ANR News
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Vol. 11, #4
This electronic newsletter from Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources will be sent on an occasional basis to ag field specialists and all CEEDs. It is intended to provide current information to its readers. Let us know of topics you would like addressed.
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IN THIS EDITION:
Jerry's Comments
Bioeconomy Educational Materials for Extension Staff
ANR Lunch and Learn Survey Results
ANR Lunch and Learn Dates and Topics
Iowa Ag Secretary to Speak at Beginning Farmers Conference
March 27-30 -- ANR Extension In-Service
Message from Sorrel Brown
ISU Extension Awards
Report, Recommendations from Bioeconomy Summit
Researchers Developing Machinery to Harvest Corn Stalks
Value Added Ag Program Workshops
Former ANR Program Leader Honored
"Butter Cow Lady" Creates Bronze Cow for New Dairy Farm
New Corn Production Web Site
Leopold Center Helps Launch New Water Quality Web Tool
Analysis Compares Employment at Ethanol Plants, Livestock Operations
College Considers Name Change
Another High in November for Red Meat Production
Expert Testimony Policy
Animal Agriculture Vision Report
Research is Ongoing on Livestock Use of Ethanol By-Products
Fruit and Vegetable Production Meetings Planned
Short Course Specializes in Cured Meat
Funding Opportunities
Selected Calendar of Events
ANR Field & State Staff Directory Update
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JERRY'S COMMENTS
Happy New Year to each of you! My best wishes to you for a prosperous and productive year.
Earlier this month Dr. Cindy Haynes, Associate Professor of Horticulture and Extension Consumer Horticulturist, agreed to assume leadership for Iowa's Master Gardener program. During the next several months program leadership will transition from Dr. Donald Lewis to Dr. Haynes. The transition is expected to be completed by June 30. I am taking this opportunity to recognize Donald for the leadership he provided to the Master Gardener program since late 2000 and early 2001. Donald has provided steady and confident leadership that stabilized the Master Gardener program resulting in renewed confidence and energy for the program at all levels within ISU Extension and among Master Gardener participants. Donald's leadership is very much appreciated and we wish him the best as he is now able to turn his full attention to his passion, that is, insects, not program administration! Donald, thanks for a job well done.
A special congratulations to Dr. Jerry DeWitt, former ANR Program Director and Integrated Pest Management Coordinator, on his 3-year appointment as Director, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University. Jerry's appointment is effective January 2007. We also are pleased that Jerry maintains an appointment as an Extension specialist.
Also, I wish to extend my best wishes to Dan Meyer, Field Specialist, Agricultural Engineering, who recently announced that he will leave ISU Extension on January 31 for an employment opportunity in the private sector.
Finally, if you missed the January 12 ANR Lunch and Learn session, please refer to the lead article titled ‘Bioeconomy Educational Materials for Extension Staff.’ The intent of the materials provided on January 12 is to equip you with current and up-to-date information that will allow you to communicate with local clients and service groups as well as highlight Iowa State University's research and extension work in this evolving area.
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BIOECONOMY EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR EXTENSION STAFF
Newly created bioeconomy educational materials, designed for extension personnel to use with various client groups throughout the state, were introduced during a special ANR Lunch and Learn session on January 12. You can view the archived version of this session at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/lunchandlearn.html
The materials include a set of PowerPoint presentation slides that can be adapted for different target audiences. Extension specialists can use the entire set to deliver a technical (45 minute) presentation suited for various industry groups, agencies, and organizations. County Extension Education Directors can use a subset of slides to deliver a general (20 minute) presentation suited for service clubs and other local groups in their assigned counties. To assist in preparing for presentations, each slide contains a notes section. Also, it would be helpful to view the January 12 ANR Lunch and Learn session archive as previously mentioned. The slides can be accessed on the ANR Extension webpage at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/bioeconomyeducmaterials.html
Two special publications are available at no-charge from Publications Distribution. Both are titled ‘Leadership in the Bioeconomy’ with SP 295 focusing on University Extension and SP 297 focusing on the College of Agriculture. Since these publications are expected to be updated frequently, extension personnel are asked to order quantities on an as needed basis. A pdf version of each publication will be posted on the ANR Extension webpage at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/bioeconomyeducmaterials.html
Please contact Paul Brown if you have questions or need assistance.
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ANR LUNCH AND LEARN SURVEY RESULTS
Sixty-seven CEEDs and county paid staff, ANR field specialists, and ANR faculty and staff participated in the ANR Lunch and Learn survey before the holidays. After a pilot run of three sessions, the survey results indicate that ANR Lunch and Learn should continue (96%) as a means to provide the organization with important subject-matter and program updates. Results regarding format and timing indicate that Friday’s are the preferred day of the week (45%) with sessions offered during the noon hour (60%) over a 45 minute timeframe (92%). Sessions should be offered either monthly (64%) or bimonthly (28%).
