http://www.ag.iastate.edu/ Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - News Releases http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/806/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:07:49 -0600 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/806/
“I believe that you can push students, whether first-year or upper-class, if you consistently remind them of where they will use the building blocks of their education and how it will enhance future success in the classroom or in their career,” Kenealy said.

An Iowa State alum, Kenealy joined the animal science faculty in 1975 and established a record as an exceptional teacher, adviser and a leader in curriculum development in animal science. Throughout his career he has taught or advised more than 13,000 students.

Kenealy received the award on Nov. 11 in Washington, D.C. The award is based on teaching quality, philosophy and methodology; service to the profession and students; and professional growth and development. It requires endorsements by an administrator, colleague and alumnus.

David Acker, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ associate dean of academic and global programs, supported Kenealy’s nomination. He says Kenealy’s leadership in revising the animal science curriculum has helped refine ISU’s academic offerings to meet industry demands.

“During his tenure Dr. Kenealy oversaw two complete curricular revisions to meet the needs of a changing student population and changes in career opportunities. The goal in each major overhaul was to make the curriculum, and each individual course, focus on outcomes to enhance learning while improving student success in career and life,” Acker said.

In addition to his significant undergraduate teaching load and graduate advising, Kenealy assists with job placement activities for animal science and dairy science. During his tenure, annual placement rate has never fallen below 90 percent and for the past five years, placement for undergraduates has averaged 97 percent.

Former advisee Conrad Spangler, a practicing veterinarian, said Kenealy’s enthusiasm for animal science and his sincere interest in students has made him an influential mentor for many.

“His lectures in the animal science introductory course were taught in a fun, energetic manner, which is a must when the class meets at 8 a.m.,” said Spangler. “Outside the classroom, Dr. Kenealy provides many students with advice on job opportunities and social issues.”

Kenealy looks back on teaching as his life’s work, but said the process has not been static.

“It began with traditional classroom education, but expanded to include distance education, management of teaching programs and international development. I couldn’t ask for a more rewarding career,” Kenealy said.


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The club received first place for its Web site. The site was recently revamped with the help of club president Justine Hosch, senior, and Peg Uthe, animal science staff member.

The club placed first for its annual yearbook. The 2008-2009 yearbook editors were Kayla Wasson, senior in advertising, and Kassi Williams, senior in animal science.

ISU Block and Bridle received third place in the club activities division. The club works to promote animal agriculture by hosting shows and sales for a variety of livestock species throughout the year, drawing people from across the Midwest. The club also works to educate the public on the importance of agriculture on both the ISU campus and in the Ames community.

“This is a great way to reward all the hard work our club members have put in over the past year,” said Hosch. “These awards wouldn’t be possible without their dedication.”

Hosch was also recognized on an individual basis, receiving second place in the outstanding junior competition. She is involved in the Block and Bridle Club as president, as well as other campus activities including Sigma Alpha and Women in Science and Engineering. Hosch is a senior in animal science with plans to graduate in May 2010.

The Iowa State University Block and Bridle Club is one of the largest clubs on the ISU campus with more than 300 members. For more information visit http://www.ans.iastate.edu/clubs/bbclub/ .]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/803/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:17:52 -0600 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/803/
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students were selected after writing a five-page essay on “The Role of African Americans in Agriculture.” The scholarship competition is sponsored by the Pioneer Black Employee Network.

James is a senior in public service and administration in agriculture. She is from Chicago and is currently the president of both the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS). She also is the freshman action team coordinator for the Black Student Alliance.

King is a graduate student in agronomy with a focus on plant breeding and genetics. He is from Ada, Okla. and has been involved in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, including MANRRS and the Agronomy Graduate Club. He also is the current adviser of Kappa Gamma.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.
]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/802/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:17:22 -0600 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/802/
This fall, those efforts resulted in two national awards for a coalition of soybean researchers around the country, including Iowa State entomologists Matthew O’Neal and Erin Hodgson.

One award is the 2009 National Excellence In Multistate Research Award from the American Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU). The other is the 2009 Integrated Pest Management Team Award from the Entomological Foundation.

The first award was presented Nov. 15 at the APLU annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The project – S1039: Biology, impact and management of soybean insect pests in soybean production systems – began in 2008 and is funded through 2012 by the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES).

