Hello, CALS colleagues,
I hope this finds you well.
The fall season has run up on us faster than usual, at least it seems. Final hay harvests are happening, and combines across the state are already running in corn and beans, with percent harvest into the double digits. Seems everywhere I go in the state, people are saying that the corn turned brown and dried faster than ever. We’ll all have to stay tuned to find out how the harvest turns out, given excellent early rains, fast drying now, and significant emergence of disease. And then there’s the markets. Markets for crops, and for the products that our crops feed – livestock and energy, especially.
Another interesting year, as they each always are. So, too, an interesting year with regard to water quality and use, and its relationship to land use.
Everything about the prior two paragraphs is squarely in the science and technology, and teaching and outreach focus of your college, across all 14 departments and numerous centers and programs, from molecular biology to ecosystem functions, from seeds to markets. What you do matters – relevance and impact are central to the work and purposes of the college.
This week, I’ll have the opportunity to go to our Rod and Connie French Conservation Education Camp (aka Montana Camp), 50 minutes west of Missoula, Montana, to visit with Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management students and faculty, and partners, alums and donors to the facility and its programs. Camp director and NREM assistant professor Jennifer Schieltz and CALS Development director Michelle Blair have put this visit together. Should be great fall weather there! Western Montana is generally about six weeks ahead of central Iowa in terms of the onset of fall, fall colors and frost. As a Study USA program destination, the French Camp offers tremendous opportunities, and if you’ve not thought about it, but something about that region of the country intrigues you with regard to your teaching or research, please check out episode #32 of the To Infinity and Abroad podcast, "Why you should consider a travel program within the U.S.," and/or contact Jennifer Schieltz, Shelley Taylor or Jodi Cornell.
Next week is CALS Week 2025, with activities planned and run by our CALS Council students all week long! Check it out every day, or any day you can. Tell the students you see running the show, "thank you!"
Next week, we also have the fall meetings of the ISU Foundation, and the various meetings and presentations planned for donors and Foundation Governors.
Have a terrific week! - Dan
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