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THE PROOF IS IN THE PATENTS: IOWA STATE INNOVATES |
For the fifth time, the ISU Research Foundation, which processes and holds patents tied to Iowa State research, has made the annual list of top 100 worldwide universities granted U.S. patents. In 2019, Iowa State had 38 patents – 10 of which included a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researcher. From new methods to increase the shelf-life of perishable products, to soil nitrate sensing systems, to advancements in harvesters and more, CALS researchers continue to innovate. More |
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HELPING FOOD-INSECURE IOWANS |
The ISU Meats Laboratory is teaming up with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa beef associations to offer the Beef Up Iowa program. Beef processed will be supplied to Iowa food pantries, and initial cattle will be sourced from Iowa 4-H and FFA members. To donate to support this program, visit the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. More |
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STUDENTS TUNE IN FOR ALTERNATE INTERNSHIPS |
When microbiology students lost internships due to COVID-19, Nancy Boury, plant pathology and microbiology, decided to host a digital internship for students to annotate the American Society for Microbiology podcast for easier use by faculty. Students are learning about the science while listening and their efforts make it easier for faculty to find topics for classroom use. More |
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ABE STUDENTS MAKE DESK SHIELDS |
Students in agricultural and biosystems engineering (ABE) have been creating Plexiglass desk shields, under the direction of Hoa Chi, an ABE teaching lab coordinator, to help minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus when on campus. As of now, Chi’s team has about 50 to 60 requests for desk shields and has offered to make them for others within the Iowa State community. More |
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LARGEST, LONGEST WETLANDS RESEARCH CONFIRMS BENEFITS |
Fifteen years of wetlands research by Iowa State – a study thought to be the largest and longest running project of its kind in the country – clarifies their performance as highly beneficial systems for reducing nitrogen pollution. The research provides extensive data to assess their costs and benefits, and results demonstrate wetlands’ substantial capacity to reduce nitrogen loads over a broad range of weather and loading conditions. More |
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CONSERVATION BEST PRACTICES MANUAL, WEBINAR |
A new, how-to manual of best management practices for cover crops, no-till and strip-tillage, diverse rotations and edge-of-field practices is now available as a free download from the ISU Extension Store and introduced in this Iowa Learning Farms webinar. The “Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual” brings together diverse expertise to guide operators, landowners and conservation professionals in successfully implementing these practices. More |
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VIDEO: RETIRED POPCORN BREEDER KEEPS POPPIN’ |
Ken Ziegler served as Iowa State’s Iowa Corn Yield Test Program leader and developed and became the university’s Popcorn Breeding Program project leader from 1977 until his retirement in 2004. Following retirement, he continued breeding and popping popcorn to improve its overall quality. Video |
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ANIMAL SCIENTISTS ELLINWOOD, ROTHSCHILD RETIRE |
Two long-serving animal science faculty are retiring this month. Max Rothschild, C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, retires June 29, and Matthew Ellinwood, associate professor, retires June 30. Rothschild, a globally recognized leader in swine genetics, has been with the university for 40 years. Ellinwood has become a renowned expert on MPS (a mucopolysaccharide disease) over the past 22 years, and will become the inaugural Chief Scientific Officer of the National MPS Society following his retirement. |
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A NEW CHAPTER IN ISU'S “FORAGES” LEGACY |
A new volume of the classic textbook “Forages: The Science of Grassland Agriculture” is available. First published by Iowa State College Press, Volume II of the 7th edition represents a legacy of Iowa State contributions to plant science spanning nearly 70 years, from Harold D. Hughes to Kenneth Moore. Moore, C. F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred Professor in agronomy, is senior editor of the updated publication used around the world. More |
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CHASE HONORED FOR SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE |
Centenarian Sherret Chase was presented the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award for Sustained Excellence for his ground-breaking work in plant breeding. Chase served as a professor of botany and plant pathology from 1947-1954. He developed the "monoploid method," which accelerated the speed of selection for desirable traits resulting in stronger strains of maize. He was presented the award on March 6 at the Raymond F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium. More |
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MERSCHMAN SEEDS PARTNERS WITH SOYBEAN RESEARCH CENTER |
Merschman Seeds, located in Westpoint, Iowa, has joined the Iowa Soybean Research Center as an industry partner. In this role, Merschman Seeds provides financial support and will have representation on the center’s industry advisory council. More |
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FARM DONATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CALS STUDENTS |
An Iowa Century Farm donated by Pottawattamie County resident, Barbara J. Green, to the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation will provide annual scholarships for students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. More |
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LUBING SYSTEMS GIVES EGG CONVEYOR SYSTEM TO NEW POULTRY FARM |
Lubing Systems, headquartered in Cleveland, Tenn., has gifted a state-of-the-art egg conveyor system to Iowa State’s new Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm. The system assures the eggs safely arrive in the packing area soon after being laid. More |
