Ag and Life Sciences ONLINE

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COLLEGE NEWS
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IOWA STATE PART OF NEW FOOD SAFETY NETWORK
The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service has awarded $5 million to 17 institutions, including Iowa State, to establish a new Food Safety Research and Response Network. The network, spearheaded by North Carolina State University, will include a team of more than 50 food safety experts who will investigate several of the most prevalent food-related illness pathogens. The group also will serve as a response team that can be mobilized to conduct focused research to control major episodes of food-related illnesses, including the investigation of health problems associated with agricultural bioterrorism. More: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/releases/2005releases/food_safety05.html

ALUMS TO RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED AWARDS APRIL 8
Two College of Agriculture alumni will be among those honored next month with university's highest honors presented to alumni. Marvin Walter of Ames will be presented one of three ISU Foundation's Order of the Knoll awards. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science in 1962 and 1964. Lloyd Anderson of Ames will be presented a Distinguished Achievement Award. He earned bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in animal science in 1957 and 1961, and is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture in Animal Science. The Distinguished Awards Ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 3:15 p.m., April 8 , in the Memorial Union Sun Room.

POWERPOINT DESIGN TOPIC OF AG COMM MEETING MARCH 22
The next Ag Comm seminar will feature Deb Satterfield of the College of Design delivering "Advanced Visual Communications: Designing & Using Powerpoint Effectively." It will begin at noon, March 22, in 8 Curtiss. A light lunch will be served. RSVP Cheryl Abrams, 4-5872 or cabrams@iastate.edu. Contact: Robert Martin, 4-0896 or drmartin@iastate.edu.

AST CLUB SCHEDULES LAWN MOWER SERVICE DAYS
The Agricultural Systems Technology Club will hold its Lawn Mower Service Days April 1 and 2. Lawn mowers can be dropped off in the Davidson Hall courtyard from noon to 5 p.m., April 1, or from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 2. Pick up and delivery also is available by calling 4-0462. Service includes an oil change, a new spark plug, cleaning the air filter, blade sharpening and washing. The cost is $27 for push mowers and $32 for riding mowers. Delivery and pick-up costs $13 for a push mower and $18 for a riding mower.

ISU DAIRY SCIENCE CLUB TO RAFFLE BASKETBALLS
For $2, one lucky Cyclone fan could own basketballs signed by members of the Iowa State men's and women's basketball teams. That's the price of a raffle ticket for a Dairy Science Club fundraiser for the Alison Ciancio Memorial Foundation. Details: http://www.iastate.edu/~nscentral/releases/2005/mar/dairysci.shtml

ISU FRATERNITY CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL, HOSTS CONFERENCE
The Iowa State chapter of Alpha Zeta will host the 49th national Biennial Conclave and National Agriculture Leadership Conference April 7 to 9 at the Comfort Inn in Ames. The centennial of Iowa State’s Wilson Chapter also will be celebrated. Learn more: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2005releases/azconf.html

GRANTS FUND DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
Thirteen grants totaling more than $80,000 have been awarded to support research and development for innovative Iowa businesses that focus on sustainably raised flax, switchgrass, produce, pork and dairy products. The grants are from the Value Chain Partnerships for a Sustainable Agriculture project at Iowa State. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2005/vcpsa_031005.htm

IOWA LEARNING FARM PROJECT ANNOUNCED
Iowa State is one of the sponsors of the new Iowa Learning Farm project. The five-year project will demonstrate and promote conservation systems with an emphasis on conservation tillage, cropping systems and nutrient management. Details: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2005/mar05/mar0507.html

HIGHER FUEL PRICES PUSH UP FARM CUSTOM RATES
With prices for diesel fuel up 50 percent or more from a year ago, farm custom rates have begun to creep upwards as well, according to results of the Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey. The annual survey conducted by Iowa State sampled 185 farmers, custom operators, farm managers and lenders. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2005/mar05/mar0505.html

DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
March 15: Proposal deadline, Grants for Distance Education Program, http://www.brenton.iastate.edu/grant.htm
March 31: Nomination deadline, 2005 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2005/spencer_020805.htm
April 5: Gamma Sigma Delta awards banquet, 5 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union
April 12: Science in Ag Day workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., http://www.agstudent.iastate.edu/biorenewables/biorenewables.htm

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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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SIGHT, SITE AND CITE
A “sight” may be something worth seeing ("the sights of London") or a device to aid the eye ("the sight of a gun"). A “site” is a place, whether physical ("a mall will be built on this site") or electronic ("web site”). The figurative expression “to set one's sight” means to focus on a goal. As a noun, “cite” is colloquial for citation, which refers to a source of information ("a cite to Encyclopedia Britannica")
(Chicago Manual of Style, 2003, 15th edition)

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INFOGRAZING
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AGRICULTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES REPORT RELEASED
Employment opportunities for U.S. college graduates with training in the food, agricultural and natural resources system are expected to remain strong during the next five years, according to an employment study initiated by CSREES. This year's study identifies 52,000 annual job openings for new graduates during 2005-2010, and some 49,300 qualified graduates available each year for these positions. Management and business will yield the most opportunities. The study identified four factors that will define the market for graduates in the next five years: consumers and their preferences; evolving business structure in the U.S. food system; new development in science and technology; and public policy choices and food system security. More: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/news/csrees_news/05news/empstudy.html

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EXTERNAL VOICES
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SPRING BECKONS
“Spring has many American faces. There are cities where it will come and go in a day and counties where it hangs around and never quite gets there.”
-- Archibald MacLeish, poet, (1892-1982)

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MARGINALIA
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‘CARB-FRIENDLY’ DOESN’T CUT IT WITH DIALECT EXPERTS
In January, the American Dialect Society chose its Words of the Year for 2004. To be nominated, a word or phrase must be newly prominent, though not necessarily a new coinage. Winner of the “Most Unnecessary” word was “carb-friendly,” meaning low in carbohydrates. Nominated in the “Most Creative” category was the term “lawn mullet,” referring to a yard neatly mowed in front but unmowed in the back.

Next issue: March 21

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AG ONLINE
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EDITOR
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/

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