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College News
CELEBRATE CALS GROWING LEADERS FEB. 9
You're invited to join the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in celebrating the college's role in growing leaders at the Cyclone women's basketball game vs. West Virginia on Feb. 9. The college will be featured throughout the game, including an on-court presentation of the 2019 CALS Emerging Iowa Leader Award to Elizabeth Burns Thompson (’11 agricultural business) – pictured receiving the 2018 award is Jacob Hunter (’11 ag and life sciences education). CALS alumni and friends are invited to a complimentary reception prior to the game at 2:30 p.m. in the ISU Alumni Center. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. To register for the reception and learn how to order discounted basketball tickets visit the event website by Feb. 1. View photos from last year's event. More
PROTECTING YOUNG ATHLETES ON THE FIELD
Adam Thoms (right), assistant professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, researches sports turf maintenance to help keep young athletes safe while competing. He focuses on athletic fields, with natural and synthetic surfaces, at public schools and those in community parks and recreation departments because of their smaller budgets and higher use rates. More
COMMODITY PRICES, TRADE, INTEREST RATES DRIVE LOSS IN FARMLAND VALUE
Commodity prices, interest rates and trade disruptions drove Iowa farmland values down for the fourth time in five years. The average statewide value of an acre of farmland is now estimated to be $7,264 – down $62 per acre from 2017. The Iowa State University Land Value Survey was conducted in November by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. More
IOWA STATE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR RESEARCH TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
Two Iowa State University scientists and a U.S. Department of Agriculture research partner have received a national honor for their roles in a multistate research collaboration finding solutions to water quality challenges related to agricultural drainage. The 2018 National Excellence in Multistate Research Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture was presented to the North Central Extension Research Activities 217 Committee on Drainage Design and Management Practices to Improve Water Quality. Representing Iowa State on the team are Rameshwar Kanwar, a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, Matt Helmers, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, extension agricultural engineer and director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center; and Dan Jaynes, a soil scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service and affiliate professor of agronomy. More
CALS FACULTY NAMED TO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is honoring seven ISU researchers, including Fredric Janzen and Dean Adams, ecology, evolution and organismal biology; Jianming Yu, agronomy; and Kristen Johansen, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology. They are among 416 researchers from around the world who make up this year’s class of AAAS Fellows. More
LONERGAN EARNS NATIONAL TEACHING AWARD
Steven Lonergan (left) (’88 animal science, ’91 MS meat science), professor of animal science, has been awarded one of two 2018 national U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Agriculture Sciences Excellence in Teaching Awards. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities presented the award to Lonergan on Nov. 11 in New Orleans. More
SEMINAR ADDRESSES MULTIGENERATIONAL FARM TRANSITIONS
Transitioning a farm from one generation to the next can involve difficult conversations about finances, timing and future management. The Returning to the Farm Seminar, Jan. 10-11 and Feb. 8-9, offered in Ames by the Beginning Farmer Center through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is designed to help farmers start these conversations. More
SUKUP APPOINTED TO FACULTY AT IOWA STATE
 Charles Sukup (’76 ag engineering, ’82 MS), the president of Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield, Iowa, has been appointed to a faculty position in the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Sukup’s part-time appointment will include advising the department chair on key initiatives, serving on departmental committees focused on international programs and awards and lecturing in classes and senior capstone courses. More
RESEARCH REVEALS WHICH MILKWEED SPECIES MONARCHS PREFER
New research by Iowa State University scientists suggest monarchs prefer certain types of milkweed when laying their eggs. This data, collected over three years at multiple sites across Iowa, will help make the best use of time, energy and money invested in restoration of milkweed habitat. More
ANTI-GMO SENTIMENT HAS REPERCUSSIONS FOR DEVELOPING WORLD 
Anti-GMO sentiment may be holding back the progress of farmers in some African countries, but Walter Suza, an adjunct professor of agronomy, hopes a new study upholding the safety of Bt corn may help policymakers in Africa implement the technology to fight an emergent pest. The review included a risk assessment that found delaying the adoption of genetically modified crops such as Bt corn in the developing world presents risks to both humans and the environment. More
AG AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING STUDENTS, FACULTY BRING HOME NATIONAL AWARDS
Iowa State University Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering faculty, staff and students received several awards at this year’s Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering Annual Conference in November. The Industrial Technology (ITec) club’s robotics team placed first in the Robotics Competition and received the Stephen Harris Cup. This was the first time the ITec club Robotics team placed first. Gretchen Mosher (’11 PhD industrial and ag technology) associate professor, accepted the association’s Faculty Excellence Award, Charles Schwab, professor, received the Epsilon Pi Tau Distinguished Service Citation and Chad Dolphin (’17 industrial technology), received the Kate and Cliff Strandberg Masters Student Scholarship. More