The following topics were suggested for future ANR Lunch and Learn sessions:
Bioeconomy updates
- Feeding DDGs
- Continuous corn research
- Livestock feeding economics
- Cellulosic-based bio-fuel production
Strategies for farm business transition
Flexible farm leases
Seasonal consumer horticulture concerns
Sustainable agriculture concepts
Tax strategies for farm businesses
New Farm Bill
Water quality
Manure and crop nutrient management
Overview of various ISU centers that support programming
Animal welfare and bio-ethics
Economic development opportunities
Iowa Nature Mapping Program
Local food systems
Hot topics -- e.g. land value survey, soybean rust, emerald ash borer
Mega-trends in agriculture
Pond weed management
Wildlife and related environmental science issues
Animal health concerns
Faculty and program staff are invited to utilize the ANR Lunch and Learn media to address these and other important topics. Please contact Paul Brown at: pwbrown@iastate.edu
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ANR LUNCH AND LEARN DATES AND TOPICS
The following ANR Lunch and Learn session dates and topics have been scheduled.
January 26, Economic Development: Agriculture (Mary Holz-Clause)
February 9, A Vision for Iowa Animal Agriculture (John Lawrence and Maynard Hogberg)
March (TBA) Rural/Urban Communications and Relationships (TBA)
April 13, Natural Resources and Environmental Stewardship -- Practice-based Survey Results (Lois Wright-Morton)
Each session is offered via Breeze from noon to 12:45 pm and is designed to address the following points:
1. An outline of the opportunities, potential economic impacts, and/or challenges associated with the topic.
2. A review of new or available resources.
3. A discussion of programming implications.
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IOWA AG SECRETARY TO SPEAK AT BEGINNING FARMERS CONFERENCE
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will deliver the keynote address at the Beginning Farmers Conference February 3. The Beginning Farmers Network at Iowa State is hosting the conference in the Scheman Building. A list of all the conference topics and speakers is available at the Beginning Farmer Center website: www.extension.iastate.edu/bfc. The cost to attend the conference is $25 before January 26, and $35 after January 26 or at the door. More:
http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/beginningfarmer/home.html
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MARCH 27-30 -- ANR EXTENSION IN-SERVICE
ANR Extension campus faculty, program staff, and field specialists will gather on March 27 through 30, 2007 for spring in-service. All will meet together at the Gateway in Ames on the 27th and 28th to discuss new opportunities unfolding in Iowa agriculture that provide new opportunities for ANR Extension programming. Goals are to enhance our leadership and programming capacity relative to new opportunities in Iowa, to facilitate interdisciplinary programming, and to enhance the professional capacity of personnel.
On the 29th and 30th, each of the seven development and delivery teams will meet individually for spring in-service/professional development. Executive Committees are in charge of organizing these activities.
County Extension Education Directors are invited to participate in any aspect of the in-service/professional development agenda, so they may want to hold these dates as well.
More detailed information will be provided in the February ANR Newsletter. In the meantime, contact Paul Brown if you have questions.
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MESSAGE FROM SORREL BROWN
Over the past year I’ve met with many of the ANR teams during in-service or individually in my capacity as program evaluator for ANR Extension. I’d like to remind you that I’m available to help:
As evaluation tools are developed for ANR Extension programs, keep in mind that with renewed emphasis on accountability, your audiences will understand the need to measure the value of your program efforts. Explaining to participants that documenting the usefulness of your program is important for continued support is likely to get them to respond to questions which will provide evidence of educational impact.
In following ANR newsletters, I’ll add blurbs about evaluation efforts I’m involved in with ANR development and delivery teams so everyone can get the benefit of what we learn regarding impact evaluation.
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ISU EXTENSION AWARDS
Please consider nominating your co-workers to receive recognition through the many opportunities offered through the ISU Extension Awards program. There are many innovative programs and dedicated professionals in our organization who are deserving of recognition. For more information and details, refer to the following webpage: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/awards/
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REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BIOECONOMY SUMMIT
The final report from the Nov. 28 summit on "Ensuring Iowa's Leadership in the Bioeconomy"
makes more than 100 recommendations to state lawmakers. Details:
http://www.iastate.edu/~biorenew/06/summit/summit.shtml
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RESEARCHERS DEVELOPING MACHINERY TO HARVEST CORN STALKS
Stuart Birrell, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, is working to design, build and test machinery that will harvest corn stover -- the stalks, cobs and leaves -- when farmers bring in their grain. The stover could be the source of plant fiber that feeds the next generation of ethanol plants. Learn more: http://www.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2006/dec/stover.shtml
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VALUE ADDED AG PROGRAM WORKSHOPS
The Value Added Ag Program (VAAP) is hosting two series of workshops around the state this winter. There will not be a February Value Added Ag Forum, but forum participants are invited to any of the workshops to learn more about these value added ag opportunities.
