Hello, CALS,
Let’s hope this week stays cooler than last and we get some nice, gentle rains to relieve the drought conditions impacting our crops, lawns and waterways. In keeping with the drought theme, check out the changing levels of federal funding for agricultural and related research as shown in the graph below – a bit droughty, too….
Later this year, things in Congress will also further heat up on development of the next Farm Bill – one of the signature pieces of federal legislation that impacts the work we do and the health and agricultural context of the nation. Take a look at the Farm Bill primer from Congressional Research Service and information specifically related to the link between the Farm Bill and NIFA, as well as the USDA's 2022 budget summary. This is lots more than you’d probably like to review, but the graph tells most of the story and our challenge.
Before we get too dry about all that, there is of lots of good news, too. Our students are about to return en masse, and the work and accomplishment all across the college is outstanding. Lots of us have had fun vacations and time recharging our own batteries, and there are still a few more weeks of summer left to do so if you’ve not had a chance yet! The Iowa State Fair and Farm Progress Show are nearly upon us, and those are always great reminders of all the good in all of our communities.
My best for a great week. - Dan
Scenes from CALS
This past Saturday was the closing ceremony for the end of the 13-day AgDiscovery Program led by Claudia Lemper-Manahl (plant pathology and microbiology), with a great team including Alexis Campbell and Christine Velasquez (Iowa State School of Education and Science Bound program) and Mike Manahl (USDA), as well as student counselors Kimberly De Avila Sanchez (senior in animal science), Dusti Ingles (graduate student in agricultural education and studies), and Chase Krug (agronomy alumnus and current Ph.D. student at University of Minnesota). The 16 high school students participating in the program were from Iowa and across the U.S. They participated in a terrific program of site visits and informational sessions on agriculture and related sciences to better understand career paths and options. They had a great time and learned a lot. Iowa State's AgDiscovery Program is supported by USDA in collaboration with CALS and Science Bound. There were many faculty and staff from across CALS who met with and worked with these students – and GREAT THANKS to them, too!
Cover crops can be seen in the photo below rising between corn rows on the Tharp farm at our McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm, a project by Mark Licht, agronomy, and supported by the McNay staff, Chase Altenhofen, Gary Thompson, Bradley Evans, Logan Wallace and Charles Phillips. They gave Jay Harmon, Tim Goode and me a tour last week, and we had a great lunch!
