College of Engineering News • Iowa State University

Howe: Making sense of big data

Adina Howe was a postdoctoral fellow at Michigan State University with C. Titus Brown (now Associate Professor of Genetics at the University of California, Davis) when she found herself trying to assemble bacterial genomes from metagenomics data sets so large—nearly 400 billion bases worth—that the assembler software couldn’t keep up. “They would require hundreds of …Continue reading “Howe: Making sense of big data”

Xin: Egg industry sprinting to keep up with cage-free demand

The move to cage-free isn’t cheap. Egg producers spend $30 to $60 per chicken to make the switch from conventional cages to a cage-free, or “aviary,” system, according to the Egg Industry Center at Iowa State University. Most large operations house a million or more birds, so the costs can add up quickly to reach upwards …Continue reading “Xin: Egg industry sprinting to keep up with cage-free demand”

Darr: On-farm trial compares hydraulic downforce to air bags

To evaluate the agronomic and economic benefits of DeltaForce, Successful Farming magazine asked Matt Darr, associate professor, Iowa State University, and Nathan Paul, operations manager for Iowa Soybean Association On-Farm Network, to calculate return on investment as well as performance results through field trials. For 2015, half of the Boenders’ planter was converted to hydraulic …Continue reading “Darr: On-farm trial compares hydraulic downforce to air bags”

ITec grad named CALS Young Alum of the Month

Name: Mitchel Steffes, Title and Company: Safety Manager II, Wanzek Construction, Inc., Major and Graduation Date: BS, Industrial Technology (Occupational Safety), Minor: Engineering Studies – 2013, Major Job/Position Responsibilities: At Wanzek Construction, it is my responsibility to take a systematic and proactive approach in all aspects of the construction processes. Wherever people run the risk of personal injury …Continue reading “ITec grad named CALS Young Alum of the Month”

Helmers: Keeping nitrates on the farm

Helmers: Iowa has the methods to do it; but it will take public funds Dr. Matt Helmers, an Iowa State University agriculture and biosystems engineering professor, spoke with members of the ag committee of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Feb. 4, outlining the challenges of farming’s impact of grain farming on water quality and …Continue reading “Helmers: Keeping nitrates on the farm”

Wagner receives Schafer Education Trust award

Kortney Wagner, a senior in biological systems engineering, was awarded the Schafer Educational Scholarship. Wagner also belongs to Tau Beta Pi. The Schafer Educational Trust (SET) was established in 1999 by agricultural engineering & engineering mechanics alum, Bob Schafer, to honor his late mother, Pansy Head Schafer, father, Marion L. Schafer, and brother, David L. Schafer. Cash awards are made …Continue reading “Wagner receives Schafer Education Trust award”

AST alum’s quest for knowledge takes him to Germany

Todd VerHeecke likes to learn about agriculture, so much so that last summer he went to Germany. Mr. VerHeecke farms about 150 acres near the farm of his father, Rich VerHeecke, about five miles west of Geneseo. He also is a member of the Henry County Farm Bureau. “My interest in agriculture started in high …Continue reading “AST alum’s quest for knowledge takes him to Germany”

Andersen: Producers alerted to hydrogen sulfide dangers

An Iowa father and son and a Wisconsin father and son died in July when they were overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas in manure pits. In both cases, one went into the pit to work on or retrieve equipment and was overcome. The others went in to help. Hydrogen sulfide is a serious issue, said …Continue reading “Andersen: Producers alerted to hydrogen sulfide dangers”

The magic of 3-D metal printing

Deep in the basement of the agricultural and biosystems engineering building at Iowa State University, a tiny laser pings back and forth from the guts of a gargantuan 3-D printer, striking a thin layer of metal dust on a metal plate at precisely the right spots. Within seconds, the outline of a pair of scissors …Continue reading “The magic of 3-D metal printing”

Bernard Darfour: Increasing food security in Ghana through improving post-harvest storage

Before Bernard Darfour came to Iowa State University (ISU) for his PhD in Industrial and Agricultural Technology, he was working toward a Master’s degree in Radiation Processing at the University of Ghana and researching gamma rays. Gamma rays are produced by the most energy-intensive phenomena in our universe like supernova explosions and black holes. Gamma …Continue reading “Bernard Darfour: Increasing food security in Ghana through improving post-harvest storage”

Hoff named Honorary Master Pork Producer

Two Iowans who have made strong contributions to the success of the state’s pork industry have been honored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). Deborah Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and professor Dr. Steven Hoff of the Iowa State University Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering have been named Honorary Master Pork …Continue reading “Hoff named Honorary Master Pork Producer”

Andersen: Pit foaming continues to endanger pork producers

Pit foaming creates a dangerous environment for producers, said Dan Andersen, an ag engineer with Iowa State University. He said producers need to check pits often because conditions can change quickly. Andersen said three things are need to create foam — biogas, something to surround the bubble and something to stabilize the bubble. Feeding distillers grains is the …Continue reading “Andersen: Pit foaming continues to endanger pork producers”

CALS outstanding faculty and staff awards announced

The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences announced its faculty and staff award winners for 2015. The Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions Award was awarded to the Egg Industry Center. Staff members include Hongwei Xin, director and C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in both the department of agricultural and biosystems engineering and animal …Continue reading “CALS outstanding faculty and staff awards announced”

I Tec alum, Mandara Savage to lead SIU extended campus

Mandara D. Savage, who has served as interim director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Extended Campus since March, is the program’s executive director. Savage, an associate professor and chair in the Department of Technology, began his new duties Jan. 1. Extended Campus provides online and off-campus academic programs. James Allen, associate provost for academic programs, …Continue reading “I Tec alum, Mandara Savage to lead SIU extended campus”

Workshop to address the strengths and constraints of farmland drainage

Sub-surface drainage is an important part of agriculture in Iowa and a day-long workshop on March 11 will focus on topics of interest that have emerged around farmland drainage. The Farmland Drainage Workshop will be held from 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. at the V.F.W. Post in Osage, Iowa. The morning session will focus on …Continue reading “Workshop to address the strengths and constraints of farmland drainage”

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