Leopold Center - Completed grants

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Center Progress Report | Final reports of selected projects | Previous issue teams/initiatives
Abstracts of Completed Projects (1996-2007)

To fulfill its legislative mandate to conduct research, the Leopold Center has operated a competitive grants program since 1988. During its first 12 years, the Center funded more than 250 research and educational projects totaling $12 million. Results from each completed project are summarized in an annual Center Progress Report, which can be viewed by year and title below (or search by topics and keywords on our search page).

In 2002, the Center reconfigured its broad-based competitive grants program around three more tightly focused research initiatives in marketing and food systems, ecology and policy. Read final reports of selected projects conducted by the Center's three research initiatives (reports also are summarized annually in the Center Progress Report).

The Center also has supported numerous issue teams and initiatives, and an educational and conference grant program. Read about our previous issue teams and earlier efforts.

Center Progress Report

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992

This report, published every year since 1992, has summaries of all research projects completed within the previous year. All completed grants are in PDF fomat . To download and install Acrobat Reader, visit Adobe's web site. To view summaries by topic and keywords, go to our search page. Or you can order a printed copy of a recent Center Progress Report.


Volume 16 (2007)
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Project Name	Project ID
Assessment of triticale varieties for swine feeding performance, late planting	2004-E27
Devising a framework for implementing cattle-grazing, fire on grassland in southern Iowa	2006-E18
Economically sustainable riparian buffer to promote bank stability and reduce gully erosion and phosphorus runoff in the Loess Hills	2002-E30
Retrospective assessment of landscape, land use change in the Clear Creek Watershed	2004-E08
Naming and graphing entrepreneurial and community based agriculture linkages	2004-M04
Assessing the market potential for goat meat among recent immigrants to Siouxland	2005-M33
Case studies and benchmark transaction costs for select food products	2006-M02
Development of a rural wine culture in Iowa	2005-M14
Economic viability of local food marketing for Iowa restaurants, growers/producers	2005-M17
Life in Iowa Homecoming Institute	2003-M02
Market Maker for Iowa	2005-M29
The role of collaborative community supported agriculture: Lessons from Iowa	2005-M01
Small/midsize Iowa farmer marketing, entrepreneurship, business planning training	2005-M06
A survey of broilers from organic, free-range and conventional systems for cooked meat yields, composition, relative value	2006-M01
Sustainable agriculture, marketing, entrepreneurship, and business planning skills	2005-M03
Taste of Place: Place-based foods in Iowa	2005-M02
Taste of Place Project, Phase II: Outreach	2006-M13
Using contracts to expand produce market opportunities	2005-M18
Farm Bill listening sessions	2006-P01
Women, land and legacy: Agricultural policy for changing landownership	2006-P10

Volume 15 (2006)
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Project Name	Project ID
Alternative farrowing systems during cold weather	2003-E29
Beef cattle feeding in deep-bedded hoop barns	2004-DSP01
Biological control of the soybean aphid in organic and sustainable soybean production systems	2003-E02
Economically optimal enterprise mix for Iowa farms	2004-E01
Impacts of managed grazing on stream ecology and water quality	2002-U19
The role of herbaceous woodland perennial diversity for improving nutrient uptake capacity of riparian areas	2004-E04
Winter grazing of stockpiled grass-legume forages to reduce costs of developing beef heifers	2004-E35
Company environmental and societal positions as sources of competitive advantage	2005-M07
Consumer perceptions of place-based foods	2004-MSP05
Developing an integrated research and outreach program for niche pork	2005-M28
Economic analysis of current and potential Muscatine melon market	2004-MSP09
Grinnell Area Local Food System Initiative	2003-M01
Southwest Iowa Entrepreneurial Center: An achievable product-to-market business model for niche ag producers	2005-M13
A study of place-based food tourism in northeast Iowa communities	2005-MSP01
Supporting direct meat marketing in Iowa	2004-M17
Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Agriculture Program at Marshalltown Community College	2004-MSP07
Sustaining agricultural producers through direct marketing of processed foods	2002-16
Web-based interactive decision model for determining economic feasibility of growing grapes and establishing a winery	2004-M16
Forming agricultural bargaining units for a sustainable and equitable agriculture	2003-P10
Leveraging linkages to the Conservation Security Program	2003-P61
Survey of Iowa organic farmers on the impact of the National Organic Program	2003-P08

