staff.matters
the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences staff newsletter
November 13, 2007
Agriwebinars - The Canadian Farm Business Management Council is offering an online series of free web seminars beginning in November and wrapping up in March 2008. There are 18 Agriwebinars in total, each happening on a Monday at noon EST. The presentations are 40 minutes followed by a 20 minutes question period. Topics include a 2008 global outlook, implications for grain marketing and bio-fuels, the future of agri-tourism, farm viability issues and more. Visit http://www.agriwebinar.com/ for more information.
Asper School of Business Public Lecture - Noted author Peter C. Newman will be giving a public lecture on the topic "From the Bottom Line to the Front Page: Reporting on Business & Business Leaders" at the Asper School of Business on Wednesday, November 14, at 1:00 pm in Room 343 Drake Centre.
Entomology Seminar - on Thursday, November 15, at 10:00 am, Kate Bergen, Entomology, will present "Habitat Manipulation and Integrated Pest Management in Cotton Production" in Room 220 Animal Science/Entomology Building. Coffee and donuts are served at 10:00 am, seminars start at 10:10 am.
Richardson Centre Seminar - Dr. Sylvia Santosa will present "Cholesterol Absorption & Synthesis: From Physiology to Genetics" in this special seminar on Thursday, November 15, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Main Lecture Theatre. Reception in RCFFN foyer to follow seminar.
Advanced Plant Science Seminar Series - On Thursday, November 15, at 3:30 pm, Ph.D. student Kaveh Ghanbarnia will present "Epidemiology of Blackleg of Canola and Marker Development for the Avr gene of Leptosphaeria maculans corresponding to LepR1" in the Carolyn Sifton Lecture Theatre, 130 Agriculture Building. Refreshments at 3:00 pm in the Atrium. Everyone welcome!
Biological Sciences Special Seminar - On Thursday, November 15, at 4:00 pm, Dr. Keith A. Hobson, Canadian Wildlife Service, Saskatoon, will present "Using Stable Isotopes to Track Migratory Animals" in Room Z201 Duff Roblin Building. Coffee and Donuts will be available. All are welcome!
The Friends of Delta Marsh Field Station Fundraising Fall Dinner will be held Thursday, November, 15 at 6:00 pm at the Southwood Golf and Country Club, Markham Road. Guest speaker David Domke, City Forester, City of Winnipeg will present "Challenges in Managing Winnipeg's Urban Forest". Cost is $45 per person. Please contact Harry Duckworth at 474-6252, email Harry_Duckworth@umanitoba.ca or Barbara Crutchley at 474-9373, email Barbara_Crutchley@umanitoba.ca.
There will be a Funding Opportunities in Genomics Meeting on Friday, November 16, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in the Lecture Theatre, Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. The University of Manitoba and Genome Prairie invite you to an informational meeting to discuss potential funding opportunities in the application of genomics in the bioeconomy. Please RSVP by November 14th to fpagdonsolan@genomeprairie.ca.
The Department of Biological Sciences presents the Biological Seminar Series on Friday, November 16 at 3:00 pm in Z201 Duff Roblin Building. Dr. Neil Holliday, Entomology, will present "Predator-prey interactions among aliens: biological control of root maggots in canola".
Entomology Seminar - On Thursday, November 20, at 10:00 am, invited speaker John Markham, Department of Biological Sciences, will present "Why aren't mutualistic interactions more common?" in Room 220 Animal Science/Entomology Building. Refreshments at 10:00 am, and seminar begins at 10:10 am.
Soil Science Seminar - On Tuesday, November 20, at 3:00 pm, Laura Simms, CIDA Tier 2 Research Coordinator, Soil Science, will present a topic to be announced.
This Lunch Hour has 33 Minutes - This speaker series sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President (Research) will next feature Maureen Heaman, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Nursing, presenting "Improving the Health of Pregnant Women Through Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research" on Wednesday, November 21 at 12 noon at the University Club. To reserve your seat, contact Kimberley Stefaniuk at 474-9020 or kim_stefaniuk@umanitoba.ca.