This CSREES-funded project has operated since the 1970s through an unbroken string of successive projects forming the foundation for research and extension efforts on national and regional soybean insect problems.

In recent years, the focus has been on the soybean aphid, an invasive bug that arrived from Asia in 2000, and now is well-established in Iowa and across the Midwest. If left untreated, aphids can cause soybean yield losses of 40 to 50 percent.

As a result of the coordinated program led by the S1039 committee, soybean growers in North America now have pest management tools and recommendations to fight the soybean aphid. The committee’s recommendations for using insecticides against the soybean aphid are projected to save U.S. growers $1.3 billion in the next 15 years.

The second award will be presented Dec. 14 at the Entomological Society of America’s annual meeting in Indianapolis. This award goes to the Soybean Aphid Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Team that was formed in December 2000.

Team members developed a simple method growers can use to sample for soybean aphids in their fields, which accelerated the adoption of IPM for the pest. The team continues to collaborate with industry partners to develop aphid resistant varieties, while also working to increase biological controls.

Matthew O’Neal, assistant professor and soybean entomologist with teaching responsibilities, and Erin Hodgson, assistant professor and soybean entomologist with extension responsibilities, are the current Iowa State faculty members involved in the fight against soybean pests. Previously, Iowa State entomologists Larry Pedigo and Marlin Rice were active in national research and outreach efforts.
]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/801/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:56:24 -0600 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/801/
“With Iowa’s number-one ranking, the knowledge we gain from this important scientific advance will add to the competitive advantage of our producers,” said Max Rothschild, who has served as the U.S. Pig Genome Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 1993.

“But ultimately, it’s consumers who’ll benefit,” Rothschild said. “Besides improved pork products, the sequence, or DNA structure, of the pig genome may yield new information important to human health. You can’t pick a better model for studying human diseases than the pig. A deeper understanding of the pig genome should translate into enormous opportunities for treating obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other problems.”

On Monday, Nov. 2, an international team of scientists, including Rothschild, announced that the first draft of the genome of a domesticated pig was completed. The University of Illinois led the project. ISU’s Rothschild was one of the team’s co-directors, who were based at seven institutions in four countries.

The $24.3 million public-private partnership was funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture as well as funding and technical support from many others, including Iowa State University and the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

“We’re excited about the possibilities this scientific breakthrough has for not only pork production, but the implications for human health as well,” said Rich Degner, executive director of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

“This is an important step in the industry’s efforts to continue producing a safe, nutritious source of protein for the world,” Degner said. “IPPA has an excellent working relationship with Iowa State University and we’re pleased to be able to contribute to the university’s efforts in this all-important research.”

The first draft is an important step to be able to answer many questions about the pig.

Iowa State is using genetic sequences identified in the genome project to hunt down genes important for reproduction, feed efficiency, growth rate and disease resistance.

“It’s cutting-edge work,” said Rothschild. “We’re looking for genes associated with a variety of pig production traits. The goal is improved genetics that allows selection of pigs with more favorable growth and health properties, which would increase producers’ profits.”

The advances in swine genomics have led to new research tools. Rothschild said Iowa State contributed to the development of a new technology that dramatically increases the number of genes that can be evaluated simultaneously for traits.

Called the porcine 60K SNP chip, the technology has proven faster, cheaper and much more accurate than previous methods to study the pig’s genetic makeup. “This should help to make a positive impact on swine production profits by identifying a variety of traits that are hard to improve through traditional selection methods,” he said. “We hope to be able to use the knowledge gained to help decrease production costs by several dollars per pig in the near future.”

A major cost for pork producers is buying young sows, or gilts, to replace animals in their herds. “We believe we’ll be able to identify genes that allow sows to be kept in the herd longer,” Rothschild said. “Improved genetics may reduce the number of sows that are culled each year, creating a large savings for producers through lower replacement gilt costs and healthier piglets that gain higher disease immunity by nursing from more mature sows.”

Rothschild said scientists also have found genes linked to improved leg structure that could be used to reduce the number of animals culled each year because of leg problems.

One of Rothschild’s roles in the pig genome project has been to keep the public and industry updated on research progress. As draft genetic sequences have been completed, they have been shared widely on a pig genome website.

