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College News
VIEWS AND VOICES ON WATER QUALITY RESEARCH
The Agriculture Drainage Research and Demonstration Site near Gilmore City, Iowa, recently featured in STORIES magazine, has played an important role for 25 years in supplying long-term information on how farm practices impact the quality of water in Iowa. Take a trip to the site in a new video from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and hear from researchers, thought leaders and partners on the impact of research from the site.
COVER CROPS ON ISU RESEARCH FARMS UP 83 PERCENT
Over the past year, the number of acres of cover crops planted on ISU research farms statewide has increased from 456 to 835 (2014 compared to 2015). Mark Honeyman, coordinator of ISU Research and Demonstration Farms, says the 83 percent increase is due to a mixture of research projects and farm manager awareness, and expects to see this trend continue over time. Cover crops have been gaining popularity as one way to reduce nutrient loss from crop fields.
AG AND LIFE SCIENCES JOB FAIR DRAWS NEW RECRUITERS
The spring version of Iowa State University’s agriculture and life sciences job fair Feb. 3 has attracted a group of new employers recruiting students. “What is most exciting is that 20 percent of the organizations scheduled to participate were not at the fall career day or have never recruited here before. This is certainly very encouraging for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students,” said Mike Gaul, director of CALS Career Services. More
HEATON: BIOFUEL AS A WINE BLEND, COAL’S PLANT PAST
Emily Heaton, associate professor of agronomy, was recently interviewed by the Des Moines Register for her work in biofuel crops including a partnership that’s reducing carbon dioxide emissions below baseline at the University of Iowa’s coal-fired power plant. Listen as Heaton explains her research including coal as part of a plant’s life cycle and diluting fossil fuels with clean energy fuels. More
USING NEW TECH TO IMPROVE GLOBAL HARVEST STORAGE
Dirk Maier, agricultural and biosystems engineering and associate director of the Global Food Security Consortium, is using computer simulations and inexpensive drying and storage technologies to help farmers in developing countries save more of their harvests. Maier’s research focuses on post-harvest loss prevention and global food security. More
STRONGER PLANTS FROM THE ROOTS UP
Plant scientists better understand the mechanisms governing root development — opening the door to improving crop productivity — through work done at Iowa State University. Guru Rao, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, and his research team collaborated with an international group of scientists on the discovery that was presented last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More
GROWING FARM BUSINESSES
Farming is big business and training farmers to manage and build their business is the goal of a new program offered to aspiring, new and established farmers. ISU Extension and Outreach, through a grant from USDA, will offer an eight-week program geared toward helping participants plan, market and manage their farm. More
FUND REQUEST HAS STUDENTS, AG RESEARCH IN FOCUS
With more than 36,000 students attending Iowa State University, the Regent's legislative request in the Iowa General Assembly has never been more important. This year, Iowa State is requesting a 4.5% increase ($8.2 million) in recurring funds that will be used to bolster programs and initiatives related to student success. Incremental funds are requested to support the on-going efforts of the Agriculture Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and more. Visit the Alliance for Iowa State online to become familiar with Iowa State University's legislative priorities and fund requests.
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
College Events
Jan. 27-28: Iowa Pork Congress, Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Iowa Pork Industry Center and ISU faculty and staff will be available in booth 1127.
Jan. 28-29: Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference, FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Presenters from ISU include experts from food science and human nutrition, entomology, horticulture and more.
Jan. 29, 7 p.m.: “Map of My Kingdom,” Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. A play about land transition presented by Iowa Public Radio and performed as part of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Beginning Farmer Center “Returning to the Farm” seminar.
Feb. 2-3: Soil Health Conference, Scheman Building in Ames. Hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach, CALS and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m.: CALS Cyclone Women’s Basketball Pregame Reception, Scheman Building in Ames. Following the reception, the college will be featured throughout the game, including an on-court award presentation for the 2016 CALS Emerging Iowa Leader, Andrew Lauver (’12 ag studies).
Feb. 23-25: 60th Annual Iowa State University Shade Tree Short Course, Scheman Building in Ames. The annual event is sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association and the Iowa Arborist Association.
Alumni News
AUGUSTINE NAMED FARM BUREAU ENTREPRENEUR OF YEAR
Ryan Augustine (’12 agricultural studies), center, was recently awarded the Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year award for his startup business, AccuGrain. AccuGrain competed against three national finalists for the title Jan. 11-13 in Orlando, Florida, at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. This is the second year in a row the honor has been given to a CALS grad and participant in the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative (AgEI) program. More
HALL ELECTED TO CARGILL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Todd Hall (’82 animal science), a member of Cargill’s executive team and leader of the company’s protein and salt businesses, has been elected to the Cargill Board of Directors. Hall has held several management positions with Cargill since joining the company in 1982. He was appointed president of Cargill's animal nutrition business in 2004 and took on a broader role in 2008, leading the company's poultry operations in Central America, China, Europe, Thailand and the U.S. More
CLARK ROTARY GLOBAL SCHOLAR, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
YOUNG EXPLORER
Dylan Clark (’14 global resource systems, environmental studies) offers a vivid description of life in the Artic in a recent Ames Tribune article. Clark is conducting graduate research about the impact of climate change on Inuit hunters with the Department of Geography at McGill University. “Inuit food, health and identity is still largely tied to the land, similar to our economic and cultural dependence on the rich soil, predictable spring rains and summer swelters in Iowa,” says Clark. More
COMMUNICATORS OF TODAY SUPPORT COMMUNICATORS OF TOMORROW
A group of agricultural journalism alumni created the Ag Communications Enrichment Fund last year to support the undergraduate Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club. Lynn Henderson (’74 ag journalism), Agri Marketing magazine, Kelly Schwalbe (’82 ag journalism), Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe, and Betsy Freese (’84 ag journalism), Meredith Agrimedia, led the effort. Support from the fund allows students to attend professional development conferences including this Iowa State contingent attending the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Conference in Kansas City in November. At the conference, students and Virginia Hanson, agricultural education and studies lecturer, met with ISU alumni Henderson, Schwalbe, Jodi Henke (’86 journalism and mass communication) and Sara Wyant (’80 journalism and mass communication).
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