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 AgComm
News Purdue Extension Purdue
Agriculture Purdue University 
Jay Akridge Olivia Maddox Cherryl Frederick  Agricultural Communication |
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August / September 2008 Welcome to Purdue Agriculture Report, an e-newsletter for business and community leaders on research, academics and Extension across Indiana and around the globe. Women provide ag a powerful force Earlier this month I was pleased to honor two outstanding women in agriculture for their contributions to the industry. This year’s Purdue Women in Agriculture awards went to Helen Witte and Beth Bechdol (see story below). Women have long been a part of agriculture, whether on the farm or in the business field. Today women are taking even bigger strides in the industry, outnumbering men in some areas. For instance, in Purdue Agriculture female students outnumber males almost 3 to 1 in animal sciences. They are also the majority of food science, agricultural communications and biochemistry students. These changes help make Purdue Agriculture and the industry grow in new directions as the workforce continues to attract talented women ready to tackle new challenges. Indiana farmland value, cash rents increase by double digits
Indiana farmland value increased 13.5 percent to 15 percent from this time last year, while cash rents increased 12 percent to 13.5 percent, according to a recent survey conducted by Purdue agricultural economists."This probably comes as no surprise given grain prices that farmland value was up fairly sharply," said Craig Dobbins, the Purdue Extension ag economist who conducted the survey. "As far as cash rents, this is the strongest increase we've had since the early 1970s when we had the demand shock of exports booming and prices going up," he said. Indiana names 50 "Companies to Watch" Fifty companies from 19 Indiana counties have earned a place in Indiana's inaugural field of "Companies to Watch." The accolade, presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, its Small Business Development Centers network, Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, recognizes the state's top privately held businesses that employ up to 150 employees and have between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or working capital. The 50 "Companies to Watch," which were named after evaluating the more the 420 nominations for the awards, represent industries ranging from steel makers to software developers and laboratories to logistics firms. See a list of the winners at http://www.in.gov/iedc/newsroom.htm U.S. corn and soybean crop recovered beyond expectations After a crop season interrupted by devastating floods, Indiana's corn crop has made a surprising recovery, Purdue University and state agricultural officials said at the Indiana State Fair.
The USDA projected total U.S. corn production to be down 6 percent from 2007 at 12.3 billion bushels and soybean production to be up 15 percent at 2.97 billion bushels.The USDA crop report is available online at http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/crop0808.pdf. Corn genetics may lead to next generation of plant-based biofuels Identifying the corn genes involved with plant cell wall generation and learning their function will help develop new, more productive sources of transportation biofuel, according to two Purdue University researchers. Nick Carpita and Maureen McCann will study genes involved in the formation of cell walls in the group of plants known as grasses, which includes corn. The goal is to find ways to produce more biomass containing more sugars that can be efficiently processed into biofuel. "The close evolutionary and genomic relationships of maize or corn to other grasses will take us one step closer to some new, good sources of bioenergy," said Carpita, a geneticist in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. "Maize cell walls and the genes responsible for wall formation are characteristic of all grasses." Foster named interim head of agricultural economics department
Foster succeeds Sally Thompson, who will be taking a leave of absence from Purdue. She intends to assume a position with the Economic Research Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she said."Sally has done an outstanding job over the past six years, and her leadership is much appreciated," said Jay Akridge, interim Dean of Agriculture. "She leaves behind a dynamic, highly productive department, well positioned to serve Purdue Agriculture's traditional learning, discovery and engagement missions." Outstanding women in agriculture recognized by Purdue
The two award winners this year are Helen Witte of Wells County and Beth Bechdol of DeKalb County. "This award was created three years ago to recognize women who give their time to make a contribution to agriculture in Indiana and to bring awareness to the role women play in the agriculture industry," said Stacy Clupper, Purdue Extension Educator in Blackford County."They are both successful in their chosen field and are making a difference in Indiana agriculture, which is why we are happy to honor them." Upcoming Events September 8 - Dec. 12: Purdue Ag Outlook Meetings September 9: The Pumpkin and Sweet Corn Twilight Meeting September 10: Prepare for Emergency Situations September 11: 2008 land Use Update-Video Seminar Series September 16-18: Farm Science Review
Click here for more information on upcoming events
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Farmland value and cash rents for the Hoosier state have increased sharply, said a Purdue University agriculture economist.
Ken Foster, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, has been appointed interim head of the university's Department of Agricultural Economics. He had been associate head of the department and director of graduate programs since 2004.
Two women were recognized for their outstanding achievements and dedication to agriculture in Indiana by receiving the Purdue University Women in Agriculture awards.