Extension/Outreach
If you've worked in Extension for 10 years or 10 minutes, undoubtedly you've been asked to provide the answer to a question and haven't known where to turn for the answer. And many times I'll bet, the subject of the question has had a horticultural slant. So if I may, allow me to provide a roadmap for finding the most appropriate faculty or staff in my department (the Department of Horticulture) to help you with those horticultural questions.
The Hortline (294-3108) - This resource is as close to one-stop shopping as you can get. Administered and supervised by Richard Jauron <>, this is the place to send all of your consumer/homeowner types who have a question about all kinds of horticultural topics. Even professional/commercial clients have found this resource very useful. And of course, you yourself may call and ask a question on behalf of a client. But remember, the Hortline is a busy place and you might not "get through" on your first attempt.
Dr. Kathleen Delate <> (294-7069) - Kathleen is our extension specialist in the area of organic crop production.
Dr. Paul Domoto <> (294-0035) - Paul is our extension fruit specialist with primary responsibilities for serving the commercial tree and small fruit industry in Iowa.
Dr. Cindy Haynes <> (294-4006) - Cindy is our consumer horticulture specialist with responsibilities for home demonstration gardens and serves as the Professor-in-charge for the Master Gardener Program.
Dr. Jeff Iles <> (294-3718) - I am responsible for serving nursery and landscape professionals in Iowa. I also work a lot with local tree boards and enjoy making plant material recommendations to these groups.
Dr. David Minner <> (294-5726) - Dave is our extension turfgrass specialist with primary responsibilities for serving turfgrass professionals (golf course managers, athletic field managers, etc.) in Iowa.
Mr. James Romer <> (294-2336) - James is the coordinator for the Master Gardener program in Iowa.
Dr. Hank Taber <> (294-0025) - Hank is our extension vegetable specialist with primary responsibilities for serving the commercial vegetable industry in Iowa.
Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden <> (294-5075) - Ann Marie is our extension landscape contracting and construction specialist and deals mainly with nursery and landscape professionals in Iowa.
Of course, another great place to receive assistance is the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic housed in the Department of Plant Pathology (294-0581). Led by Christine Engelbrecht, the staff in "the clinic" are masters at diagnosing problems from live samples that you might send in, from digital photographs, and sometimes from a verbal description of the problem.
Finally, have you ever recommended a soil test if you were stumped by a problem or question. Sometimes having the soil analyzed by the Soil Testing Lab on campus can provide useful information, but many times, the problem you're trying to diagnose might have nothing to do with soil fertility. My point? Try to do some troubleshooting first (using many of the resources listed above) before recommending that soil test. There's no sense performing a diagnostic test if the results of that test don't help us solve the problem. Besides, we might just save the client a dollar or two.
Remember, those of us on campus are committed to helping you succeed with your (our) clients. Because when you succeed we all win. Keep up the great work out there in the trenches, and when you get to campus, please stop in for a visit.
Jeff Iles, Chair
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1100
515-294-3718
Ann Marie VanDerZanden and Cindy Haynes judging landscapes for the 2009 Des Moines Home Builders Association Homeshow Expo in Johnston, Iowa
Dr. Dave Minner inspects the sod at the New York Yankee's during construction of their new stadium. He worked with Dr. Frank Rossi from Cornell University, Julie Cipolla Vice President of Sports Construction Group, LLC., Delea Sod Farms, Inc., and the Head Groundskeeper for the New York Yankee's Dan Cunningham.
Student measures organic pepper growth under different fertilizer regimes in a switchgrass mulch system, Lewis, Iowa.
Dr. Kathleen Delate monitoring earworm presence in organic sweet corn trial, Lewis, Iowa.
Vivian Bernau, Sophomore in Horticulture and Agronomy, checks mulch level on grapes at Snus Hill vineyard in Madrid, Iowa, a partner in the organic ag lab research program.
Students harvest organic tomatoes grown in a no-till system, Neely-Kinyon Farm, Greenfield, Iowa.
Close up of organic grapes from the Neely-Kinyon Farm, Greenfield, Iowa.
Organic apples from an on-farm trial at the Wills Family Orchard, Adel, Iowa.
Thirty Provisions in the Farm Bill to Support Organic Agriculture
"We are entering a time of unprecedented support for organic agriculture," Kathleen Delate, associate professor in agronomy and horticulture, told the Eighth Iowa Organic Conference attendees gathered at the Scheman Center on the Iowa State University campus on Monday, November 24. Thanks to the work of the Iowa delegation and key organizations, including the Organic Farming Research Foundation and the Iowa Organic Association, thirty provisions were included in the 2008 Farm Bill that have direct application to organic producers, including enhanced cost-share payments for organic certification and transitioning acres to organic production.
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| Dr. Tim LaSalle of The Rodale Institute describes the 30% reduction in energy use and subsequent emissions from organic agricultural practices studied for 29 years at the Institute. | A "food miles" slide serves as a backdrop for the organic pumpkins and gourds from the Wills Family Orchard, Adel, Iowa, on display at the Eighth Iowa Organic Conference. |
A very successful, hands-on, intensive "Transitioning to Organic" workshop was held on September 23, 2008, in Adair County, Iowa, sponsored by the Iowa State University Organic Ag Program, the USDA-SARE program, the Adair County Extension office, and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Sixty participants from Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska gathered at the Neely-Kinyon Farm in Greenfield, Iowa, to view organic corn and soybean crops in the morning, and at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center, in Orient, Iowa, in the afternoon, to discuss organic vegetable and fruit production, processing and marketing.
Workshop organizers, Kathleen Delate, ISU associate professor and extension organic ag specialist, and Craig Chase, ISU extension farm management specialist, were very pleased with the discussion generated from presentations by ISU specialists and industry representatives. "The demand for organic corn and soybean is at unprecedented levels," said Tim Daley, organic buyer for Stonebridge, Ltd. "Organic prices continue to rise, and have run about twice the amount of conventional prices," he added. ISU staff showcased the latest innovations for organic farmers, including toolkits for insect pest and natural enemy identification, soybean rust testing and soil fertility test kits.
At the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center, participants tasted organically grown crops of onions, peppers, tomatoes, melons, and apples, and learned from Center Director, Diane Weiland, the connection between soil health, organic farming, and the life of H.A. Wallace, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Vice-President, born in Orient, Iowa. Row covers were demonstrated on their CSA (community supported agriculture) farm as one of the better methods to keep pests in check throughout the season. ISU horticulturist, Eldon Everhart, taught participants about aronia berries, a crop full of healthful antioxidants and easily grown with organic techniques. Sessions on processing and marketing included ideas for scaling-up from incubator kitchens to toll processing with companies such as Happle's Gourmet Foods who process organic fruits in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "I was energized by the ides that came forth in the workshop," stated one participant who was thinking of transitioning some acres into organic production. Support from new programs in the Farm Bill will enhance the efforts of transitioning farmers, Craig Chase reported, including direct payments for longer rotations, required for organic certification. For more information about organic agriculture, visit ISU's Organic Ag webpage at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag/.
Dr. Kathleen Delate presents details on how to get certified in organic production inside ISU Neely Kinyon Farm shed to farmers from three states.
Jayne Livingston, H. A. Wallace Country Life Center, shows participants techniques for growing organic pumpkins in a break-out session during the "Transitioning to Organic" workshop.
Dr. David Minner and Certified Sport Field Manager Mike Andresen
inspect the turf at Jack Trice Stadium, home of the Iowa State
University Cyclones.