Volume 14 (2005)
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Project Name	Project ID
Assessing the market potential of specialty forest products in local food systems	2004-M8
Biotic interference of biological control of purple loosestrife	2001-33
Company environmental and societal positions as sources of competitive advantage	2004-M5
Developing a local food system in association with business and industry	2002-67
Documenting the costs and benefits of whole animal local meat purchases by three northeast Iowa institutions	2004-M6
Evaluating on-farm food handling practices and microbiological quality of locally grown produce and eggs	2004-MSP1
Evaluating the adaptability of forage species and varieties	1999-41
Growing your small market farm business planning program	2004-MSP6
Identification of plant residue with commercial potential as natural dyestuffs	2003-M6
Improving farm nutrient management by optimizing organic matter inputs and root health	2002-41
Incorporating grassland agriculture into row crop production systems	2002-39
Integrating hunting and grazing - a southern Iowa investigation	2003-E6
An internship program to help institutional food buyers develop links to local farms in northeast Iowa	2001-13
Investigation of the influence of tillage for management of woolly cupgrass	2001-56
Local food capacity in north central Iowa: Nutritional need, economic strategy	2004-M21
Market analysis of alternative crop production in Iowa	2004-M9
Planning grant for expansion of Food Alliance ecolabel program in Iowa	2004-M14
Supply chain options for biobased businesses	2004-M13
Sustainable grape production for the reestablishment of Iowa's grape industry	2002-46

Volume 13 (2004)
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Project Name	Project ID
Agronomic and environmental soil testing for phosphorus and threshold levels in soils	2001-11
Alternative swine cost of production project	2002-PNMWG5
Black walnut cultivar performance	2002-01
Co-location of industries with small livestock slaughter facilities	2003-M4
Complementary grazing systems for beef cattle production	2000-06
Development of dormancy breaking mechanisms in eastern gamagrass	2001-19
Development of switchgrass as a viable agricultural commodity	2002-26
Environmental impacts of use of poultry manure on water quality	1999-68
Evaluating sustainable, integrated management of muskmelon diseases, weeds, and insect pests in partnership with Iowa growers	2001-21
Evaluating the effectiveness of restored wetlands for reducing nutrient losses from agricultural watersheds	2001-60
Improving productivity of warm-season pastures by interseeding legumes	2001-35
Johnson County Food Education Program	2003-M5
Let the vineyards be fruitful	2003-M3
Local food connections: From farms to restaurants	2002-29
Optimizing solid manure application by improving distribution	2001-24
Some alternatives for multiple use land management in southern Iowa	2003-P1
Squaw Creek watershed social assessment	2003-E1
Sustainability and community food systems in four Iowa counties	2000-69
The effects of thrips on strawberry production in Iowa	2002-47
The value of filter strips for grassland bird communities	2002-04
Understanding the potential of phosphorus transport to water resources via leaching	2002-40
Winter grazing of corn residues	2000-35

Volume 12 (2003)
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Project Name	Project ID
Demonstration and technology transfer to producers implementing sustainable rotational grazing systems	2001-02
Effects of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis corn pollen on the monarch butterfly	2001-58
Establishment of a local food system in eastern Iowa	2000-26
Grass-based dairies and dairy network/promotions	2001-32
Institutional and commercial food service buyers' perceptions of benefits and obstacles to purchase locally grown and processed foods	2001-38
Iowa location of regional pawpaw trials	2000-20
Livestock and the environment in Sioux County	2000-36
Local ecotype prairie seed	1999-45
Managing weeds by integrating smother plants, cover crops and alternative soil management	1999-03
Optimizing swine hoop manure management of soil quality and crop system performance	2000-42
Reducing anhydrous ammonia application by optimizing distribution	2000-34
Soil amendment effects of crop-weed interactions	2000-11
Soil carbon quality and interactions in Iowa wetlands	2001-47

