�� - Agronomy

India Delivers "One-of-a-Kind" Experience

mmgrant — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:08:40 +0000

In photos above, clockwise from top left: Women sorting tea leaves by quality after harvest, in Munnar, Kerala, India. A performer for Kathakali, the traditional dance of Kerala at Kerala Kalamandalam, a school for traditional arts. Emily Kihlstrom with her Travel Class trying different varieties of bananas at the Banana Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University. A flower market in Tamil Nadu, India. Emily Kihlstrom in front of a tea plantation in Munnar, Kerala, India. Photos provided by Emily Kihlstrom.

Emily Kihlstrom, a junior in agronomy, took part in a CALS travel course to India from December 29 to January 15. Participants were able to learn first-hand about India’s different crops (vegetables, coconut, banana, tea, coffee, rice, rubber, cashew, spices, pineapple, etc.) and production techniques. Students had the opportunity to visit regional vegetable, spice, and flower markets and interact with students at the Kerala Agricultural University.

Kihlstrom said she has always loved traveling and exploring new places. When she looked into study abroad courses, she knew India would be a one-of-a-kind trip and it was on her bucket list to visit.

One interesting thing Kihlstrom learned on the trip was that India’s major agricultural pests include wild boars and peacocks. “The tricky part of managing these animals is that farmers can’t easily kill them, since peacocks are the national bird of India and the boars are protected under India’s government. Some farmers can kill boars if they obtain a license to do so, but they can’t sell or eat the meat that comes from it,” said Kihlstrom.

Her favorite part of the experience was being immersed in a completely different culture. “From food to traditional dances, Kerala, India was a beautiful place to visit,” said Kihlstrom.

_{Original story posted, https://www.agron.iastate.edu/2024/02/13/india-delivers-one-of-a-kind-ex....}

Tags:

Kara Berg

Agronomy

India Delivers

India

Tropical Agricultural Production

Author(s):

Kara Berg

Panama Offers Student Crop Production Experiences

nicolerh — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:26:00 +0000

In photo at top: From left, Raven Kinnetz, Courtney Harle and Dr. Ebby Luvaga, economics, learn about pineapple production in Panama. Photos provided by Courtney Harle.

Agronomy senior Courtney Harle said her travel study course to Panama “Tropical Agricultural Production International Business, and Trade in Panama” was a great way to finish up her second degree in international agriculture. The trip took place Dec. 29 through Jan. 10. “I chose to travel to Panama because I love crop production, and I wanted to be able to compare Iowa’s corn and soybeans to tropical agriculture like pineapple, cacao, coffee, bananas, and sugarcane,” said Harle.

She said a great stop on the trip was to La Granjerita (The Little Farmer), a woman-owned farm that grows a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables. “I learned that she uses basil to prep her greenhouses because it acts as a natural repellent for red spider mites to protect later high value crops. There is a huge push for organic production across Panama, so it was fascinating to see how different farmers were approaching their pest management strategies,” said Harle.

Her favorite part of the experience was engaging with the rich Panamanian culture. “We actually had the opportunity to “trade” cultural dances. They taught us the Tamborito, which is the national dance of the country, and we taught them the Copperhead Road line dance, said Harle.

First photo at left, Harle checks out weeds and plant life. Second photo, Harle at a banana plantation.

_{Original story posted, https://www.agron.iastate.edu/2024/02/06/panama-offers-student-crop-prod....}

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Panama Offers Student Crop Production Experiences

Panama

Tropical Agricultural Production

International Business

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Students Experience the Wonders of Antarctica

nicolerh — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:21:56 +0000

Agronomy seniors Sage Coffman and Gavin Anderson took a study course to Antarctica from January 2-January 16, which was led by Dr. Stephen Dinsmore and Dr. Julie Blanchong, Natural Resource Ecology and Management. The course titled “Natural History of Antarctica,” took students to Antarctica through Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina. They spent 12 days on a ship exploring the Weddell Sea, Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Expedition leaders and lecture staff guided students in viewing wildlife, which included whales, a variety of seabirds, penguins, and seals. Students explored the icebergs, mountains and waterways of Antarctica’s geography.

Coffman says he enjoys study abroad classes because they are interactive and feedback is immediate. “I learned a lot more than I would have expected from the birds and mammals in Antarctica. Antarctica is more diverse in life than I previously expected, with many different species of penguins, seals, and whales, plus plants and other birds. My favorite part of the trip was getting to climb a mountain in the snow on the continent of Antarctica with my fellow classmates to see and learn about some chinstrap penguins that live on a rocky mountain ridge. Learning in person and learning about the history, cultures, and languages is awesome, and making new friends is always a great experience,” said Coffman.