The third seminar in the 2007-2008 Faculty Seminar Series will be held on Wednesday, November 21. The seminar will feature David Lobb, Soil Science and his seminar is entitled "Turning Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation Upside Down". We have been told for decades that farmers should adopt no-till to reduce wind and water erosion and that in doing so farmers would conserve their productive topsoil and rebuild degraded topsoil and they would protect the environment - this is not the case. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 3:00 pm in the Atrium and the seminar will begin at 3:30 pm in the Carolyn Sifton Lecture Theatre, Room 130 Agriculture Building. Everyone welcome!
The Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council Value Chain Initiative will be hosting the following workshops at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg. "Introduction to Value Chains & Crafting Value Chain Strategies" will be held November 22 and "Value Chain Plan Development" will be held November 23. Visit the MRAC website at www.mrac.ca to learn more and to download a registration form.
Smartpark INTERACTIVE Speaker Series - On Friday, November 23, at 8 am, the Smartpark INTERACTIVE Breakfast Speaker Series presents David Rolfe, President, Keystone Agricultural Products and Don Flaten, Professor, Soil Sciences, The University of Manitoba. They will address "Phosphorus Use in Farming: Its Impact on our Waterways". Laura Rance, Editor of the Manitoba Co-operator and columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press, will moderate the event. Free admission. Parking is free. All are welcome. Please email wiebe7@cc.umanitoba.ca or call 480-1434 to reserve your seat.
Entomology Seminar - On Tuesday, November 27, at 10:00 am, invited speaker Martin Entz, Plant Science, will present "Does a 'Natural Systems Agriculture' approach have a role in the real world of food production?" in Room 220 Animal Science/Entomology Building. Refreshments at 10:00 am, and seminar begins at 10:10 am.
Animal Science Seminar - On Tuesday, November 27, at 11:30 am, there will be 3 speakers - Ainsley Little, topic TBA; Naveen Gakhar, "Development of Alternate Markers for Subacute Ruminal Acidosis"; and Janelle Bouchard, topic TBA. In Room 219 Animal Science/Entomology Building. Coffee and donuts will be served prior to seminar.
Two Major CFI Competition 2008 - Open Forum Sessions will be held Tuesday, November 27 (Bannatyne), and Wednesday, November 28 (Fort Garry). For more details and to RSVP please contact Sandy Pereira at sandy_pereira@umanitoba.ca.
Get to Know Research at Your University Speaker Series - On Wednesday, November 28, Dr. Dean Kriellaars, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Manitoba, will present "A Healthy Lifestyle - I didn't know I didn't have one!" at 7 pm in the Smartpark Lobby Boardroom, 135 Innovation Drive. Free admission and free parking - everyone welcome. For more information, contact Kimberley Stefaniuk at 474-9020 or kim_stefaniuk@umanitoba.ca.
Entomology Seminar - On Thursday, November 29, at 10:00 am, Ali Hosseini Gharalari, Entomology, will present "Transgenic plants and their effects on crop systems, with emphasis on Bacillus thuringiensis" in Room 220 Animal Science/Entomology Building. Refreshments at 10:00 am, and seminar begins at 10:10 am.
Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics Special Seminar - The Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics is hosting a special seminar by Dr. Chris Barrett, International Professor in the Department of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, on Thursday, November 29 at 12 noon in Room 360 Helen Glass Building. Professor Barrett is a global authority on the economics of poverty and hunger, and is editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. He will speak on the international governance of food aid regimes and improving food aid policy. The seminar is titled "Global Hunger, Trade and North American Food Aid: What Has Changed and What Still Needs to Change". This event is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy Network (http://www.uoguelph.ca/~catprn/).
Advanced Plant Science Seminar Series - On Thursday, November 29, at 3:30 pm, Dr. Dana Schroeder, Botany, will present "Regulation of Plant Visible and UV Light Response" in the Carolyn Sifton Lecture Theatre, 130 Agriculture Building. Refreshments at 3:00 pm in the Atrium. Everyone welcome!