Volume 11 (2002)

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Project Name	Project ID
Alternative and horticulture crop education and marketing pilot project	1999-56
Examining the potential for organic apple production—The Homestead Orchard Project	1999-22
Making the connection—linking farms to HRIs	2000-67
Organic farming demonstration project—eastern Iowa	1999-21
Crop response to zinc as a micronutrient in Iowa	2000-04
Development of switchgrass as a viable agricultural commodity for farmers in southern Iowa	1998-14
Environmental impacts of the use of poultry manure for agricultural production system	1999-68
Evaluation of organic soil amendments for certified organic vegetable and herb production	1999-50
Feasibility of organic soybean production following CRP land	1999-49
Improving tree establishment with forage crops	1999-85
Biologically intensive manipulation of foxtail seed banks for enhanced mortality	1999-37
Ecological impact of herbicides associated with transgenic soybeans on spider mites	2000-41
Integrating biologically rational strategies for control of anthracnose fruit rot of strawberries	1999-64
Nontarget effects of Bt corn on pathogenic and toxigenic fungi	2000-29
Chariton Valley Beef Initiativen	1999-71
Demonstration of swine carcass composting as part of an environmentally friendly production system	2000-33
Growing dairy heifers in southwest Iowa	1999-11
Closing the loop, expanding the circle: Educational outreach for institutional food waste on small farms	2002-YE
Iowa Master Conservationist Program	2002-MC
Our rural supermarket: Locally grown foods project	2002-LF

Volume 10 (2001)

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Project Name	Project ID
Building Hope in the Heartland: a training program	2001-HH
Community and economic regeneration through strengthening the local food economy	1998-13
Together in Tough Times	2001-TT
Development and implementation of cost-effective fertilization and tillage management alternatives for improving soil quality in corn-soybean rotations	1998-36
Evaluation of forage plants collected from permanent pastures throughout Iowa	1998-69
Evaluation of three cropping systems grown under the influence of a shelterbelt	1998-26
Genetic diversity and performance of oat variety blends	2000-50
A simple method to increase alfalfa yields in the establishment year	2000-47
Small grain and annual forage legume intercrops for Iowa	1998-68
Soil quality, yield stability and economic attributes of alternative crop rotations	1998-05
Ecology and restoration of farmland woods in central Iowa	1998-21
The effects of transgenic soybeans and associated herbicide treatment upon soil-surface mesofauna	1999-29
Toxicity of pesticides adsorbed to suspended sediment to larval fish in the Cedar River	1998-80
Biological control and sustainable horticulture principles of Iowa's vocational agriculture curriculum	1998-24
Statewide manure management education initiative	1998-51
Botanicals as part of an integrated value-added pork production system	2000-37
Dairy manure quantification and characterization in grazing systems	1999-16
Nitrogen conservation in swine manure composting land—application systems	1999-62
Socio-technical and environmental dimensions of swine manure management decisions	1999-69
Biologically intensive pest management: Iowa apple growers take the next step toward sustainability	1998-45
Development of alternative carriers for use of Beauveria Bassiana in Ostrinia nubilalis suppression on corn	1999-75
Manipulation of predatory insects for enhanced biological control of insect pests	1998-72
Transferring biological control technology to Iowa strawberry growers	1996-77
Use of intra-field alfalfa trap cropping for management of the potato leafhopper	1998-43

Volume 9 (2000)

