150 Points of Pride

The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has a proud and distinguished history. As part of Iowa State's sesquicentennial celebration, 150 points of pride related to the College - accomplishments, discoveries, contributions, highlights, famous and interesting people - will be posted here. These postings will coincide with 150 days of the 2007-2008 academic year, beginning Aug. 20, 2007 and ending May 2, 2008, with time off for the Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks. Check back each Monday for five new items.

Poultry science a feather in ISU's cap

Iowa State's poultry research program is home to the world's oldest inbred research lines of chickens, a unique and invaluable resource for making improvements to poultry. The chicken lines date as far back as 1925 and originate from many areas, including birds imported from Egypt and Spain. Arne Nordskog led the influential poultry science program at ISU for more than 40 years. He was succeeded in the 1980s by Susan Lamont, a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences and an international leader in poultry genetics and avian immunogenetics. ISU's research flock is a powerful tool for genetics research to improve disease resistance, growth and food safety.

Fast Fact: In 2005, ISU provided hundreds of poultry germplasm samples to the U.S. National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colo., which conserves animal and plant genetics deemed important to nation's agriculture.

That certain something in soyfoods

For many years, Iowa State researchers have been leaders in exploring the potential human health benefits of isoflavones, a set of compounds found in soybean-based foods that have promising traits for protecting against cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and other health threats. Food science and human nutrition scientists, including Patricia Murphy, Suzanne Hendrich, Lee Alekel, Manju Reddy and others, have studied isoflavones. ISU work resulted in a national isoflavones database that detailed the content of the compounds in many foods.

Fast Fact: Because of her research with soy isoflavones (and with toxins in corn), University Professor Patricia Murphy has been one of the world's most-cited researchers in agricultural and life sciences.

A trusted agricultural economist

From the 1960s until his retirement at the end of 2004, agricultural economist Neil Harl was one of the most well-known, respected (and quoted) voices on agricultural issues in the nation. Harl, a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences and emeritus professor of economics, was a trusted resource for ISU Extension programs and an influential adviser to state and federal agencies. He served on national advisory groups focused on issues of farm tax reform, farm structure, technology assessment, agricultural biotechnology and federal payment limitations in agriculture. Harl's influence extended to nearly 20 countries, where he conducted agricultural banking, credit and finance schools in many countries and advised governments with emerging agricultural economies. Still active today as an emeritus professor, Harl's major fields of law interest include estate planning and taxation, business planning and agricultural law. He has published nearly 30 books, more than 400 professional papers and nearly 900 articles in farm and financial publications.

Fast Fact: Harl has received dozens of major awards during his career, including the USDA Superior Service Award in 1987, the Service to American/World Agriculture Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 2006, the ISU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985 and the Henry A. Wallace Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1987.

Cutting-edge work in soybean viruses

When it comes to expertise in plant viruses, all eyes turn to Bessey Hall and the team of scientists who've built a strong reputation for innovative research on viral-based soybean diseases. Led by plant pathologist John Hill, the researchers have scored several breakthroughs over the years, including development of a viral technology for identifying genes involved in protecting soybeans from bacterial pathogens; studies of bean pod mottle virus strains to better understand how the disease develops and evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies; and development of novel technology to "track" released virus strains through disease epidemics caused by the soybean mosaic virus.

Fast Fact: In 1999, Hill and his colleagues developed the first stable, genetically engineered disease resistance in soybeans.

Public investment in ag research pays off

Do taxpayers' investments in agricultural research pay off? Yes, indeed, to the tune of an approximate 50 percent annual rate of return to society. That's the conclusion of a series of studies led by Wallace Huffman, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences and professor of economics, and his colleagues at Yale University. Huffman has established an international reputation for research on human capital in agriculture, agricultural labor markets, public funding of research and development and the structure and management of agricultural research. He is widely recognized as the foremost international authority in the first three areas and a global leader in the last. His study of research and development had immediate policy implications. With agricultural research and development, Huffman found that taxpayer dollars spent at the nation's land-grant universities and federal labs have been a wise investment - they've yielded a 50 percent (or more) annual rate of return on investment since 1970. (In the same time period, the S&P 500's average rate of return was 8.5 percent.) The return on investment translates into such benefits as safer foods, more nutritious diets, cleaner environment, stronger communities and a more productive, efficient production agriculture.

Fast Fact: Huffman's 1994 book, Science for Agriculture: A Long-Term Perspective, was one of the most anticipated books ever published in agriculture and attracted attention far beyond economics.

*Some historic photographs courtesy of the University Archives.

150 Points of Pride Archives