Entomology Seminar - On Thursday, December 4, at 10:00 am, invited speaker Dr. Bob Lamb, CRC-AAFC, will present "Insect herbivores and annual plants: towards general, quantitative hypotheses for trophic interactions" in Room 220 Animal Science/Entomology Building. Refreshments at 10:00 am, seminar starts at 10:10 am.
Eureka! Musica! - Smartpark Research and Technology Park and the Eureka Project: Smartpark's Incubator, in collaboration with the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Music invites you to an evening of music on Wednesday, December 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Eureka! Musica! is an eclectic concert featuring the Faculty of Music's talented opera, jazz and classical student musicians. Free admission - however seating is limited and reservations are required. Please contact Lindsey Wiebe at 480-1434 or wiebe7@cc.umanitoba.ca to reserve your seat.
The Second Annual Manitoba Dairy Conference will be held December 5 to 7 at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg. There will be great speakers on emerging and important topics. As well there will be a trade show and displays, a Dream Auction, the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Annual General Meeting and the Manitoba Holstein Branch Annual General Meeting. Contact Carla Chevalier at the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Office for registration and sponsorship details. Phone: 488-6455; Email: carlac@milk.mb.ca.
The 24th Annual Plant Science Graduate Student Symposium will be held March 14-15, 2008 in Saskatoon, SK. The symposium is an excellent opportunity for graduate students from the University of Manitoba, University of Alberta, North Dakota State University and the University of Saskatchewan to present and receive feedback on their thesis proposals or project results as well as interacting and networking with other students who are also passionate about plant science research. Registration deadline Friday, December 14, 2007 - contact Andrea at umhermaa@cc.umanitoba.ca for more information or for a registration form.
Heather Flood, M.Sc. student in Plant Science with Martin Entz, has been awarded a Syngenta Travel Award so that she can attend the Canadian Weed Science Society annual meeting in Montreal at the end of November.
Kris Dick, Biosystems Engineering, made a presentation on November 13 for the National Home Warranty Program at the Construct Manitoba Building/Property Forum and Trade Show in Winnipeg. He spoke on "Wood Truss Design and Installation".
In early November, the Department of Entomology was involved in the Annual Meetings of the Entomological Society of Manitoba, which were held on campus, and attended by local entomologists, and visiting speakers from Montreal, Minneapolis and Regina. Of the 16 scientific presentations at the meeting, seven showcased research of graduate students and faculty members in the Department. The meeting is the occasion for making a number of awards to students. Lars Andreassen, Ph.D. student, was awarded the Entomological Society of Manitoba Graduate Scholarship for 2007. Kate Bergen, M.Sc. student, won the prize for best student paper presentation at the meeting. The Society awards two undergraduate awards each year. Laura Woloshyn (Agroecology) received the Society's Student Achievement Award and Jonathan Veilleux (Agroecology) received the Orkin/Swat Student Award; both these students are enrolled in the Entomology Minor program.
In support of Winnipeg Harvest, the Diploma students and FASO are planning a NO SHAVE NOVEMBER which ends on November 29 with a Head Shave and Shine event. They are collecting non-perishable canned goods in boxes all around the Agriculture Building, Animal Science/Entomology Building, Ellis Building and Agricultural Engineering Building all of November and are also planning on raising money for Winnipeg Harvest during the Head Shave and Shine event on November 29th. They are looking for some BRAVE professors, grad students, staff and students that would be willing to be auctioned off to shave their heads. People will be able to bid on wielding the clippers to shave their favorite (or not so favorite!) person's head. FASO would really appreciate your participation and your canned food donations!
Peter Jones, Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, presented at the National Lipid Association Masters Summit Conference on the "Role of the Digestive Tract in Lipid Metabolism" in Orlando, Florida on November 3.
The Richardson Centre staff toured approximately 35 students participating in Take Our Kids to Work Day on November 7.
Food for Fines -- November 26 to December 2 - This program has been organized in joint venture with the University of Manitoba Students Union. For each non-perishable food contribution the Libraries will reduce your fine by $2 (to a maximum of $20). The waiver applies only to existing fines; not to replacement costs of lost or damaged items. The food collected will go to the U of M Student Food Bank, which provides assistance to students in need.