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IN MEMORIAM: WALLACE HUFFMAN, ECONOMICS |
Wallace Huffman, economics and Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, died June 10. He was 76. Earlier this year, Huffman (’66 farm operation) celebrated 45 years of teaching and research at Iowa State. Throughout his career he supervised 28 doctoral dissertations and 14 master’s degree theses, and left an impact in the field of agricultural economics. In 2017 he received the Publication of Enduring Quality award by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association for a book that he co-authored titled Science for Agriculture: A Long-Term Perspective. |
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IN MEMORIAM: HAROLD CRAWFORD, AG EDUCATION |
Harold Crawford, agricultural education and studies professor, died May 27. He was 95. Crawford (’69 PhD ag and life sciences education) came to Iowa State in 1965 as an agricultural education instructor, became a professor and then served as department head. He also served as associate dean and director of international agricultural programs for the college. In 2011, the Harold and Rachel Crawford Agricultural Teacher Education Complex in Curtiss Hall was dedicated. Alumni and friends may honor Crawford with a gift to the Dr. Harold R. Crawford Memorial Fund online by including Crawford’s name in the “Honorary and Memorial Gifts” notation space. |
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JOHNSON ON JACK TRICE ATHLETE, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY MAJOR |
ISU Alumni Association President and CEO Jeff Johnson recently visited with The Des Moines Register about what it means for Iowa State to have the only Division I football stadium named for an African American – Jack Trice. The first African American athlete at Iowa State, Trice died due to injuries suffered during a college football game. Johnson says, while the stadium is a huge source of pride, what’s really worth celebrating is that Iowa State welcomed Trice as a Black student in the 1920s. “He was studying animal husbandry… Jack had a goal that when he got his degree he wanted to go south to help Black farmers… The pride is that Iowa State did the right thing,” Johnson said. More |
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QUINN, ESTES: HEALING THROUGH THE STORIES OF 'A MAN NAMED GEORGE' |
Amb. Kenneth Quinn and Simon Estes recently co-authored an Iowa View editorial for The Des Moines Register connecting the legacies of George Floyd and George Washington Carver. “How George Washington Carver became one of Iowa’s greatest heroes and America’s most significant agricultural scientists is an inspiring story, one with the power to help heal the open wound of racism that is now so bitterly and painfully afflicting our country,” they wrote. Quinn is a retired president of the World Food Prize Foundation and Estes is an adjunct professor in the ISU Department of Music and F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence. More |
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WINTERSTEEN RECEIVES NATIONAL EXTENSION AWARD |
Wendy Wintersteen (’88 PhD entomology), president of Iowa State, is the recipient of the 2020 National Ruby Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), the national honor society for extension professionals. The award recognizes outstanding thinking, performance and leadership in extension. Wintersteen has served Iowa State for more than 40 years and began her career as an extension integrated pest management specialist. She will receive the award in October at the 2020 National ESP Conference. More |
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LATHAM, SCHWEIGERT ELECTED TO ASTA LEADERSHIP |
CALS alumni have been elected to the American Seed Trade Association officer team. John Latham (’92 ag business), pictured, president of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds in Alexander, Iowa, will serve in the role of chair. Bill Latham (’63 agronomy), John's father, served as chair from 1997-1998. Jim Schweigert (’12 MS seed technology and business), president of Gro Alliance, LLC in Cuba City, Wis., will serve as second vice-chair. Latham and Schweigert will begin their roles on July 1. More |
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CALS ALUMNI AMONG SEED INDUSTRY'S TOP YOUNG LEADERS |
Three college alumni have been recognized as a “Top 10 Next Gen Leader” by Seed World. Honorees are considered leaders who influence the direction of the American and global seed industry. More
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Will Cornelius (’09 agronomy, seed science, ’13 MS seed technology and business), vice president of Cornelius Seed
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Kevin Falk (’19 PhD plant breeding), integrated field sciences research scientist at Corteva Agriscience
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Brandi Payne (’19 MS agronomy), research technology lead at Beck’s Hybrids
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FICHTERS NAMED CYCLONE FAMILY OF THE YEAR |
The Fichter family from Shenandoah, Iowa, has been named the 2020 Cyclone Family of the Year. The honor is annually awarded during Cyclone Family Weekend, traditionally celebrated in the fall. This year, due to COVID-19, Cyclone Family Weekend has been canceled. The Family of the Year Award is given to a family that shows a strong connection and pride for Iowa State University. More
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Corby Fichter (’80 ag business) and Jean Fichter (’81 home economics education)
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Austin Fichter (’15 ag business, international ag) and Jourdan Fichter (’15 elementary education)
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Adam Fichter (’15 ag business, international ag) and Marissa Fichter (’15 liberal studies)
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Heidi Fichter (senior, ag and life sciences education)
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Want to share career news or accomplishments with fellow alumni and friends? Email editor Melea Reicks Licht at mreicks@iastate.edu. |
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