Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture

The Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. Matt Liebman, Iowa State University agronomy professor, became the new Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture on July 1, 2007. He succeeded Dr. Lorna Michael Butler who served as Chair from 2000 to 2007. Dr. Liebman will serve as Chair for a five-year term, which can be renewed for up to three additional years. Dr. Liebman is a graduate of Harvard University and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2009, he was selected as an American Society of Agronomy Fellow. His scientific research focuses on cropping system diversification, conservation systems, and weed ecology and management.

Seeking Applications for Butler Travel Fund Award

Proposals for the 2010 Butler Travel Award for International Studies in Sustainable Agriculture are now being accepted. The deadline for application submission is 12 March 2010. The $3000 award supports graduate-level research focused on sustainable agriculture or rural sustainable livelihoods in developing countries and is made possible by a generous endowment established by Dr. Lorna Michael Butler and Dr. Robert O. Butler. For information on how to apply see here.

Liebman Interviewed on Public Radio

North Dakota Public Radio reporter, Lisa Gulya, interviewed several experts, including Matt Liebman, on the role of agriculture in addressing problems with climate change. Listen to the story here.

2009 Pesek Colloquium

The 2009 John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture was held on October 27 in the Great Hall at the Iowa State University Memorial Union. This year's lecturer was Dr. Shahid Naeem, Professor and Chair of Columbia University's Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. The title of his lecture was The environmental significance of biodiversity in managed and unmanaged ecosystems:  From China, to Sub-Saharan Africa, the Great Plains, and Iowa. A PDF version of his presentation can be found here and the podcast version can be downloaded here. The video of his lecture will be available at a later date. More than 400 people attended this year's Colloquium.

2010 Shivvers Memorial Lecture Scheduled

David Mas Masumoto will speak on Sunday, February 28, 7 PM, in the Sun Room of the Iowa State University Memorial Union. The title of his lecture is Wisdom of the Last Farmer. More information about Mr. Masumoto and his work can be found here.

Video Outlines Research Showing Large Reductions in Agricultural Chemical Use Can Be Compatible with High Crop Yields and Profits

Matt Liebman is featured on a video produced by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and posted on their Web site. The video explains research that compares different cropping systems, including low-input models. See video here. This research project is a large-scale cropping systems experiment and has been conducted since 2002 by Matt Liebman and colleagues at the ISU Marsden Farm. The project has tested whether crop yield, weed suppression, and profit characteristics of two low-external-input (LEI) farming systems can match or exceed those of a conventional farming system. LEI systems rely heavily on ecological processes for soil fertility and pest management, but can include some use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Yields and profits were similar or higher in the LEI systems compared with the conventional system, and lower herbicide inputs did not lead to increased weed problems. The results suggest that large reductions in agrichemical use can be compatible with high crop yields and profits. See here for more.

Organic Weed Management Module Announced

The Crop Adviser Institute of Iowa State University has announced a new module developed by Matt Liebman. The unit, Organic Weed Management, is available for purchase here. The module has been approved by the American Society of Agronomy for CEU credits.

Balancing Food and Biofuel Production with Conservation

The controversy erupting over food and biofuel production generally overlooks the critical need to conserve and protect soil, water, and wildlife. The Des Moines Register recently published an op-ed piece by Matt Liebman about how food and feed crop production systems could be integrated with strips of switchgrass and other perennial plants that can be used to generate fuel and protect environmental quality. See here for a PDF (13KB) version of the article.

"Knowledge grows or dies...Our investment in science would vanish if we did not freshen it constantly and keep training an alert scientific personnel."
--H. A. Wallace