MANY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH PROJECTS involve students in original research. Senior Stacey DePaul, animal science, played an active role in a groundbreaking calf cloning experiment undertaken by CSU, Chico’s University Farm and Cyagra, a Kansas-based biotechnology firm.

DePaul (left photo, on the right) spent the summer of 2000 as an intern at Cyagra, where she aspirated eggs from donor cows’ ovaries. She witnessed the complete process of embryo production, from tissue biopsy to preparation of the embryos for shipment to CSU, Chico.

Three Charolais calves were born on March 9, 2001, to two Hereford mothers. Cyagra had never had three cloned calves born at one site. Two of the calves, twins, died; one, Martie, is in good health and weighed more than 230 pounds after four months.

Professor Cynthia Daley, animal biotechnologist, who directs the project, said, “Despite the loss of the calves, the project is successful because of the considerable contributions we’ve made to the body of knowledge of bovine cloning. We’ve demonstrated that cloning technology is indeed feasible.”

HARD WORK REWARDED JUNIOR AGRICULTURE STUDENT Patricia Cotter received a CSU Award for Outstanding Achievement, one of only six recipients in the state. The $3,000 scholarship was given for superior academic performance, overcoming personal obstacles, and community service.

AGRICULTURE STUDENT FRANCINE DICKIE PLACED FIRST Student Research Competition in April 2001, in the Agricultural and Biological Sciences Division. Sadie Smith placed second in the same division.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR HORTICULTURIST LEE ALTIER was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant for teaching and research in Thailand. His research will focus on managing farmland to reduce impact to water resources.

THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE RECEIVED $750,000 FROM THE California Legislature for applied agricultural research. Projects directed by Lal Singh, agricultural economics, with student and faculty research teams, include a $280,000 economic and mechanical evaluation of olive harvesters and a $475,000 sub-contract with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and PG&E to measure the impacts on rural home air quality of the agri-chemicals and other contaminants.

STUDENTS FOR RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURE, ONE OF 11 organizations for students to practice leadership, organizes an Ag Day each spring that brings more than 750 school children to campus to educate them about agriculture and its importance in all of our lives.