Rothschild is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Department of Animal Science. He also is director of ISU’s Center for Integrated Animal Genomics and holds ISU’s Ensminger International Chair, an endowed position that supports international activities in animal science.
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The grant, provided by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), will run from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011, and will cover the implementation phase of the current project funded in conjunction with National Pork Board.

The Professional Swine Manager/Technician Certification Program is designed to meet the industry need for consistent, research-based instruction on all phases of pork production.

“This new grant fits well with our mission in terms of training and education,” says U.S. Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE) Executive Director David Meisinger. “It complements the work of the Swine Science Online project, which involves four-year institutions, by allowing us to focus on two-year institutions and a certification program for all workers.”

Participants in the program may receive two types of certification: certified technician in breeding, farrowing, and/or grow-finishing, and certified swine manager. Courses will be broadcast in real-time to several sites throughout the country. Certification is obtained by successfully completing an on-line, proctored test. Certification and training records will be recorded by USPCE and National Pork Board in a database accessible to employers.

The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence was established in 2005 as a public/private partnership to bring together academic expertise in research, teaching and extension related to pork production. The center is housed at the National Swine Research and Information Center on the Iowa State University campus. USPCE partners include two governmental agencies, the national pork industry associations, 17 state pork producer associations and 24 land-grant universities.

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Dwight Hughes Jr., received the Floyd Andre Award, which recognizes alums who have made outstanding contributions to production agriculture, agricultural business or who have significantly influenced Iowa agriculture.

Hughes was honored for his innovations in the landscape nursery industry. He received his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State in horticulture in 1970 and owns Dwight Hughes Nursery in Cedar Rapids, which is part of the family business that was opened in 1908. He is past president of the American Nursery and Landscape Association. He also has published a book and video on landscape installation and nursery production.

David Wright, received the Henry A. Wallace Award, which was established in 1978 to honor an Iowa State University alumnus who has made an outstanding contribution to national or international agriculture in writing, teaching, research, or leadership

Wright was honored for his leadership in helping university researchers across the United States prioritize research to improve profitability for soybean producers. He received both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in 1982 and 1986 in agronomy at Iowa State, and a doctorate in agronomy from Kansas State University. He began working for the Iowa Soybean Association in 2001 and now serves as the director of contract research and strategic initiatives.

Jerry DeWitt and Charles Sukup received the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award. The award was established to honor Iowa State University alumni and friends for outstanding achievements in the agricultural, food, environmental, social and life sciences.

DeWitt, who has been an Iowa State faculty member since 1972, is a leader in sustainable agriculture at the state, regional and national levels. His 30-year commitment to sustainable agriculture research led to establishing the first tenured organic agriculture faculty position at Iowa State and at a land grant university. He has served as ISU Extension’s state sustainable agriculture coordinator since 1994. In 2005, he became the director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University.

Sukup was honored for his contributions in the engineering of grain handling and storage equipment. His innovations have helped farmers become more productive and profitable. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1976 and his master’s degree in 1982 in agricultural engineering at Iowa State. Sukup lives on a farm near Sheffield and is president of Sukup Manufacturing Co. The company is the world’s largest family-owned manufacturer of grain handling and storage equipment.
]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/798/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:00:18 -0500 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/798/
The European Space Agency will launch the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite Nov. 1 at 7:50 p.m. Iowa time. SMOS is the world's first soil moisture remote sensing satellite. It will generate global maps of soil moisture every two to three days for at least the next three years. The satellite also will map the salinity of the world's oceans.

"These data will help us better understand Earth's weather and climate," said Brian Hornbuckle, associate professor of agronomy at Iowa State.

Hornbuckle and his research group are official members of the SMOS team, which consists of scientists throughout the world. Team members will develop models that translate the raw remote sensing signal measured by SMOS in space to soil moisture and ocean salinity. They also will perform ground experiments to verify that the measurements from the satellite match what is happening on the ground.

"Our group will be active in both activities," Hornbuckle said. "We will assess the effect of dew and precipitation intercepted by crops on the satellite's ability to measure soil moisture. We also will compare our ground measurements of soil moisture with the SMOS measurements."

