MAY 2003

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

Indiana's business and government leaders recognize that advances in life sciences, advanced manufacturing and information technology are first discovered and nurtured by research faculty before they can develop into vibrant new companies. These companies, in turn, create desirable, high-paying jobs for university graduates and help build a skilled workforce.

Last year, leaders of Indiana's top research, academic and economic development organizations joined together to launch the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative, a collaborative effort to increase the number of jobs, businesses and research opportunities in the life sciences industry.

Indiana has a cluster of pharmaceutical and agricultural sciences companies, medical devices and instrument manufacturers, hospitals and laboratories, and other allied industries that represent a formidable economic force. When coupled with the research capability and the intellectual horsepower that reside at Purdue and IU, the result is a life sciences corridor stretching from Bloomington to Indianapolis to West Lafayette that could catapult Indiana to the fore of a new life sciences economy.

People who are familiar with Purdue's strong teaching, research and Extension programs have spread the word to their friends and neighbors about the economic possibilities that can be realized through investment in the life sciences. Thanks to efforts like the Central Indiana Life Sciences Initiative, we're seeing a growing number of Indiana citizens who are excited about the potential for economic development that originates in our research universities.

Nanometer-thick clay may yield groundbreaking technology

An ultrathin film containing 1-nanometer thick clay particles has been created for the first time, an accomplishment that may yield new materials and devices for medicine, electronics and engineering, according to Purdue University and Belgian scientists.

Using a method that captures clay particles on a crystal, Purdue and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven research partners were able to produce, see and manipulate a single layer of clay. It would take 70,000 of these layers to equal the thickness of a human hair. The thickness of one clay particle is about 1 nanometer, and being able to see one of these layers is equivalent to standing on Earth and being able to see footprints on the moon.

"Once you can control and manipulate nano-sized clay particles, then you have the ability to create smart materials by combining the structural support provided by the clay with the functionality of organic molecules, such as dye, enzymes, proteins and polymers," said Cliff Johnston, Purdue professor of agronomy and an environmental chemist. "That allows us to build the clay and the organic molecules into more complex structures." read more

Farmers' decisions planted firmly in corn

Farmers are ready for a return to normalcy this year, and in Indiana, that means corn could be the top crop once again. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual producer survey on spring planting intentions reports that, as a group, farmers said they expect to plant more corn and fewer soybeans. read more

Skimping on insecticide won't root out rootworms

Northern Indiana corn growers shouldn't cut corners on soil insecticides this spring or they could see their crop carved up by western corn rootworms. Purdue University specialists observed near-record numbers of rootworm beetles in soybean fields this past fall. Those beetles laid eggs, which are expected to hatch in coming weeks. When they hatch, the rootworm larvae will be ready to feast on corn roots. read more

South America dethroning U.S. as world soybean king

Foreign competition is nibbling away at United States soybean export volume at a time when world markets are devouring soybeans by the shipload, said a Purdue University agricultural economist. Global soybean consumption continues to rise, and with it expectations for higher farm prices, said Chris Hurt, a commodity market analyst. But South American soybean growers - not their North American counterparts - might be in a better position to cash in this year and in the future. read more

Purdue Agriculture names outstanding alumni

The 2003 class of Purdue University's Distinguished Agricultural Alumni includes nine inductees, the largest group of honorees since 1996. The award honors mid-career graduates of Purdue who have made significant contributions to their profession or society in general and have a record of outstanding accomplishments.

"It is a great opportunity for us to bring successful alumni back to campus to interact with students and faculty, and to reconnect with alumni on many levels," said Victor Lechtenberg, dean of Purdue Agriculture.

The nine recipients, honored April 25 during a campus ceremony, are William Carteaux, Burnell C. Fischer, Albert Lund, Evandro Charduni Mantovani, Bret D. Marsh, Kenneth B. Rulon, Janice Cervelli Schach, Sharrann E. Simmons and J. Yun Tso. read more

Vegetable gardening CD a helpful tool

Purdue University has an award-winning gardening CD that could be a handy tool for beginning gardeners. And while it might not be a rake or a hoe, the "Beginner's Guide to Vegetable Gardening" CD-ROM deserves a place in every new gardener's tool caddie, says B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension consumer horticulture specialist.

"This product is aimed at the beginning gardener, though there are certainly things that are of interest to even the most seasoned gardener," she said. "It's also a unique format; it's like a book, but because it's interactive, it's more than a book."

The CD features video and voice clips, animation, pictures and text, as well as links to Web sites and publications. It guides the user through planning a vegetable garden, planting seeds and seedlings, and growing 30 of the most popular garden vegetables. read more

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