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College News
"ER" FOR PLANTS AIDS HOBBYISTS, PROFESSIONALS
The ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic helps to identify and treat a range of plant and insect problems. Whether you’re a professional fruit or vegetable grower, a turf manager on a golf course or a private homeowner with a sick oak tree, the team of diagnosticians will help clients respond to pests and plant diseases efficiently and effectively. Lina Rodriguez, left, is one of the clinic’s diagnosticians. Laura Jesse (’98 animal ecology, MS ’01 entomology, PhD ’06 entomology and ecology and evolutionary biology), right, is the clinic’s director.
CONTINUED RESPONSE TO AVIAN FLU OFFERS ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUTH POULTRY PROJECTS
Iowa State University continues to respond to the outbreak of avian influenza that has claimed nearly 32 million laying hens, pullets, and turkeys in Iowa since April. The estimated economic impact is $1 billion. Campus experts and county extension offices continue to answer questions and supply biosecurity information on flocks of all sizes, including 4-H poultry projects. Graduate student Zachary Brown and Amy Powell, ISU Extension and Outreach, developed a poultry quiz for youth in place of exhibiting poultry at this summer’s county fairs. Iowa State researchers continue efforts to help prevent or be better prepared for another incident. An ISU Research Park company led by emeritus animal scientist and ISU alum Hank Harris, Harrisvaccines, is testing a vaccine; plans are in the works for a national workshop on innovative approaches for vaccines; ISU Extension and Outreach is providing research-based resources and translating many into Spanish; and the Egg Industry Center has attracted additional research funding from external sources. Read more on Iowa State University’s response at the peak of the outbreak and continued work to protect birds.
SUMMER PROGRAM NURTURES STUDENT DIVERSITY
Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky, CALS’s new multicultural liaison officer is expanding and nurturing discussions to promote an understanding of diversity on campus. The Academic Program for Excellence (APEX), an eight-week summer program currently underway, is doing just that. APEX helps underrepresented freshmen get a feel for campus and the resources available to them before their fall semester. Led by Martinez-Podolsky, the program allows students to take classes, network with peers and participate in both professional and social activities.
SWENSON LOGS MILES FOR MARATHONS, POLICY ANALYSIS
Dave Swenson, economics, ran his first marathon in 1999. It was such a painful experience he thought he’d never run another. But this spring, Swenson completed his 200th race. The determination required to train and run that many miles is also applied to his work. In his 23 years at ISU, Swenson has published reports on everything from the value of Iowa’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors to the cost and return on financial incentives and tax breaks provided to businesses. His reputation has made him a go-to for policy analysis.
STUDENT SHARES INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON WATER
Pacifique Mugwaneza Simon, a senior in agricultural systems technology and a summer intern with Iowa Learning Farms and Water Rocks!, wrote about making a difference in a recent blog post. Simon is originally from Burundi, but spent most of his childhood in refugee camps throughout Rwanda, Congo and Tanzania. “Growing up in a different part of the world, I saw first-hand how agriculture and natural resources are vital to everyone,” Simon wrote. “I hope to one day return to East Africa, to Burundi, so that I may impart what I have learned.” Water Rocks! is a science-based public awareness campaign that recently brought home 29 awards from the Iowa Motion Picture Association for educational videos on water issues.
CROP MARKETING 101 DELIVERS FINANCIAL FUNDAMENTALS
Iowa farmers can access a new series of educational videos on grain marketing fundamentals from their home computer or mobile device. Crop Marketing 101 consists of 10 videos featuring faculty and staff from ISU Extension and Outreach. View on the Ag Decision Maker website or the ISU Extension and Outreach’s Agricultural and Natural Resources YouTube channel.
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
Join us Sept. 5 at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center, prior to the ISU vs. UNI football game!
Visit with fellow alums, students, faculty and friends from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. with a program by Dean Wendy Wintersteen at 5 p.m. Enjoy Hickory Park BBQ and the new CALS Kid’s Corner! Registration requested by Aug. 21. A free will donation (suggested $5 per person) to help defray meal costs will be accepted at the door.
Alumni News
MOLINE TESTIFIES ON IMPACT OF AVIAN INFLUENZA
 Brad Moline (’02 animal science, dairy science), a turkey producer near Manson, Iowa, testified to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry earlier this month regarding the impact of avian influenza. Moline lost 56,000 turkeys and two-thirds of his annual income when the outbreak hit his operation. The third-generation turkey farmer came to the committee with recommendations critical to eradicating the disease – depopulation within 24 hours, streamlined disposal, consistent repopulation strategy, viable vaccine and the necessity for a coordinated and enhanced focus on biosecurity. View a feature on the testimony on IPTV.org.
TAYLOR’S ROLAND-STORY AG PROGRAM TOP IN IOWA
 Brad Taylor’s (’78 ag and life sciences education, ’00 MS professional ag) agricultural education program at Roland-Story Community Schools was recognized by the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators as the 2015 Iowa Middle School/Secondary School Program of the Year. Taylor has been with the Roland-Story School District for 37 years. He is shown (at left) receiving the award from ISU agriculture and life sciences professor Robert Martin. Taylor sees more than 100 students annually in his classes from a variety of backgrounds, including those with no previous experience in agriculture.
ALSTON FEATURED IN CELEBRATION OF 1890S LAND-GRANTS
Since their inception 125 years ago with passage of the Second Morrill Act, the 1890 land-grant universities have had a major impact on the lives of students in the field of food and agricultural science. Antoine Alston (PhD ’00 agricultural and life sciences education), professor and associate dean for academic studies in North Carolina A&T State University’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, was recently featured in the USDA’s blog for creating a program that provides students access to educational tools. Alston was the 2014 recipient of the George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award
from the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
HARL, JORDAHL, PERSINGER ELECTED ISU FOUNDATION GOVERNORS
Three agriculture and life sciences alumni are among nine recently elected governors of the Iowa State University Foundation. Neil Harl (’55 ag and life sciences education, PhD ’65 economics) is a retired distinguished professor at Iowa State University and a 2013 Order of the Knoll Faculty and Staff Award recipient. Don Jordahl (’58 ag and life sciences education) of West Des Moines, Iowa, is a retired founder of Iowa Banking Magazine and an alumni medal recipient. Charlie Persinger (’81 ag and life sciences education) of Lawrence, Kansas, is director of university ceremonies and special events at the University of Kansas. “The foundation’s governors serve as ambassadors and advocates for Iowa State and the foundation, providing volunteer and financial support to benefit the university,” says Larissa Holtmyer Jones, president and CEO of the Iowa State University Foundation.
YOUNG ALUMNI LEAGUE LAUNCHES SECOND YEAR
Members of the college's young alumni initiative, Curtiss League, visited campus for training and facility tours on June 26. Members assist the college in recruitment, advocacy and awareness efforts. The 2015 Curtiss League includes 141 members in 18 states, representing 22 CALS majors.
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