In photos at top: Sage Coffman with an iceberg in the background. Group from left: ISU CALS students Cameron McNally (Environmental Science), Gavin Anderson and Sage Coffman (agronomy). Photos provided by Sage Coffman.

_{Original story posted, https://www.agron.iastate.edu/2024/01/30/students-experience-the-wonders....}

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Students Experience the Wonders of Antarctica

Antarctica

Natural History of Antarctica

Agronomy

Kara Berg

Author(s):

Kara Berg

Students Return from Study Course to Ghana

nicolerh — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:18:06 +0000

A group of Iowa State University students recently returned from the “Tropical Agriculture and Culture in Ghana” study course to Ghana, Africa, which took place from December 30-January 15. Instructors Dr. David Kwaw-Mensah, agronomy, Dr. Theressa Cooper, agricultural education and studies and assistant dean for diversity for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and CALS Global Programs Agricultural Education and Studies Director, Jodi Cornell accompanied the group. The students visited three ecological areas of Ghana including the dry coastal savannah, the semi deciduous rainforest, and the high-rain evergreen forest, where students learned about tropical agriculture, agroforestry, animal production, animal ecology, and aspects of Ghanaian culture in foods, art, and music. Students had the opportunity to interact with local farmers for community service.

Agronomy students Kylie McGlade, Chris Meyer and Emma Caspers went with the group. “We truly did it all, visiting local farms, research stations, cultural landmarks, and being immersed into local communities!” said McGlade, a senior in agronomy. “As an Agronomy major also studying genetics, it was extremely interesting to learn about breeding projects in different crops especially rice. Traveling and speaking to farmers and researchers in other countries is so eye opening as a way to learn from each other and further agronomic knowledge.”

One of the most exciting things Caspers learned about during the trip was the cultivation of Rubber Trees. “It fascinated me to discover that harvesting the sap from these trees requires years of experience, with precision being crucial in scraping the bark. A single mistake in the cut could negatively impact the tree’s ability to produce rubber sap,” said Caspers. The highlight of her study abroad experience came during her interaction with professors, farmers, and children. “Seeing the positive impact our presence had on their lives, despite the challenging weather conditions, was truly heartwarming. They warmly welcomed us and made sure we had the best possible experience during our time there. Everyone we met truly gave us the ‘Ghanian Kindness’ that my professor Dr. Kwaw-Mensah always spoke so highly of upfront,” said Caspers.

In photos at top, from left, agronomy senior Kylie McGlade takes a selfie with members of the Ghana study course group making their way by boat to the Village on Water (Nzulezo). Center, the group visits a demonstration rice plot at the Crops Research Institute, Kumasi. At right, (from left) Lydia Johnson, Dr. Theressa Cooper, and Kylie McGlade wear leaf hats while visiting Nzulezo. Villagers had given them the hats to cool down, but they are usually worn as umbrellas. Photos provided by Kylie McGlade.

_{Original story posted, https://www.agron.iastate.edu/2024/01/23/students-return-from-study-cour....}

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Students Return from Study Course to Ghana

Agronomy

Ghana

Tropical Agriculture and Culture in Ghana

Kara Berg

Author(s):

Kara Berg

Soils, Agriculture and the Environment of Uruguay - Fall Break

sfine — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 18:56:44 +0000

Currently Unavailable

Uruguay

Program Director(s):

Lee Burras

Carolyn White

Program Overview

Soils, agriculture & the environment of Uruguay program examines the soils, agriculture, and environment across Uruguay via a series of visits to farms, forests, rivers, parks, and professional field offices to develop an understanding and appreciation of South America's northern Pampas, the national importance of the Universidad de la Republica, and Uruguay's unique and vibrant culture and agricultural economy.

Program Goals and Outcomes:

The overarching goal of this course is for students to gain an appreciation and respect for the rich culture of Uruguay and the importance and value of Spanish as a globally relevant language in agriculture and the environment.

The technical day-to-day goal is for students to learn about the soils of Uruguay as well as how the nation of Uruguay manages those soils for agriculture (crops, livestock), forestry, and environmental quality.

