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Iowa news and notes Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Wintersteen new dean of ISU ag college
AMES, Iowa -- Wendy Wintersteen has been named dean for Iowa State University's College of Agriculture.
Wintersteen has been the college's interim dean since Catherine Woteki resigned in July. Wintersteen was selected from five finalists and will officially take the permanent post Jan. 1.
"She is very knowledgeable about agriculture, and she has excellent relationships with people throughout the agricultural community," said Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy.
Before becoming interim dean, Wintersteen was senior associate dean of the college and associate director of the experiment station from 2000 to 2005.
Risk management focus of workshops
POSTVILLE, Iowa -- Cow-calf produces can learn how to manage risks by participating in two-day workshops across Iowa in January and February. "Cow-Calf Risk Strategies'' is part of a 2006 series of educational events.
The workshops are part of an effort to educate cow-calf producers about how to develop risk management solutions.
"Cattle prices have been at record prices in 2003-2004, and the cost of investment in beef cows and stocker cattle has never been higher,'' says John Lawrence, ISU Extension economist.
Workshops are planned Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in Iowa Lakes Community College, Spencer; Feb. 6 and Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall, Elma; Feb. 7 and Feb. 15, South Hardin Recreation Center, Union; and Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Turner Hall, Postville.
Cedar Falls entering new energy age
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Chunks of coal lay on the fringes of a 450-ton mountain of cubed biomass -- a symbol of transition as this eastern Iowa city enters a new age of electricity.
The cell phone-sized cubes -- comprised of corn stalks, switchgrass and oat hulls -- are crammed into a pole building and will be burned next month to show whether biomass can partially replace coal as a source for Cedar Falls' power.
If successful, Cedar Falls Utilities plans to convert one of its two coal-fired generators into a biomass facility, providing nearly a quarter of the city's electricity through environment-friendly means.
Cedar Falls Utilities cubed the biomass last week in preparation for the burning. The process hasn't been mastered, as the switchgrass on the first attempt crumbled and turned into dust and chunks. Workers discovered they needed weathered stacks that had been in the field for a full season.
"No one has ever been able to cube switchgrass successfully," said David Rusley, CFU's electric production manager.
Leopold Center will hold Jan. 13 workshop
DES MOINES -- The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture will hold a workshop Jan. 13 that will focus on improving grass-fed beef. Forages, management of herd genetics and new technologies will be featured.
The workshop will run from 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Airport Holiday Inn, Des Moines.
The workshop is part of the 2006 Practical Farmers of Iowa winter conference and workshop program.
Nationally known branded beef consultant Allen Williams is the featured presenter. Williams is founding partner and vice president of the Jacob Alliance of Rose Bud, Ark. The company specializes in the use of Beef Imaging Analysis software, an ultrasound scan of live animals to test for various qualities including tenderness.
Iowa Beef Center to hold statewide webcast
AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University is planning a statewide webcast that will focus on qualifying for Japanese beef exports. The event will be Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at ISU Extension locations across the state.
"This webcast is important to cattle producers because of the topics and timing,'' said John Lawrence, ISU Extension economist and director of the Beef Center.
The agenda includes how producers can improve exports to Japan. USDA speakers and industry affiliate experts will explain the procedures involved.
Trophy buck turned out to be a doe
DES MOINES -- A northeast Iowa hunter thought he might have shot a trophy buck when he shot a 14-point deer during Iowa's first shotgun season early this month.
Eric Weymiller, 25, of rural Harpers Ferry, started to field dress the animal when to his surprise he noticed it wasn't a buck at all.
"I noticed right away it was missing some plumbing," said Weymiller, who shot the animal Dec. 7 in Allamakee County.
He discovered he was dressing a doe sporting antlers with 14 tines, a big rack even for a buck.
"I stopped field dressing the animal and called a DNR biologist," Weymiller said. "I wanted them to document this."
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Biologist Terry Hainfield confirmed that the animal was female.
"It is unusual to find a doe with antlers, but what makes this particularly unusual is that the antlers had hardened and grown so big," Hainfield said.
More research will be required to determine whether Weymiller's deer's antlers are large enough to set a record for doe antlers.
Value-Added Conference is Jan. 27-28
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- The Midwest Value-Added Agriculture Conference is scheduled Jan. 27-28 in the Plaza Hotel and Suites, Eau Claire.
The conference is designed to help people explore new marketing opportunities and learn from farmers, business people and experts involved in value-added enterprises.
Participants will learn how to write a business plan, market as a group, choose between alternative enterprises, how to get start-up funds and more.
For more information, call (715) 834-9672.
Foremost Farms offers 11 scholarships
BARABOO, Wis. -- Foremost Farms USA will offer 11 scholarships worth $2,000 each to member-owners and the children of member-owners in 2006. The Agricultural Education Scholarships will be awarded to students who are pursuing careers in the agricultural field.
Scholarships will be awarded starting in spring 2006. The application deadline is Feb. 24. A copy of the application is available by calling 1-800-362-9196, ext. 8798. |
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