Those ground measurements are being collected on 200 acres of Iowa State research farmland south of campus. On-site equipment measures soil moisture, precipitation, radiation and evapotranspiration. Remote sensing equipment is taken to the field once a year, to see if data from the on-site monitoring matches data from the remote monitoring.

Hornbuckle is principal investigator for the project, which also involves researchers from the University of Iowa and the USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment at Iowa State. It is funded by a $1.3 million, five-year grant from NASA. 

Hornbuckle has made three trips to Europe to report on the work at Iowa State. "Our participation in the SMOS mission will help us prepare for a more active role in a similar soil moisture mission being planned by NASA that is scheduled for launch in 2014," he said.

"The ultimate goal is to someday use this type of information in conjunction with models to forecast soil moisture conditions, the weather and to detect climate change," he said.

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Editor's Note: Hornbuckle's research group will host an SMOS Launch Party in 3140 Agronomy Hall beginning at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1. Team members will give an overview presentation of the satellite mission and Iowa State's involvement, before watching the satellite launch live at 7:50 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited. For more information, visit here.]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/796/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:31:05 -0500 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/796/
The program will provide middle school science teachers with a summer experience at Iowa State. Selected teachers will spend two weeks with Iowa State faculty and staff working to integrate their environmental research experiences into middle school science curricula.

“We are grateful to AAI for their support, which will enable us to help teachers with new materials that can be used for environmental subjects,” said David Acker, the college's associate dean for academic and global programs. “At the same time it helps us get information out to the schools about the expertise we have at Iowa State in environmental science.”

Teachers who participate will have the opportunity to return to Iowa State for a field trip with their class. The first session is planned for June.

AAI was formed in 1994, as the result of a merger between the Iowa Grain and Feed Association and the Iowa Fertilizer and Chemical Association. The AAI Foundation's goals reflect the interests of the agribusiness industry and benefit its members by promoting research projects, member education and scholarships. ]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/795/ Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:19:55 -0500 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/795/
The Ames couple have pledged $1.5 million toward the construction of a new $7 million facility. The pavilion will enhance animal interaction education and outreach in animal agriculture and is scheduled to be built south of campus on land currently used by the department of animal science’s equine program.

The agriculture pavilion will include a 125-by-250-foot arena with seating for 1,000 people. The arena will be an ideal location for students to gain valuable experience through interactions with animals, including courses, agricultural judging and skills competitions. The arena is also well suited for hosting short courses, training sessions, and livestock, dog and equestrian shows.

The all-weather heated pavilion, with its arena, classrooms and animal holding areas, will serve a broad array of multiple teaching and public events involving many different animal species. Four energy-efficient classrooms accommodating up to 35 people each will be constructed beneath the arena seating area.

“The agriculture pavilion will provide us with a much-needed facility to hold indoor courses in a high-quality learning environment,” said Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa State’s Endowed Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “The pavilion will also provide an inviting environment for recruiting young people who are interested in learning more about the diverse career opportunities in animal agriculture and related fields. It will allow us to showcase a diverse set of activities and events, especially those that make compelling statements about the promising future in animal agriculture and related fields.”

“My family and I are pleased to lend support for this very important initiative,” Marv Walter said. “For far too many years, young Iowa State animal science students have needed a facility like this to further their hands-on skills with livestock. To be competitive with other land-grant institutions, a laboratory and classrooms of this quality are badly needed. We are glad to help kick off this effort and invite others to join us.”

A 1962 animal science graduate of Iowa State, Marv Walter also holds a master’s degree in animal science from the university. He is the president and owner of Dayton Road Development Corporation and founded Carriage House Meat & Provision Co. Inc., W and G Marketing, Ames Processed Foods, Webster City Custom Meats, Walter & Associates and other agriculture-related small businesses.

A past member of the ISU Foundation Board of Directors, Marv is an ISU Foundation Governor and a past president of the ISU Alumni Association Board of Directors. He is the recipient of both the Alumni Medal and the Alumni Merit Award from the ISU Alumni Association and the Floyd Andre Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The Walters have a lifetime of involvement with Iowa State and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Janice spent a number of years working in the office of then Dean Floyd Andre in the College of Agriculture. It was during this time that she and Marv met and were married. Janice has been an active volunteer in many organizations in Ames. The Walters have two daughters, Allyson and Stacy, who are Iowa State graduates.

