agriculture education and community impact category. Jessica Tekippe-Schmitt (’08 dairy science), ruminant project manager for Ajinomoto Heartland and farmer near Fort Atkinson, was featured in the beginning farmer or rancher achievement category. More
UNDERWOOD TO PRESENT HERTZ LECTURE APRIL 7
 Roger Underwood (’80 ag business), entrepreneur and co-founder of crop-technology company Becker Underwood Inc., will present the 2016 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture April 7 at Iowa State University. Underwood, known for his business acumen and entrepreneurship, will present, “Your future is short. Don’t waste it working for someone else,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Sun Room in the Memorial Union on the Iowa State campus. The event is free and open to the public. More
IOWA 4-H HONORS NORTHEY, MENTES
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey (’81 ag business) received the Outstanding Alum award from Iowa 4-H at the Iowa 4-H Legacy Awards Gala Feb. 26. Glen (’61 animal husbandry, ’63 MS animal nutrition) and Mary Jo Mente (pictured) were also honored at the gala for their individual support of Iowa 4-H. More
GREDER FEATURED BY ALLIANCE FOR IOWA STATE
Farm appraiser Fred Greder ('75 farm operations), was recently featured as, “another great example of one of the 100,000 ISU alumni living in Iowa and contributing to the economic health of the state,” by the Alliance for Iowa State. Greder worked as a farm loan officer during the farm crisis of the 1980s then launched out on his own in 1988, creating Benchmark Agribusiness. More
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