June 2003

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

Livestock diseases effect us greatly even when they occur in other countries. Last month, U.S. markets were hit hard with the news that a case of mad cow disease was found in Canada.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease or BSE, has never been found in the United States. However, testing for it and protecting against it and other diseases are significant and continuous efforts.

Countries with BSE have experienced huge financial losses. According to Reuters, Canada's beef industry has lost $19.8 million per day from this one case of BSE.

Purdue's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, is one of the testing facilities maintaining this country's first line of defense in detecting many animal diseases. Among new efforts, the ADDL can test for chronic wasting disease and exotic New Castle disease in poultry.

Thanks to funding reinstated by the Indiana state legislature, the ADDL will soon fill a vacant virologist position. The new hire will diagnose viral diseases and conduct research on viral diseases in animals.

Purdue is also home to the National Biosecurity Resource Center for Animal Health Emergencies, a Web-based source located at http://www.biosecuritycenter.org/. The site contains information on animal disease prevention, biosecurity, and reportable diseases.

Purdue is doing all it can to protect Indiana's animal agriculture industry.

Canadian mad cow case could benefit U.S. beef

The announcement of a case of mad cow disease in Canada could have a huge impact on the U.S. beef market, said Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt. And whether that impact will be positive or negative may well rest mainly with consumers, he said.

"If beef consumption goes down as a result of consumer fears, that could affect cattle prices, and cattle represent 20 percent of all farm receipts," Hurt said. "Beef cattle are by far the largest single agricultural commodity in the U.S."

On the other hand, this could be a boon for U.S. beef. "The consumers are going to have the biggest impact," Hurt said. "If they maintain faith in U.S. beef, this could turn out to be a good thing for our cattle producers." read more

Additionally, the beef the United States purchases from Canada could be replaced with imports from other countries if necessary, depending on the length of the ban on Canadian beef and dairy products, according to Philip Paarlberg, professor of agricultural economics and world trade expert. read more

The identification and duplication of a gene that controls production of plants' outermost protective coating may allow Purdue University researchers to create crops with increased drought resistance.

Scientists cloned the gene WAX2 after they discovered a fast-wilting mutant of Arabidopsis, a commonly used experimental plant. The gene is directly associated with the synthesis of the protective layer of plants and its contained waxes, according to the study published in the May issue of The Plant Cell.

The difference in the mutant Arabidopsis when compared to a wild type, or normal, plant is the plant's ability to retain water. "If we can alter the expression of the WAX2 gene, we might be able to produce a cuticle that is thicker or more rigid so that it's less permeable to water loss," said Matt Jenks, associate professor of horticulture and landscape architecture. read more

Afghan faculty learn at Purdue, receive donated computers, texts

Four members of the faculty of Kabul University will share the latest in teaching techniques with their colleagues in Afghanistan after spending a few weeks on the Purdue University campus learning current trends in academics and computer-use in the classroom.

When Kabul faculty members return to Afghanistan, they also will have 40 used computers donated by Purdue and more than 165 donated textbooks, reference materials, syllabi and CD-based educational materials contributed by faculty members from the Purdue College of Agriculture.

The visiting Afghan professors represented agriculture and engineering programs and worked with Purdue faculty in both disciplines. read more

Purdue students recreate 1920s landscape

Purdue University horticulture students turned back time by creating a landscape plan for the Museum at Prophetstown.

The Battle Ground, Ind., museum was in search of a way to turn the Living History Farm into a 1920s time warp. Horticulture students in Purdue's advanced planting design class undertook the task of developing a plan that was later put into action by two clubs.

"The previous landscaping didn't fit with the farm's structures and historical time period," said Mike Dana, the course's professor. "The students' job was to propose planting that would look as if it had been growing in 1920."

Dris Abraham, director of operations for Museum at Prophetstown, said, "In a year from now, I will be able to hold up a J.C. Allen picture next to the house and not tell a difference. I am elated at how beautiful the place looks." read more

High-school teachers can bone up on biotech

High school teachers wanting to learn more about biotechnology can participate in a course offered by Purdue University's College of Agriculture.

Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology (HORT 590G), developed by Purdue Extension, will run from June 9 to July 28. The course is designed to help high school educators understand how transgenic organisms are created. Instructors who take the class may then teach these same lessons in the classroom.

"The idea is to give teachers enough background of the science in biotechnology to enable them to educate others," said Kathryn Orvis, course coordinator.

The main topics to be covered include an introduction to biotechnology, herbicide-tolerant transgenic crops, insect-resistant transgenic crops, environmental and food safety of transgenic crops, and ethical and cultural issues in biotechnology. read more

Conference focuses on home, family involvement

Purdue Extension's Home and Family Conference will be held June 11-13 on the West Lafayette campus. This annual event offers a variety of programming, including motivational speakers, educational sessions and social activities.

"This conference is educational and motivational," said Karen DeZarn, conference chairperson. "People walk away feeling energized."

The conference will feature keynote speakers Kathy Buckley, Patty Jischke and Chip Boiling. Conference topics also include childcare, coping with fears, tools for independent living, tips on saving energy and money at home, building a wardrobe that works, hassle-free celebrations, nutrition and dieting, stress reduction and conversations between generations.

This conference is co-sponsored by Purdue Extension, the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association and Indiana Farm Bureau. A registration form and conference brochure are available online.

June 7 - Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival, Military Park, Indianapolis

June 4, 11, 18, 25 - Grazing 102 Workshop Series, Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center

July 9-10 - Indiana Farm Management Tour, Putnam and Montgomery Counties

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