In February, VAAP will host “Opportunities in Agriculture- Focus on Fruits and Vegetables.”
The dates and locations are:
Feb 6, Nevada, Story Co
Feb 8, Atlantic, Cass Co
Feb 13, Mt Pleasant, Henry Co
Feb 21, New Hampton, Chickasaw Co
In March, VAAP will host “Bridging the Gap – Marketing to Food Distributors, Part 2.”
The dates and locations are:
March 13, Vinton, Benton Co
March 16, Coon Rapids, Carroll Co.
More detailed information can be obtained by going to www.iavaap.org or calling 515-294-9483.
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FORMER ANR PROGRAM LEADER HONORED
ISU alum and former ANR Extension program leader, Vivan Jennings, was one of Iowa Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service to Agriculture recipients for 2006. The award which honors people with a passion for agriculture and a lifetime of achievement was presented Dec. 9 at the group's annual meeting. Jennings earned a bachelor's in farm operations in 1959, a masters and doctorate in agronomy in 1966 and 1974. He then became a professor at Iowa State and served in many leadership roles with ISU Extension. He served as deputy administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service in Washington D.C. After retiring from the USDA in 1995, he returned to Iowa and started his latest venture, Asoyia LLC in 2004. Jennings has retired as CEO of Asoyia, but remains as the chief technology officer.
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"BUTTER COW LADY" CREATES BRONZE COW FOR NEW DAIRY FARM
Norma "Duffy" Lyon, known for her many butter sculptures of cows and personalities for the Iowa State Fair, has created a bronze sculpture of a cow for the new Iowa State Dairy Farm. Details: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news_detail.php?var1=290
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NEW CORN PRODUCTION WEB SITE
Lori Abendroth and Roger Elmore from the agronomy department have designed a new web site for ISU Extension with management information for producing corn in Iowa. The site provides recommendations and diagnostic tools based on research findings. The largest section is devoted to corn management, but additional information also is available including extension newsletter articles and publications, scientific papers and current research. More:
http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/corn.
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LEOPOLD CENTER HELPS LAUNCH NEW WATER QUALITY WEB TOOL
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has helped develop a new web-based map and database designed to connect organizations throughout the Mississippi River watershed working on water quality. Learn more:
http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2007/rivermap_010507.htm
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ANALYSIS COMPARES EMPLOYMENT AT ETHANOL PLANTS, LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS
It takes more people to raise Iowa livestock than to make ethanol from the same amount of corn, according to an analysis conducted by John Lawrence, economics. Using an example of a 100 million gallon ethanol plant that uses 37 million bushels of corn and employs about 80 people, Lawrence compared beef and swine operations that would use similar amounts of corn. Beef feedlots would need 278 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers while farrow-to-finish swine operations would need 800 FTEs, and wean-to-finish hog operations would need 241 FTEs.
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COLLEGE CONSIDERS NAME CHANGE
A new name is being considered for the College of Agriculture: the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. See http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/nameletter.html
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ANOTHER HIGH IN NOVEMBER FOR RED MEAT PRODUCTION
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says the country's red meat production industry continued its upward trend in November with a total of 4.14 billion pounds. This is up 5 percent from November 2005. This was aided by beef, pork and veal production numbers that all were higher than the same period last year. Of the red meat categories, only that for lamb and mutton was lower at a half-million pounds less than November 2005. You can see the entire report at this URL on the NASS Web site http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/lstk1206.pdf
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EXPERT TESTIMONY POLICY
For future reference, the ISU Extension expert testimony policy statement has been posted on the ANR Extension webpage at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/homepage.html
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ANIMAL AGRICULTURE VISION REPORT
The ‘Vision for Iowa Animal Agriculture’ report released last month is available electronically at: http://www.ans.iastate.edu/research/VisionTotal2.pdf
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RESEARCH IS ONGOING ON LIVESTOCK USE OF ETHANOL BY-PRODUCTS
Allen Trenkle has been researching the use of corn milling co-products in livestock rations for more than 20 years. Many others at Iowa State also are working in this area. A summary:
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news_detail.php?var1=292
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FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION MEETINGS PLANNED
Farmers and producer groups interested in learning about fruit and vegetable production and marketing can attend "Opportunities in Agriculture" meetings located throughout Iowa in February. Learn more:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2007/jan/fruitandvegetableopportunitymeetings.htm
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SHORT COURSE SPECIALIZES IN CURED MEAT
The Cured Meat Short Course this week attracted 55 people from 17 states and four countries -- Mexico, the Netherlands, Canada and Germany. It is one of four in the series held annually at the Meat Laboratory. The other three are the Basic Sausage Short Course in November, the Dry and Semi-Dry Sausage Short Course in April and the Sausage & Processed Meat Short Course in July. This short course is designed for persons with supervisory, production and technical responsibilities in commercial meat processing operations. Joe Cordray, extension meat scientist, coordinates the short courses.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Higher Education Challenge Grants Program CSREES, USDA
PURPOSE: To increase the number of graduates with a BS or higher degree in the food and agricultural sciences, and to help students meet career goals as well as meeting workplace needs.
