RESOURCE

Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World

China Odyssey ... 5
Launching a new series, the “Marco Polo Narratives,” Otto Loewer gives an account of overseas adventures. Not unlike the Polo who journeyed over the Silk Road centuries before, Loewer returned packing more than souvenirs. “China fascination” continued long after passing through Customs. “This journey profoundly impressed me, not as a tourist but as an an agricultural and biological engineer,” says ASABE’s new president. He thus embarked on another quest: interviews of Asian travelers and Chinese engineers.
To read the full story click here.

Harvesting Value ... 9
In order to effectively recover, recycle, and either add or extract value from organic residues, five key questions must be answered: How much residue is produced? Can it be reduced? What are the properties of the organic stream? What can be done with the stream? What will it cost? Kurt Rosentrater provides an intriguing assessment and answers, particularly for ASABE members actively involved in residue management and utilization.

Blooming Possibilities ... 11
The nursery industry sorely needs automation and mechanization,” say Mississippi State researchers. An “unsophisticated but significant” project aimed at improving plant container lifting and moving by mechanized gripper may ease back strain and boost worker efficiency and safety as well.

2004-2005 ASAE Annual Report
The profession has evolved and expanded over the last, almost 100 years, bringing change and new beginnings. The most obvious change was a strong vote by the membership to modify the Society name to be more representative and descriptive of the breadth and depth of the profession. That is not the only positive change or new beginning happening within ASAE. Learn more in reports written by volunteer and staff leaders. See insert.

INSIDE ASAE

Society Name Officially Changes to ASABE ... 13
We are now the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The name change has the potential to benefit all segments of our membership. The complex task of transition in name now begins. Learn more about this process and how it affects you and your Society.

Oklahoma State Takes Top Trophy for the Second Year in
1/4-Scale Student Design Competition, Eight Teams Enter 2005 1/4-Scale Web Site Design Contest ... 14

1/4-Scale Web Site Design Winning Entries, 1/4-Scale Student Design Competition Winners are ... 15

In Memoriam ... 16
Gail H. Janssen
Galen K. Brown
Robert H. Tweedy

DEPARTMENTS

Events Calendar ... 2nd cover

Update ... 3

Personnel Service ... 17

Professional Listings ... 20

Last Word (reader opinion) - Back Track on Dual Track... 21

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