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Project Name	Project ID
Assessing the impact of instructors and students as transfer agents	1999-07
Community Guide to Agriculture (Johnson County)	1999-NFG
Rural regeneration through direct marketing of Audubon County meats	1998-12
Youth and conservation methods	1999-58
Eastern gamagrass seed dormancy	1997-30
Economic analysis of variable rate management for corn and soybean systems	1997-48
Establishment and persistence of legumes on sites varying in aspect, landscape position and soil type	1997-29
Evaluation of interactions within a shelterbelt agroecosystem	1997-53
Biocontrol of purple loosestrife by two host-specific European leaf feeding beetles in Iowa wetlands	1997-41
Coupling swine technologies: swine system options	1997-31
Determination of early summer pasture conditions to optimize forage and calf productivity and profitability	1997-20
Education based incentive program to enhance long-term adoption of sustainable nutrient/pest management—a demonstration with farmers in northeast Iowa	1997-21
Iowa Lakes Controlled Grazing, Inc. (ILCG) project	1995-13

Volume 8 (1999)

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Project Name	Project ID
Compensation of farm employees	1998-64
Determining the benefits of environmental improvements in pork production and their sustainability: a community-based study of Iowa's pork industry	1997-52
Field to Family Community Food Project	1998-75
Non-farmer's Guide to Agriculture (Polk County)	1998-57
Incorporating native plant communities on farms for forage and wildlife	1996-74
Wildlife use of terraces in Iowa rowcrop fields	1998-35
Biocontrol of Sclerotinia stem rot in soybeans with Sporidesmium sclerotivorum	1996-31
Evaluation of the impact of tillage/cropping systems on soil microflora and week seedbank predation	1996-34
Identification and characterization of the Rose Rosette disease causal agent	1998-33
Integrated pest management for wireworms	1996-02
Pheromone mating disruption: novel, non-toxic control of the European corn borer	1997-19
Spring-seeded smother plans for week control in corn and soybeans	1996-03
Botanicals as part of an integral value-added pork production system	1998-52
Evaluation of the nitrogen and energy utilization of legume forages by growing cattle and sheet	1998-09
Constructed wetlands to reduce agricultural chemical transport to water resources	1995-48
Development of guidelines for application of swine manure to optimize nitrogen management for corn	1996-10

Volume 7 (1998)

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Project Name	Project ID
Everything you wanted to know about wildlife and fisheries: A field day for agriculturists	1996-20
Collection of forage crop germplasm throughout Iowa	1997-38
Demonstration of an annual forage crop integrated with crop and livestock enterprises	1995-49
Education-demonstration for intensive grazing and forage management on highly erodible land	1996-41
Intensive rotational grazing management education-demonstration for Northeast Iowa dairy and beef producers	1996-38
Iowa Pasture Management Guide	1996-72
Demonstration of a Swedish sustainable swine production system in Iowa	1995-72
Mahaska County livestock manure/crop nutrient management demonstration project	1995-05
Animal manure-municipal yard waste composting project in Wright County, Iowa	1996-06
Demonstration of an agroforestry system to minimize pollution hazards from land application of treated municipal sludge	1995-47
Enhancement of agricultural weed control by manipulation of the light environment	1996-80
Fertilizer placement for ridge-till and no-till systems	1995-55
Impacts of swine manure application and alternative N-management practices on productivity, sustainability and water quality	1997-60

Volume 6 (1997)

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Project Name	Project ID
Agricultural chemical dealers: Shifting from selling products to services	1997-ECEDT
Agriculture and science teaching link	1996-23
Expanding the audience of the Leopold Center	1997-SWEDT
Planning for a residential agricultural and environmental education program at the Iowa 4-H Education and Natural Resources Center	1996-30
Sustainable agriculture practices in home gardening/ Disseminating research-based information applicable to both rural and urban clientele in Central Iowa	1997-CEDT
Swine system options for Iowa	1997-CONF
Animal and plant responses for steers grazing switchgrass and big bluestem pastures	1993-06
Evaluation of diatomaceous earth as an adjunct to sheep parasite control in organic farming	1995-34
Biological control of the tarnished plant bug in Iowa	1993-15
Building in Integrated Pest Management network in cooperation with Iowa fruit and vegetable growers	1992-47
The cereal leaf beetle in Iowa oats: Research and education program for biological control and sustainable management practices	1993-16
Effects on transgenic thuringiensis on European corn borer natural enemies and non-target Lepidopteran pests	1995-14
Supporting Leopold Center IPM research through on-farm trials and demonstrations	1995-39
Effect of tillage, crop rotation and innovative nitrogen and pesticide management practices on productivity, sustainability and water quality	1993-14
Effective high-speed, high-residue rowcrop cultivation	1993-01
Evaluation of interactions within a shelterbelt agroecosystem	1993-04