FUND ISU: CHANGE LIVES WITH CSRL UGANDA LIVESTOCK INTEGRATION PROGRAM
The ISU Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods invites you to share in changing the lives of farmers and children in rural Uganda by supporting the expansion of livestock production, improved animal health and increased animal-source foods. Learn how you can change lives with a gift of eight chicks, a goat and vaccinations, an above ground water tank and more. More
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
- Saturated Riparian Buffers Show Promise as Water-Quality Practice
- Website Teaches Students Animal Care Basics
- Researchers Discover a Mechanism Cyst Nematodes Use to Reprogram Plant Host Cells
- Iowa State Leads Research to Increase Pig Survivability
Alumni News
KNOBLOCH RECEIVES NATIONAL DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AWARD
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture presented the inaugural National Experiment Station Section Diversity and Inclusion Award to the Mentoring@Purdue team, co-led by Neil Knobloch (’92 ag and life sciences education, ’92 ag extension education, MS ’97 ag education and studies). The award recognizes efforts that aspire to achieve consistent, holistic and inclusive excellence. The award was presented at the 131st Annual Meeting of the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities on Nov. 11 in New Orleans, Louisiana. More
ISAACSON NAMED FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
 Richard “Dick” Isaacson (’72 ag business, ’75 MS ag economics), founder and owner of Agri-Management Services in Marion, has been recognized as the 2018 Professional Farm Manager of the Year, an award co-sponsored by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, Syngenta and Farm Journal’s AgPro magazine. Since its founding, he has grown his company to serve more than 50 clients in six states. Hear more of Isaacson’s story in this video.
DE JONG HONORED BY AG FUTURE OF AMERICA
 Amanda De Jong (’02 ag business), state executive director for the Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA), was honored with Agriculture Future of America (AFA) with the Young Leader in Agriculture Award in November. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions within the food and agriculture industry and have a record of supporting career and leader development for young people in agriculture. De Jong (’02 ag business) has been involved in AFA as a participant and now active volunteer. More
CALS GRADS RECOGNIZED BY IOWA FARM BUREAU
Several College of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduates were honored during the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's 100th annual meeting Dec. 3-5. Alle Bailey (’11 animal science) and her husband, Ryan Bailey, farmers near Diagonal, won the Young Farmer Achievement Award. Alle also won the Young Farmer Discussion Meet. Beth Baudler (’11 animal science), farmer near Fontanelle and cattle specialist for Iowa Gold, LLC; was honored with the Young Farmer Leadership Award. Dean Lemke (’72 ag engineering), farmer near Dows, received the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
ALUMS HONORED AS WOMEN IMPACTING AG
CALS alumni were recently honored as “Women Impacting Agriculture,” by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program:
- Sarah Carlson (’08 MS sustainable ag, crop production and physiology), strategic initiatives director at Practical Farms of Iowa
- Leslie Miller (’02 ag business), vice president and agricultural loan officer at Iowa State Savings Bank
- Val Plagge (’06 ag and life sciences education), farmer near Latimer and blogger at Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
The honor recognizes Iowa women who make positive changes and create a more sustainable Iowa by improving economic resiliency and stability, conserving natural resources and serving as influential leaders, family members and volunteers. More
ROBISON WELCOMES GROW IOWA AG ALUMNI, FRIENDS
Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen (’88 PhD entomology) and incoming Endowed Dean of CALS Daniel Robison (pictured) were among the speakers at the Grow Iowa Agriculture event Dec. 10. The grassroots organization led by Jim Christensen ('80 farm operation), met with alumni and friends, students, farmers and legislators in support of Iowa State University's legislative priorities. Learn more on the Alliance for Iowa State website and follow Grow Iowa Agriculture on Facebook to keep up with their efforts. The organization’s next event is the Grow Iowa Ag legislative day at the Iowa Capitol, March 26 from 7-9 a.m. For details e-mail growagforiowa@gmail.com.
CONGRATS TO CALS NEWEST ALUMNI
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduates were recognized at convocation Dec. 16. Among the 320 fall graduates, CALS Student Council awardees posed with Associate Dean David Acker (left) and Interim Endowed Dean Joe Colletti (right). From left: Kristen Lowe (’18 agriculture and society, public relations), Outstanding Senior; Kayleigh Koch (’18 ag business), Outstanding Ambassador of Agriculture; Hannah Corey (’19 agronomy), Academic Achievement; Stephanie McMillan (’18 ag and life sciences education, global resource systems), Distinguished Service; Hannah Pagel (’18 ag and life sciences education), Leadership Excellence; Mikayla Dolch (’18 ag and life sciences education, international ag), Leadership Excellence; Joi Latson (’18 global resource systems, world languages and cultures, Spanish), Commitment to Diversity. Lowe also served as the convocation speaker, and Latson served as the college's student marshal at university commencement. More
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