Hello, CALS,
Welcome back from spring break, and on to the Sweet 16 for both the men's and women's basketball teams! Terrific weekend for the Cyclones.
Even as the world continued to churn this past week, I hope you found time for some rest and relaxation and to enjoy some of the great weather.
I encourage you all to attend this Thursday's (March 24) presentation by Dr. Hale Tufan, "Shifting Gender Equality from Afterthought to Guiding Goal of Agricultural Innovation." The lecture will take place in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union at 7 p.m. All students, faculty and staff are welcome!
Yesterday marked the first day of spring. With the changing of the season comes the song and return of so many birds, including the great waves of migratory flocks. They are amazing to see, a marvel of nature - some once nearly pushed to extinction. They're also carriers of avian diseases that can challenge our domestic flocks in horrific ways. This year, in fact, we have emerged into a very difficult time with highly pathogenic avian influenza, with millions of domestic birds already impacted. Please watch for the wonder of nature's birds as they fill our skies, fields and waterways, and watch out for this key sector of agriculture.
Trouble around us continues in Ukraine, in the Horn of Africa, in fertilizer prices and phosphate resources, concerns about soil moisture, the future of the wheat crop and world food relief supplies, the price of oil, human, animal and plant pandemics and more. Progress and hope continues (our role) in reaching out to help those in need, in new ways to sustain soil and productivity, in food production and access, in animal and crop protection and more. Let’s please inspire our students every day, and especially as you welcome them back from spring break, to be part of our great tradition and obligation to make the world a better place.
This week, you may see groups of prospective students and parents circulating around campus and the college, thanks to the great work of our academic affairs, student services and recruiting staff. If you cross paths with such a group, please smile, say "hello," and encourage them to choose to be Cyclones! Every smile counts.
My best - Dan
Scenes from CALS
Last week, on March 16, I had the pleasure of attending the Northeast Research Farm association meeting in Nashua, Iowa. Great attendance and great information presented.