Volume 5 (1996)

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Project Name	Project ID
Low-input sustainable sow housing for Iowa	1993-03
Conservation Reserve Program research and demonstration project	1991-58
Integrating sustainable concepts with the ISU Beef Feedlot Performance Projects Program	1992-46
Production of a videotape series to promote forage-based livestock production in the Upper Midwest	1995-04
Manure management education and demonstration project	1992-19
The effect of organic versus chemical fertilizers on insect pathogens	1992-18
Calibration of the late-spring soil nitrate test for manured soils	1992-28
Animal manure utilization in crop nutrient planning	1993-10
Southeast Iowa on-farm demonstration of sustainable tillage systems and weed profile developments on those systems	1992-11
Biorational insecticides for the control of corn rootworm	1992-55
Alternative production systems for high-value horticultural crops	1992-33
Sustaining Iowa soybean production through education about soybean cyst nematode	1993-12
Effect of row spacing and seeding rates on soybean yields and weed management programs	1993-02
Native willow stream-bank plantings: a local resource to control erosion and provide an acceptable alternative riparian planting technique	1992-09
Agriculture and science link through the Living Soil	1995-09

Volume 4 (1995)

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Project Name	Project ID
Long-term holistic study of two Iowa watersheds	1995-AGRO
High-intensity, year-round rotational grazing	1995-ANM
Potential economic, environmental benefits of narrow strip intercropping	1995-CS
Studies of social, economic, and policy factors affecting farming practices and technology in Iowa	1995-HS
Integrated pest management for alfalfa	1995-IPM
Managing livestock manure for profitability and water quality protection	1995-MM
Supporting Leopold Center research through on-farm trials and demonstrations	1992-43
Integrating environmental awareness and sustainability issues in a beginning agronomy course	1992-08
Agriculture's impact on the living soil—development of a curriculum	1992-37
Alternatives for implementation of integrated crop management (ICM) programs in local agricultural input firms	1992-51
Ramifications of excessive use of soybean resistance to the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines	1991-31
Use of planting date to avoid injury from soybean insect pests	1991-09
Calculation of specific economic thresholds for the commercially available yellow sticky traps used for adult corn rootworm monitoring	1992-35
Influence of native roadside plants on biological control of Iowa crop pests	1992-53
Evaluation of a biological control agent for musk thistle	1991-24
Plant pathogens as biological agents for the control of weeds	1991-32
Interactions of VAM fungi, pesticides and crops	1992-48
Control of Soil-borne pathogens with strategic use of animal manures	1990-65
Biomass production and ethanol potential from sweet sorghum	1991-46
Wildlife use of and productivity in diverted cropland	1992-24
Composing for environmentally sound management of poultry and swine mortalities in Iowa	1992-38
GIS-based environmental and economic analysis of integrated crop-livestock production systems in southern Iowa	1992-56

Volume 3 (1994)

