from the President The Future of Ag and Bio Engineering he membership has spo- We are also pursuing strategic partnerships with allied ken: The proposed recon- organizations. Serving as your president has allowed me to figuration of ASABE’s represent ASABE to our counterparts in Japan, Korea, China, T technical divisions was and India. Professional organizations in these countries have a approved by 88% of the voting great desire to work more closely with ASABE. In February, members in the recent election. we participated in the first-ever Global Forum for Innovations The Board of Trustees will now in Agriculture (GFIA) sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Food pursue this reconfiguration, along Control Authority (see Joel Cuello’s article in this issue), with development and execution of which highlighted the grand challenges that we face in achiev- a strategic marketing plan. ing sustainable food, water, and energy. Our profession is crit- Communicating what ASABE ically important to addressing these challenges. offers will help us increase our That said, though, our profession is not yet achieving its membership and promote the value potential, as measured by membership growth in our Society. that we offer to the larger world. Watch for more develop- We are working on this, and we will continue to work on it. ments on this effort in the coming months. There is also a need to address the role and scope of advocacy With the membership in mind, the MVP (Membership in ASABE, and the Board of Trustees will explore these top- Value is Priority) agenda of my term is now being pursued ics in its next meeting at ASABE Headquarters. Our goal through five task groups: the Agricultural and Biological remains to provide compelling value to prospective members, Engineering P.E. Exam (led by Jay Harmon), Biological so that they will join with us, their fellow ag and bio engi- Engineering (led by Mark Riley), Global Challenges (led by neering professionals, to help the people of the world by Ajit Srivastava), Marketing ASABE (led by Leon addressing the grand challenges that we face. These chal- Schumacher), and Students to Professionals (led by Naomi lenges are very real, but I remain optimistic that the future Bernstein). Each of these task groups is off to a good start and will be a better place, both for ASABE and for the world. making progress. Lalit R. Verma, P.E. [email protected] events calendar ASABE CONFERENCES AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS ASABE ENDORSED EVENTS To receive more information about ASABE conferences and meetings, 2014 call ASABE at (800) 371-2723 or e-mail [email protected]. May 19-24 DSSAT 2014. Griffin Campus of The University of 2014 Georgia, Griffin, USA. July 12-13 2014 Applications of Computer Image Analysis July 16-18 4th International Symposium on Soil Water and Spectroscopy in Agriculture. Montreal, Measurement, Using Capacitance, Impedance, Québec, Canada. and Time Domain Transmission. Macdonald July 13-16 ASABE and CSBE/SCGAB Annual International Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Meeting. Montreal, Québec, Canada. Québec, Canada. 2015 Sept. 16-1 CIGR 2014. Beijing, China. July 26-29 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Nov. 1-7 2014 21st Century Watershed Technology New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Conference and Workshop. University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. 2016 July 17-20 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Orlando, Florida, USA. 2 May/June 2014 RESOURCE May/June2014 Vol. 21 No. 3 Magazine Staff: Donna Hull, Publisher, [email protected]; Sue Mitrovich, Managing Editor, [email protected]; Glenn Laing, Technical Editor, [email protected]; Melissa Miller, Professional Opportunities and engineering and technology for a sustainable world May/June 2014 Production Editor, [email protected]; Sandy Rutter, Professional Listings, [email protected]; Darrin Drollinger, ASABE Executive Director, FEATURES [email protected]. Editorial Board: Chair Tony Grift, University 4 There and Back Again: A Professor’s Continuing Journey of Illinois; Past Chair Brian Steward, Iowa John Lumkes, P.E. State University; Thomas Brumm, Iowa State The Giving Back Fund’s first recipient highlights African adventures, University; Victor Duraj, University of opportunities for the profession and students, and the wisdom of J.R.R.Tolkien. California, Davis; Israel Sunday Dunmade, Mount Royal University of Calgary; Rafael 9 Highlights from the Global Forum for Innovations Garcia, USDA-ARS; Christopher Henry, in Agriculture University of Arkansas; Shane Williams, 4 Kuhn North America; Chad Yagow, John Joel Cuello Deere Harvester Works; Jeong Yeol Yoon, Four noteworthy innovations in agriculture and food security (out of the University of Arizona. 150 displayed) in Abu Dhabi at the GFIA. Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World 12 STRIPS: Science-Based Trials of Row Crops Integrated (ISSN 1076-3333) (USPS 009-560) is with Prairie Strips published six times per year— January/February, March/April, May/June, Matt Helmers July/August, September/October, Research proves that strategically placed prairie strips offer many benefits. November/December—by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological 14 The Path Toward Sustainable Agriculture Engineers (ASABE), 2950 Niles Road, 12 Marty Matlock, P.E. St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA. In the second of this series, the future challenges for engineers abound. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Resource, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 17 A Brief History of Growing Plants in Space 49085-9659, USA. Periodical postage is Robert Morrow paid at St. Joseph, MI, USA, and additional From the past, we know that ag and bio engineers are crucial to meeting the post offices. needs of future space missions. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Contact ASABE order department, 269-932-7004. 20 The Nutrient Tracking Tool: A Historical Perspective COPYRIGHT 2014 by American Society of and a Look to the Future Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Harbans Lal Permission to reprint articles available on 17 This web-based simulation program has a long history, and more improvements request. Reprints can be ordered in large are coming. quantities for a fee. Contact Donna Hull, 269-932-7026. Statements in this publication represent individual opinions. UPDATE Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World and ASABE assume no 24 Robotic weeding leads to big labor savings responsibility for statements and opinions expressed by contributors. Views advanced 25 New technique makes “biogasoline” from plant waste in the editorials are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official Environmentally friendly, energy-driven battery runs on sugar position of ASABE. 26 27 Technique allows more trequent and detailed water quality monitoring ON THE COVER Photos by John Lumkes. 26 28 ASABE member receives $1 million to develop milk cooler DEPARTMENTS 2 From the President/Events Calendar 29 Professional Opportunities 30 Professional Listings American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 31 Last Word: ASABE Reconfiguration 2950 Niles Road St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA Technical Communities Are the New Divisions 269.429.0300, fax 269.429.3852 Travis Tsunemori [email protected], www.asabe.org 2014 ASABE Giving Back Fund Recipient There and Back Again A Professor’s Continuing Journey John Lumkes s you might have guessed from the title—if you’re Having recently been awarded a grant from the new a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien—my use of the phrase ASABE Giving Back Fund, I was asked to write an article “There and back again” refers to the subtitle of The about my activities in Africa, in particular about the partner- AHobbit, Tolkien’s 1937 literary classic that ship in Cameroon that formed the basis for my team’s has seen renewed interest due to the hugely success- video submission for the Giving Back Fund. The ful movies based on his books about Middle preceding quotation, in which Frodo’s uncle Earth. So be forewarned, this might not be your Bilbo warns him about leaving home, mirrors typical Resource magazine article! my own experience during my first trip to Long before the movies came out, I Cameroon, which had unintended, but very was a fan of Tolkien’s books, and I made positive, consequences. I didn’t find gold in my kids read them, too. Actually, they did- a dragon’s lair, but I found real treasures of n’t have a choice: I read The Hobbit and a different kind. You can read more about The Lord of the Rings to them, chapter by my first few trips in the May/June 2012 chapter, at bedtime when they were little. issue of Resource. Since then, we have built That’s a fond memory for us now. multiple vehicles with our partners in So what do Tolkien’s books have to do Cameroon, learned a lot about building with this article, the ASABE Giving Back hydroelectric turbines, and added projects in Fund, my work with partners in Africa, and Tanzania and Kenya related to water and my activities as a professor? Gandalf checks his email behind energy—all projects for which agricultural Well, if you’ll indulge me, actually the scenes on the movie set of and biological engineers are ideally quali- quite a lot. As I was struggling with writing “The Hobbit.” Photo by Miraclefish, fied. courtesy of imgur.com. an outline to tell my story, I kept remem- As a result, I have a three-fold purpose bering various quotations from Tolkien. In for this article: a moment of inspiration (okay, some desperate moments due • To highlight some amazing opportunities for our profes- to lack of inspiration), I decided to arrange my outline by fol- sion, particularly for current students as we prepare them to lowing a series of those quotations. Here begins the journey. be future leaders. • To show that even in the midst of incredible challenges, “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, there is hope, energy, and a unique vitality in Africa.