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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....}

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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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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 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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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

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