3 Course Credits: AGRON 496, Globe 496, or En Sci 496 (Fall 2023 Semester)

Sunday, November 12, 2023 to Friday, November 24, 2023

Department:

Agronomy, Environmental Science, GLOBE

Type of Travel:

Travel Course

Application Deadline:

Monday, May 1, 2023

Semester:

Fall

More Details Here

Year:

2022

Agronomy Feature: Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources of Costa Rica ��

nicolerh — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:42:39 +0000

Lee Burras and Amber Anderson lead the Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources study abroad trip to Costa Rica. They recently led a group on this trip over Thanksgiving break and are gearing up to take another group over spring break. This upcoming trip will be ten days long and begin on March 9th. On this specific study abroad trip, students learn about agricultural systems, natural resources, and resource management in Costa Rica. They will get the opportunity to interact with farmers and participate in tours to coffee, highland fruits, organic vegetables, sugarcane, pineapple, and chocolate farms. Not only will these students learn about agriculture in a different country, but they will also be able to learn about the culture and language of Costa Rica.

Lee has been leading study abroad trips since 2002; since he started, he has led over 20 trips. Of course, within the past year, study abroad trips were either canceled or altered somehow. I asked Lee how the pandemic affected his most recent trip. He shared that “even with Covid19, it was very similar to past trips given our goal always includes participant health and well-being.” Going to a different country comes with challenges during a normal time which helped Lee to deal with the changes caused by the pandemic. It is always a top priority to ensure ISU faculty and students stay safe and healthy on study abroad trips. Lee shares that on the last trip, the only major changes were the mask mandates and extra travel insurance needed if one of the travelers needed to quarantine. Upon returning to the country, they had to be tested for Covid-19 before leaving Costa Rica. Another challenge that the pandemic presented was the backlog of passports, causing a lamination on the number of students that could go.

A senior in agronomy, Carly Strauser, attended the last study abroad trip to Costa Rica over Thanksgiving break. This trip presented a lot of firsts for Carly, her first study abroad experience, her first time out of the country, and her first time on an airplane. When asked what the experience was like, Carly responded with, “The trip to Costa Rica was a total of 10 days; it was the perfect amount of time for a beginner traveler, like myself. We got to see a lot of what the country had to offer while also not missing too much school or life at home. It was a great mix of adventures and downtime; we got to see what students were interested in while also exploring some on our own. This made the trip much more relaxing and enjoyable; we were able to learn a lot while also having fun.”

Carly shared that it was very interesting how Costa Rica was focusing on sustainability in agriculture because this is something that she is passionate about. She shares, “The farms we visited were making their compost, feeding cows fermented pineapple tops, using biologicals, and experimenting with other innovative practices as well.” One of Carly’s highlights from the trips was their in-country host, Gabby, visiting her farm. The students were able to provide recommendations on what she should do with her land. The students could use the information they learned in their agronomy classes and transfer it over and apply it to Costa Rica’s agriculture practices.

Lee and Carly both share similar advice for students thinking about participating in a study abroad program. Lee shares, “First, do it! Second, work with the CALS �� Office in setting it up.“ Carly shares, “If you are at all considering, I would recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and signing up for a trip. The shortened breaks over Thanksgiving or Spring break are an awesome way to have a great experience in a short amount of time!”

_{Original story posted by the Department of Agronomy, https://www.agron.iastate.edu/student-resources/soils-crops-and-natural-...}

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soils

crops

and Natural Resources of Costa Rica ��

costa rica

Agronomy

Author(s):

Department of Agronomy

Field to Fork on the Prairie - August

nicolerh — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 13:41:50 +0000

Currently Unavailable

United States of America

Program Director(s):

Mary Wiedenhoeft

Mark Licht

Field to Fork on the Prairie takes students on a journey from production through the supply chain to the dinner table. On this trip, students will be exposed to the production and processing of sugar beets, sunflowers, potatoes, and dry beans/peas in eastern North Dakota, lentils and canola in western North Dakota, and irrigated wheat in South Dakota and Nebraska. They will also experience rangeland management in North and South Dakota. Students will be able to compare the native vegetation and climate of the tall grass prairies of Iowa with the short grass prairies of the northern Great Plains. In addition, they will be exposed to Native Peoples culture and the local cuisine of the northern Great Plains. Students will be required to complete pre-trip assignments.

Course credits: AGRON 496B (3 course credits)

Program fee: $1,000/ student

This program was offered in 2022 and 2023.

Sunday, August 6, 2023 to Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Department:

Agronomy

Type of Travel:

Travel Course

Application Deadline:

Friday, March 31, 2023

Semester:

Fall

More Details Here

Year:

2023

�������� - Agronomy

India Delivers "One-of-a-Kind" Experience

Panama Offers Student Crop Production Experiences

Students Experience the Wonders of Antarctica

Students Return from Study Course to Ghana

Soils, Agriculture and the Environment of Uruguay - Fall Break

Agronomy Feature: Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources of Costa Rica ��������

Field to Fork on the Prairie - August

�� - Agronomy

Agronomy Feature: Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources of Costa Rica ��