Iowa State University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The latest official report of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico offers encouraging numbers, indicating monarchs occupied 4.4 acres—nearly double last year’s acreage—according to the World Wildlife Fund-Telcel Foundation Alliance. Monarch populations are still much lower than what is considered sustainable. Scientists recommend maintaining 15 acres of annual overwintering abundance, which hasn't been reached since 2018. Read more about the report ?? #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

Three College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students have been named recipients of the 2025 Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award. The recipients are: - Jennifer Holliday, senior in agricultural studies, journalism and mass communication and international agriculture - Mackenzy Ruff, senior in animal science and agricultural studies - Madeline Stadtmueller, senior in biochemistry Read more about the award winners ?? #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

Ella Hommel, senior in agricultural business, spent the summer in Washington, D.C. discovering the world of agricultural policy. After her experience, she is confident that a big city is exactly where she wants to be. “It can be intimidating to go intern somewhere new, but the experience offers a great opportunity to try it out and see if you like it,” said Hommel. Read more ?? #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

Do you know a CALS student graduating this May that deserves some recognition? Consider nominating them (or yourself!) for one of the five CALS Council Senior Awards! Nominations close on April 7 at 11:59 p.m. Check out the award details ?? #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

CALS alums: What is a favorite memory from your time as an Iowa State student? ?? ? Let us know in the comments! Your response may be printed in?STORIES?magazine, coming August 2025! ? #calsstories #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS Iowa State University Alumni Association

Congratulations to all the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students elected in this year's Student Government elections! - President Colby Brandt, junior in agricultural and rural policy studies - Vice President Will Vlasek, junior in agricultural systems technology - Frederickson Court senator Lauren Vierregger, junior in agronomy - CALS senator Delaney Graef, junior in forestry - CALS senator Maddie Reinhardt, sophomore in animal science #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS Check out the full results ??

The amount of nitrogen in Midwest soil, an element key to the profitable production of corn, has been steadily increasing by more than 1% every year for the past 30 years. The study, led by researchers in the departments of agronomy, economics and agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State, predicts this trend is likely to continue. “As much of a surprise as it was to us, it really wasn’t a surprise when you sat down and thought about it,” said study co-author Michael Castellano, agronomy professor and the William T. Frankenberger Professor in Soil Science. “It’s like a bank account. If you pull money out, you need to deposit more money to keep the account going.” Read more about the discovery ?? #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

Introducing a brand new degree option: integrated health sciences! This innovative degree is the first of its kind in Iowa with a fully integrative and interdisciplinary approach to the health sciences, with five tracks for students to tailor their education. “What excites us most about this new degree is its adaptability and student-centered approach – it directly addresses a longstanding gap in health care education by giving students the freedom to explore multiple pathways without using the usual financial or academic penalties of switching majors,” said Yanhai Yin, professor and chair of the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology. Read all about this exciting new major, open for enrollment in fall 2025 ?? #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

We are one month away from #forevertrueday and we couldn't be more excited! Check out this sneak peek at our four featured funds, and keep your eyes peeled for more info about our challenges. Bookmark https://lnkd.in/eQjbQZ6M so you know where to go to get in on the fun on April 2 and 3! #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS

When you saw the Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band on the field last fall, there's a good chance you saw CALS students Thomas Vastine and Emma Mostek, seniors in animal science, leading the way as two of the band's drum majors. “Drum major tryouts may have been one of the most grueling processes of my life. Not only is the process around two months long, but the final interview is in front of the entire band,” Vastine said. “As intimidating as it may seem, the environment of the interview was different than most expect. Rather than feeling put on the spot, I felt a sense of familiarity with everyone around me.” #WeAreCALS #CALSproud #ISUCALS