Proposals must address one of five educational strategies: curricula design and materials development, faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching, instructional delivery systems, student experiential learning, and student recruitment and retention. A single institution may request up to $150,000; a joint project proposal may request up to $500,000. Projects may range from eighteen to thirty-six months. Dollar-for-dollar matching funds are required. See guidelines for more details:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1082
DEADLINE: February 1, 2007
Energy for Sustainability, National Science Foundation
The program will fund fundamental research and education in energy production, conversion, and storage on energy sources that are environmentally friendly and renewable. Guidelines are available at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026
Proposal deadline period: February 1 to March 1, 2007
Federal State Marketing Improvement Program, USDA
PURPOSE: to address barriers, challenges and opportunities in marketing, transportation and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally.
The Agricultural Marketing Service funds 25 to 30 projects each year; the average award is $50,000. Matching funds are required. Guidelines are available at:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm#Eligibility
DEADLINE: February 12, 2007
National Research Initiative Posts Requests for Applications
The National Research Initiative (NRI) Request for Applications is now available on the CSREES Web site. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2007, NRI is accepting applications only through electronic submission using Grants.gov. Other important changes include a strict adherence to formatting, submission dates, and budget guidelines. Applications that do not meet these guidelines will be returned without review. Plan for an extra 3 to 5 days for the Grants.gov submission.
The NRI guidance for FY 2007 is available at:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1606
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SELECTED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January 19-20, 2007: Women in Denim Conference, Buena Vista University, Storm Lake. http://www.womenindenim.com/
January 20: North Central Iowa Beef Conference, Gentle Student Center, Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2007/jan/07901.htm
January 23: Estrus Synch System Advances and Health Programs for Beef Cattle AI webcast, 7:00-9:00 p.m. For more information, contact Daryl Strohbehn at stroh@iastate.edu.
January 25-26: Iowa Vegetable/Fruit Growers Conference, Best Western, Marshalltown.
January 26-27: Overall Women: A Conference for Today's Rural Women, Marriott Hotel, Coralville. http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/overallwomen/home.html
February 3: Second Annual Beginning Farmers Conference, Iowa State Center, ISU, Ames. http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/beginningfarmer/home.html
February 9-10: Iowa Wine Growers Annual Conference, Hotel Fort Des Moines. http://www.iowawinegrowers.org/
February 16-17: Third Annual Cold Climate Grape and Wine Conference, Holiday Inn Select Hotel, Bloomington, MN. http://www.mngrapes.org/ccgw_conference2007.html
February 22-24: Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference, La Crosse, WI. http://www.mosesorganic.org/umofc/intro06.htm
February 28: 7th Annual John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture.
March 2-3: Women Around Agriculture: Cows, Curves, and CropsConference, Best Western Hotel, Clear Lake.
March 6: Iowa Water Conference (formerly named Ag & Environment Conference), Iowa State Center, Ames. http://www.aep.iastate.edu/aec/homepage.html
March 13-14: Iowa Shade Tree Short Course, Iowa State Center, Ames. http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/shadetree/home.html
March 21-22: Central Plains Dairy Expo, Convention Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. http://www.centralplainsdairyexpo.com/
March 27-30: ANR Professional Development, Ames.
April 3: Value Added Ag Forum – Entrepreneurship in Agriculture Processing and Marketing, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information contact Madeline Schulze at 515-294-0588 or schultz@iastate.edu.
ISUE Calendar of Events website: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/
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ANR FIELD & STATE STAFF DIRECTORY UPDATE
The ANR Field & State Staff directory has been revised and is available at:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/contacts.html
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Publisher: Gerald Miller
Managing Editor: Paul Brown
Editor: Julie Honeick