This gift is part of Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, the university’s $800 million fundraising effort. More than $715 million in gifts and future commitments for facilities and student, faculty and programmatic support have been made to Campaign Iowa State.
]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/793/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:28:49 -0500 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/793/
Matthew O'Neal, an assistant professor of entomology at Iowa State University, is an expert on insects that attack soybeans. "Aphids have piercing sucking mouthparts and they feed on the sap of the plant," said O'Neal. "Aphid populations can grow rapidly from just a few per plant to several thousand in a short period of time. Large numbers can have a dramatic impact on yield." 

If left untreated, aphids can cause soybean yield losses of 40 to 50 percent. "Growers are very concerned about this pest, and they have a lot of questions," O'Neal said. "My role is to help answer those questions in a way that protects their soybean yield."

O'Neal studies a full spectrum of management tools to use against soybean aphids. "My lab works on everything from developing varieties of soybeans that are resistant to aphids, to the best and most efficient use of insecticides, to biological control and managing habitat for improved beneficial insect abundance and diversity," he said. 

Aphid-resistant soybean varieties will be available for the first time for the 2010 season. "Our research shows these varieties may reduce the number of insecticide applications needed to manage soybean aphids," O'Neal said.

The resistant plants will have fewer aphids compared to conventional plants, O'Neal said, but growers shouldn't expect fields to be aphid-free. "Growers will still need to regularly scout fields to determine if aphid populations exceed the economic threshold and spray accordingly," he said.

O'Neal and Erin Hodgson, an assistant professor and soybean entomologist with extension responsibilities, have developed an Iowa State University Extension fact sheet that explains the development, use and limitations of the new aphid-resistant varieties. It will be distributed this fall to soybean growers across Iowa.

Funding for the fact sheet and much of the soybean insect research at Iowa State has come from the Iowa Soybean Association, the North Central Soybean Research Program and other sources.

Relying solely on insecticides to control soybean aphids would be a bad thing, O'Neal said. "There would be environmental costs in terms of harming non-target insects such as lady beetles and bees. But there would also be the possible loss of insecticides if harmful insects become resistant to them," he said. "So it's important for us to come up with a management plan that incorporates multiple tools."   

While the main focus in recent years has been soybean aphids, work at Iowa State and other land-grant universities has been underway for many years to help develop and implement management programs for soybean insect pests that are economically and ecologically sustainable.

Those ongoing efforts have resulted in two national awards that will be presented this fall to a coalition of soybean researchers across the country, including Iowa State's O'Neal and Hodgson.

One award is the 2009 National Excellence In Multistate Research Award from the American Public Land-Grant Universities. The other is the 2009 Integrated Pest Management Team Award from the Entomological Foundation.
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Shahid Naeem, professor of ecology and chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University, will be the featured speaker at two events - one at Iowa State University and one at Grinnell College.

The first lecture will be Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Iowa State Memorial Union, with a reception to follow.

The second lecture will be Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 4:15 p.m. in 101 Joe Rosenfield Center at Grinnell College. Both events are free and open to the public. 

Naeem is director of science at the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia. His teaching and research focus on the environmental consequences of biodiversity loss. The title of his lecture is "The Environmental Significance of Biodiversity in Managed and Unmanaged Ecosystems: From China, to Sub-Saharan Africa, the Great Plains, and Iowa."

The Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture is sponsored by the Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture. The colloquium is co-sponsored by Grinnell College, Center for Prairie Studies at Grinnell College, Iowa Farmers Union, Practical Farmers of Iowa, plus the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Agronomy, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Plant Sciences Institute, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Committee on Lectures, all at Iowa State.

The event is named for John Pesek, an Iowa State emeritus professor of agronomy, whose work in soil fertility, crop production and the economics of soil fertilizer use led scientists to a better understanding of the effects of management practices on the environment.

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Editor's Note: Immediately preceding the Pesek Colloquium, the William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture will begin at 7 p.m. next door in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. Charles Manatt, former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, is the featured speaker.
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Ambassador Manatt will present "Preparing Leaders to Meet Future Global Challenges" at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union on campus. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is organized by the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

He was recently recognized by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers in America 2010” in Corporate Law, Government Relations Law and International Trade/Finance Law.

