Home | CALS Dean's Message

June 16, 2025

Hello, CALS,

Last week, I was busy with all kinds of things, from board, committee and event meetings I attended (Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, and Hatch Multi-State NE2442: Improving Sustainable Poultry Production through Collaborative Research and Outreach), to those with regrets I had to miss (given Story County jury service) but thought about, and in some cases, weighed-in by email (Egg Industry Center, Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Chevron Renewable Energy Group ribbon cutting).

These are each excellent ways to learn about the pulse of the sectors that we support and that support us, keep the social license we operate with vibrant, and make and sustain networks and partnerships that enable all of our missions. I am certain that each of you also circulates in various venues and with stakeholders, from alums and neighbors, to civic/professional/social organizations in your hometown or further afield, all of which are opportunities to directly or indirectly put forward the very best of ISU CALS. These interactions also support our social license and our missions. Thank you for every time you speak up for what we do, our impact, our purposes and our determination to always do better and better. It all matters.

This week, more of the same for each of us, with different groups, as well as the usual office work (or field, lab or farm work) and homework. Of note, we are hosting in Ames the annual Mini Land-Grant Conference June 16-18, which will be attended by faculty, staff, administrators, CARET representatives and others who support the land-grant mission in the North Central Region. The CARET (Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching) organization supports, enables and advocates for federal support nationwide for the USDA NIFA Agriculture Experiment Station and Extension programs that support colleges like ours. Now more than ever, at least since 1887, this is important. The event starts this evening and concludes Wednesday afternoon, and we are expecting university and private citizen (CARETs) representatives from 12 states across our region. Greatest thanks to Danny Singh, our associate dean for research and discovery, for crafting the program with a team here, coordinating across the region, and making this all happen!

Have a great week - Dan

Scenes from CALS

Student talking to a young boy at a farmers market display. — The Water Rocks! and Iowa Learning Farms water resources interns are making waves at a farmer's market in Iowa helping young people discover the vital role of wetlands at the Conservation Station. Together, we can foster a deeper understanding of our ecosystems! Photo by Nathan Stevenson with Iowa Learning Farms

Students lined up along a pathway on the side of a mountain, looking out at the tree lined slopes. — Jennifer Schieltz, associate teaching professor in natural resource ecology and management, shared this image of her class at our Rod and Connie French Conservation Camp. NREM 3110: Field Ecology in Montana students take a hike along the North Fork trail in the Lolo National Forest. During this summer course, they are learning to do things like identify trees and understory plants, survey animal populations and evaluate how climate and succession impact plant and animal communities.

Orange colored moon over a residential street lined with trees and houses. — Did you see the June strawberry moon last week? It was spectacular!