FEBRUARY 2003

Welcome to Purdue Agriculture Report, an e-newsletter about research and Extension in the Purdue University College of Agriculture.

• Observing "set-back" requirements – planting transgenic research plots in field areas that do not compromise neighboring farm crops or interfere with other research studies.

• Notifying neighbors – alerting nearby farmers to field studies that involve precommercial transgenic crops. Neighboring farmers will also be asked to supply information about transgenic crops grown near Purdue Agriculture Centers.

• Documenting marketable crops – keeping complete records of transgenic crops sold on the market. The crops will be handled, stored and shipped in a manner that does not compromise other commodities.

We are reviewing animal biotechnology research at Purdue and will adopt similar guidelines to maintain public confidence in biotechnology and Purdue Agriculture.

Purdue, Indiana test deer and elk for fatal disease

Purdue University and the state of Indiana have joined a federal effort to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal illness that has been detected in wild and domestic deer and elk in 11 states, not including Indiana.

Pathologists at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL), based on the Purdue campus, are ready to test tissue samples to determine whether deer or elk are infected with the disease. While no cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been found in Indiana, the disease has been discovered in Illinois and Wisconsin.

"We will test samples from deer from Indiana and any other state that needs a diagnosis," said Randy White, Purdue associate professor and a veterinary pathologist with ADDL. "In Indiana, we need to be concerned because animals don't respect state boundary lines, and CWD is very close to us in Illinois and Wisconsin." full story

Dismal milk prices and continued increases in production costs for the coming year may signal difficulty for some dairy producers.

"Milk prices have been at low levels for almost a whole year," said Mike Schutz, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service dairy specialist. "And it doesn't look like there will be any relief until late this summer."

Purdue Extension agricultural economist Chris Hurt pinned the blame on overproduction and a lower demand for dairy products in 2002.

To help Indiana dairy producers review their options and make the best decisions possible, the Purdue Dairy Extension team has set up a Dairy Roadshow to address dairy outlook, manure management, profit tips and animal health. Roadshow presentations are planned for various sites around the state through March 25. full story

Taking a clue from air purification systems used in surgical suites, Purdue University researchers have discovered that ozone can eliminate insects in grain storage facilities without harming food quality or the environment.

"Ozone has a very short half-life and we're using relatively low dosages, but enough to kill an insect," said Purdue entomologist Linda Mason. "The chemicals currently used can kill everything in and around the grain bin, including people. With ozone, we're not generating ozone at deadly concentrations, and we have better control over it when it's present."

Purdue's Post Harvest Grain Quality Research team began its studies in response to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to prohibit substances deemed dangerous to the Earth's ozone layer. full story

Elementary-age children can go "Exploring the Food Guide Pyramid with Professor Popcorn" to learn the value of eating healthy foods, using safe food-handling techniques and making physical activity part of their lifestyle.

The popular Purdue Extension curriculum, which debuted in 1993 and was used by thousands of schoolchildren, has been rewritten and updated on a CD that includes about 250 original, full-color illustrations to accompany the 30 lesson plans.

"This is designed for children in grades 1-6," said Donna Vandergraff, Extension specialist in the Department of Foods and Nutrition. "The curriculum examines the common themes of exploring the Food Guide Pyramid through the food groups, learning about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and learning the Fight BAC! concepts of clean, separate, cook, and chill." full story

Indiana will host women in farming and agribusinenss from around the Midwest at a two-day conference that will focus on both personal and ag management issues.

The 2003 Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference will be held March 11-12 at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind., and will feature two keynote speakers, educational sessions and networking opportunities for women in agriculture.

"Women operate 9 percent of American farms, according to the most recent Census of Agriculture, and that number is growing," said Kelly Easterday, Purdue Extension educator in Kosciusko County. "They're making more and more decisions regarding the farm. This conference will help them address personal, family and farm issues."

Purdue Extension is sponsoring the conference for the second year. The registration deadline is March 7. Brochures are available online or from Purdue Extension offices throughout Indiana.

Related link:
Midwest Women in Agriculture

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