Biographies on the new book shelf - The life of a female drifter: an entomologist remembers. Margaret Rae MacKay. Call number QL31 M197 A3 2002. This memoir recounts the career of a woman scientist who came of age between the two world wars, a period when carving out a career was not very easy for women scientists in Canada. The book is also a charming portrait of life in Canada and Europe during the mid 20th Century.
Fifty years with weeds: memoirs of a scientist by Dr. George Friesen. Call number SB 513 C2 F848 2007. Anyone interested in the history of the University of Manitoba should read this memoir by the Faculty's first weed scientist. The book is well illustrated and sown with pithy quotes on life and weeds such as "Agriculture is a controversy with weeds." (Anon.)
Web site of the week - LazyLibrary http://lazylibrary.com/ This is the ideal site for students who have an aversion to reading printed books or whose chief concern in any assignment is how many pages they'll have to read. LazyLibrary aggregates only those books from Amazon which are 200 pages or less. A search using the term "agriculture" yielded a small crop of interesting titles such as The natural superiority of mules and Invisible marijuana and psychedelic mushroom gardens.
Colleen Wilson, recent M.Sc. grad in Animal Science, was interviewed on Farmscape, a radio segment that airs on CKLQ and other stations. Colleen was interviewed about a recent study that shows swine manure fertilizer dramatically increases the yield and quality of forage on hay and pasture land. Listen to the clip at http://www.farmscape.com - the clip aired November 2 (#2631).
The Manitoba Food Processors Association newsletter In the Process featured the award-winning accomplishment of the Food Science student product development team. The newsletter also highlighted the tour of the Richardson Centre made by 35 students on Take Our Kids to Work Day - it was a full day of touring Manitoba food industries for the kids organized by MFPA.
The recent CIBC Agricultural Scholarship winners - students Colin Crockatt, Pam Desrochers, Kelvin Heppner, and Darren Froese - were pictured in the November 1 Manitoba Co-operator. Read more online.
David Levin, Biosystems Engineering, was quoted in the article "Audience spirited over biofuels" in the Manitoba Co-operator (November 1) - he described biofuels as "a solution in transition." He was also quoted in the same issue in the article "Cellulose ethanol pays".
The recently launched Internationally Educated Agrologist Program was featured in the Manitoba Co-ooperator (November 8) article "New program helps immigrant agrologists". Read more about this program.
Banner Upgrade - The Aurora System is upgrading from Banner 6 to Banner 7 between Friday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 20. This upgrade will enhance system improvements and functionality. Due to this upgrade, system functionality will phase down Friday, starting at 12:00 noon and is scheduled to resume the following Tuesdayat 8:30am. All Aurora Finance and Student services will be unavailable during this time, including student records and registration; grading; admissions applications; Course Catalog; FAST Reporting; and cashiering. For more information, see http://umanitoba.ca/computing/renewal/aurora/.
100th Anniversary Book - A Great Christmas Gift! - The Faculty's AgCentennial publication "Times of their lives - Milestones, memories and mischief" which documents the Faculty's significant events and notable people over the last 100 years is finally here! If you have not yet ordered your copy, please visit http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/agcentennial/ to see a preview and for an order form that can be filled out and faxed back to us. Alternatively, you can call us with your order details at 474-9435. The cost of the book is $39.95 plus GST and optional shipping. The 232-page softcover book is filled with great recollections and loads of photos. The closing pages of the book include the over 10,000 names of faculty and graduates.
staff.matters is e-mailed bi-weekly on Wednesday afternoon to members and friends of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba. The bi-weekly news deadline is Tuesdays at 4:00 pm. Email Crystal Jorgenson with your news or get in touch with your department staff.matters rep:
- Agribusiness: Judy Powell 9259
- Animal Science and Entomology: Claire Hutchinson 6125
- Biosystems Engineering: Debby Watson 6033
- Food Science: Allison Cranmer 9621
- Plant Science: Bev Godard 8563
- Soil Science: Terry Ramm 8153