Ambassador Manatt founded First Los Angeles Bank and served as its chairman from 1973 to 1989. He was chair of the California Democratic Party before being elected chair of the Democratic National Committee in 1981. In 1992, he was co-chair of the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign, and in 1999 President Clinton appointed Ambassador Manatt as the U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

An attorney who earned his bachelor’s degree in rural sociology from Iowa State in 1958 and his J.D. from George Washington University in 1962, Ambassador Manatt is the founder of the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.

William K. Deal, an ISU alum with a degree in agricultural education, established the lecture series to help prepare future leaders and innovators in agriculture.

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Editor’s Note: Following Ambassador Manatt’s Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture, the John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture will begin at 8 p.m. next door in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Shahid Naeem, chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University, is the featured speaker. ]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/790/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:13:38 -0500 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/790/
Ag Career Day will be Oct. 13 at the Lied Recreation Center, a new location with more room. The job fair will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Last year, 160 companies and organizations recruited job seekers, making it one of largest ever. There are 146 companies signed up so far for the event, which can be viewed at: http://www.career.ag.iastate.edu/agcareerday/career.php

“I am extremely pleased to have this many companies and organizations sign up for our event and I’m confident we should be in the 150-160 range once again,” said Mike Gaul, director of agriculture and life sciences career services. “More importantly, this should send a strong message to our students regarding the great opportunities that exist within the agriculture and life sciences sectors.”

Following the event the college hosts the busiest on-campus interview day of the year in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Last year more than 500 individual interviews were conducted, Gaul said.]]> http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/789/ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:00:40 -0500 http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/789/
The CSP is a program created by the 2008 Farm Bill that replaces the Conservation Security Program. It has a continuous sign-up, but Sept. 30 is the deadline for the operator to inform the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) they intend to apply for the program.

Duffy said while the acronyms for the two programs are the same the programs are entirely different. The new program is available statewide and will offer a farm operator payments based on additional conservation measures they adopt for at least five years.

“Basically under CSP the operator works with an NRCS conservationist and discusses the conservation practices they currently use and the ones they intend to adopt. The current practices determine eligibility for CSP and they count in the final ranking for the operator,” he said.

The practices considered are those that affect the primary resources of concern for Iowa: water quality, air quality, soil quality and animals. Duffy said the list of practices includes such things as injecting or incorporating manure, dust control on unpaved roads, extending existing filter strips, recycling farm lubricants and converting to no-till. There are many other practices for cropland, pasture and forest.

The NRCS conservationist and the operator review the practices using a Conservation Measurement Tool developed by NRCS. The operator must meet a minimum conservation standard to be eligible and they must add new conservation practices.

After evaluating the existing practices and the proposed new practices, the operator will be assigned a point total based on these practices. The operators are ranked on the basis of their point total and the operators with the highest number of points will be eligible for the per acre payments.

“Currently we do not know the exact payment per acre, but the NRCS has estimated nationwide the payments will be somewhere between $12 and $22 per acre. A payment close to $16 per acre will be the most likely outcome,” Duffy said.

He added there are a few things to remember for individual producers when considering CSP:
• The contracts are for five years.
• All owned and operated land must be included.
• If rented land is to be considered as part of the operation, the producer must show proof of control for at least five years.
• Payments are based only on acres considered part of the operation.
• There can be no double payments for existing land under a conservation payment program.
• There have to be at least some new conservation practices added. Existing practices will be factored into the ranking and will affect the operator’s payment.
• The final ranking for practices has not been determined, but the operator is required to notify NRCS that they would like to apply for the program by Sept. 30.

In addition to the annual payments there is a special provision in CSP for the operator to receive a one-time payment for a new resource-conserving crop rotation. A resource conserving rotation must be at least three years and include a high residue crop, a cover crop or some type of perennial grass for at least one-third of the acres.

Duffy said the NRCS has developed a self-screening checklist for operators to determine if the Conservation Stewardship Program is a good program for them. All producers should complete the checklist. This is a good tool to help them decide if they are eligible and should enroll in the program. The checklist and other information about the Conservation Stewardship Program is available at the county offices or on line at: http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp2009.html .

For more information on the CSP an operator should visit the NRCS web site or their local office.
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