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Project Name	Project ID
The Model Farms Demonstration Project	1990-71
Sustainable agriculture: Vision for the future	1992-31
Sustainable agriculture and wildlife: a multi-organizational field day	1992-23
Des Moines and Henry County field trials of corn rootworm beetle traps	1991-06
Buffer strips for controlling herbicide losses	1991-15
Sustainable tree-shrub-grass buffer strips along waterways	1990-07
Evaluation of tillage and crop rotation effects on groundwater quality	1990-41
Transformation and fate of nitrate and atrazine in freshwater wetlands	1990-63
Characterization of the Rose Rosette Disease causal agent: potential for biological control and multiflora rose	1989-16
Adapting predictive models to reduce fungicide sprays on tomatoes in Iowa	1990-16
A biorational approach to soybean cyst nematode management in Iowa	1990-31
Economic analysis of chemical versus biological suppression of the European corn borer in Iowa corn production	1991-38
Fall-planted spring oats: A low-risk cover crop to reduce erosion following soybean	1990-10
Environmental effects of two contrasting farming systems in the Clarion-Nicollet-Webster soil association area	1990-14
A comparison of agricultural systems at the Allee Research Center	1988-09 & 1991-36
Oak regeneration response to thinning from below	1990-02
Species and variety of conifers for Christmas tree production in Iowa	1990-04
Prediction and field validation of sediment impacts on riffle insect communities	1992-29
Bird use of restored wetlands on Conservation Reserve Program land	1991-33
Improved disease resistance in dairy cattle: Correlation of health disorders with measures of immune status; and Genetic improvement of disease resistance by identifying sires whose daughters have fewer disease problems	1990-05 & 1992-04
Renovation of established switchgrass with forage legumes	1990-08

Volume 2 (1993)

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Project Name	Project ID
Efficient herbicide application to reduce environmental losses	1989-22
Pesticides and their major degradation products as potential contaminants of groundwater	1990-39
Establishment of an experimental wetland research complex	1989-40
Multispecies toxicity tests using indigenous stream organisms: predicting pesticide effects in streams	1990-37
Effectiveness of vegetative filter strips	1990-09
Utilizing an entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, for season-long suppression of larval populations of the European corn borer	1988-12
Incorporating environmental costs into economic injury levels	1989-17
Reducing pesticide use through environmental monitoring for pest protection	1989-30
Biological control of the strawberry leaf roller, Ancylis comptana, in Iowa	1988-13
Utilizing potential weed pressures to improve efficiency of weed management programs	1990-20
Weed population dynamics in ridge-tilled soybeans with and without herbicides	1989-19
Sustainable week control system using natural product allelochemicals to replace conventional herbicides in maize	1989-27
Corn tissue tests for excess phosphorus and potassium	1991-45
Implementing nitrogen management to protect Iowa's groundwater	1990-28
Operating procedures for use of the late-spring soil test by fertilizer dealers and consultants in Iowa	1989-28
Optimizing microbial associations to enhance nitrogen and potassium soil nutrient availability	1989-18
Poplar tree buffer strips grown in riparian corridors for non-point source pollution control and biomass production	1988-11 & 1990-75
"Full Circle Forestry" in southeast Iowa	1989-34
Bird use of roadsides in an agricultural system	1990-29
Storm Lake watershed demonstration project: planning phase	1990-36
Seed coating with environmentally acceptable polymers as an alternative to fungicide treatment of corn and soybeans	1989-01
Crops of ancient Iowa: native plants use and farming systems	1990-34
Changes in soil structural characteristics following establishment of prairie grass	1990-46
A developmental approach to the adoption of low-input farming practices	1989-35
A sustainable agriculture course delivered nationally via AG*SAT	1989-41

Volume 1 (1992)

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Project Name	Project ID
Nitrate and herbicide leaching as affected by conservation tillage	1988-02
Effect of split N-fertilizer applications on drainage water quality and No3-N leaching	1988-07
Demonstration of the unique slow-release characteristic of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer	1988-03
Nitrogen efficiency with no-till and conventional tillage cropping systems for energy conservation and water quality benefits	1988-20
Monitoring and modeling cropping system nitrogen for a sustainable agriculture	1988-19
Tillage and crop rotation system demonstration for energy and environmental efficiency	1988-10
On-farm demonstration program to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts from row crop production	1988-25
A wood-fired furnace and timber management research and demonstration system	1988-08
Selection of herbaceous energy crops for sustainable agriculture	1988-01
Strip intercropping systems	1988-05 & 1988-06
Nitrogen management alternatives for ridge tillage corn	1988-17
Evaluation for an integrated pest management program for northern corn rootworm extended diapause	1988-18
Irrigation and disease management of vegetables	1988-16
Optimal efficiency in the use of Iowa's energy, soil and feed resources for beef production	1988-14
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge demonstration and education project	1988-04

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