agriculture briefs

Interim director of

Pioneer Farm honored

Chuck Steiner, associate professor in the School of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and interim director of Pioneer Farm, recently received the Distinguished Young Educator Award for 2011 from the American Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources.

The award was established to recognize meritorious teaching by a professional at an association institution who has seven years or less of teaching in higher education.

UW-P officials report that Steiner's teaching philosophy consists of application of theory. He encourages his students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real situations. In addition, Steiner regularly schedules agribusiness professionals to speak with his students.

Steiner received his bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural industries from UW-P and his doctorate degree in agricultural education from Iowa State University in 2004. Prior to being hired at UW-P in August 2007, he was a lecturer and assistant professor at ISU.

Course offered for

pesticide applicators

Dubuque County's Iowa State University Extension office will host a continuing instructional course for commercial pesticide applicators from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The course costs $60 on or before Nov. 28 and $70 after. The program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pest Management and the Environment program.

The 2012 course will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 7A, 7B, 8 and 10.

The course will cover topics such as pests and pest management, including bed bugs, termites and carpenter ants; safe pesticide application to reduce human exposure; reduce contamination of habitat; pesticides and pesticide labels; and laws and regulations.

To register or to obtain additional information about the course, call Trish Driscoll at the Dubuque County ISU Extension office at 563-583-6496.

Program touts

Iowa-grown products

AMES, Iowa -- The

Local Food and Farm Program is looking for a few good ideas that will help put more Iowa-grown products on dinner plates and more money in the pockets of Iowa

farmers.

The program's purpose, established by the Iowa Legislature in 2011, is to increase the production, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption of local food in Iowa. The program also outlines the need to increase profitability and the number of jobs all along the local food chain.

Exactly what should be included in the proposal is outlined in Local Food and Farm Program's Request for Proposals.

The deadline is Thursday, Nov. 29.

Telegraph Herald

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