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 AgComm
News Purdue Extension Purdue
Agriculture Purdue University 
Jay Akridge Olivia Maddox Cherryl Frederick 
Agricultural Communication |
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Welcome to Purdue Agriculture Report, an e-newsletter for business and community leaders on research, academics and Extension across Indiana and around the globe. Purdue Extension expanding economic development efforts Purdue Extension's efforts to help farmers add value to their operations and reach out to employers and entrepreneurs who want to become more business savvy have resulted in many individual success stories. At the same time, we are taking a broader view of the state's economic environment and helping communities identify and capitalize on regional opportunities. Among the efforts underway:
Total economic development mean more than just business development. It also means creating strong, vibrant communities with a high quality of life and educational opportunities. Our world is changing, and we will evolve with it to meet the new challenges of our citizens and all of Indiana. Competitors collaborate to create clusters Heimlich contacted Janet Ayres, Purdue University Extension economic and community development specialist, who helped White County officials take charge of their county's future. One outcome was a new industrial park. The White County story shows how communities can work together on economic development. Today's jobs are more often attained by collaboration rather than competition. "By locating together, everyone gets more business," said Christine Nolan, Purdue Extension economic and community development specialist. "These businesses attract more customers, are easier to get to, and share some of the same services." Herbicide-defiant weeds causing few anxious moments When it comes to herbicide resistance in weeds, most Indiana farmers are like Mad magazine icon Alfred E. Neuman: "What, me worry?" About two-thirds of producers surveyed by Purdue University said they are not overly concerned that some weeds are shrugging off glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular herbicide Roundup® . The survey indicated farmers expect chemical companies to develop new herbicides for weeds that do not respond to glyphosate, said Bill Johnson, a Purdue Extension weed scientist and survey coordinator. Both views are cause for alarm, Johnson said. "About 90 percent of the soybean acres are grown in Roundup Ready® varieties and about 20 to 30 percent of the corn acres will be in Roundup Ready® varieties, yet less than a third of the Indiana growers we surveyed had a high level of concern about glyphosate resistance in weeds," he said. "This is despite the fact that growers will be using the same herbicide year after year, particularly farmers who are rotating Roundup Ready® beans with Roundup Ready® corn." read more NIH selects louse genome research to improve human health The ultimate aim is to invent new pest control methods to prevent the spread of diseases, such as relapsing fever, trench fever and typhus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies typhus as a bioterrorism agent. "If we have a relatively complete louse genome, we can do experiments necessary to discover how lice can digest human blood and transmit disease," said Pittendrigh. "The more we learn about the biochemical workings of these tiny creatures, the greater our chance of impacting issues associated with human health." read more Maize Match program matches farmers, field and hybrids For farmers, finding the right corn hybrid can be like finding a needle in a haystack, but a Purdue University Web site strives to help them find that needle. "Maize Match is a relatively simple program that allows you to compare two hybrids from the Purdue corn performance database," said Phil De Villez, a Purdue Extension agronomist. "This is a tool that farmers can use to help them make hybrid selection." De Villez said the information in Maize Match is different than what farmers get from seed companies. "Every company in Indiana sends the farmer some kind of information, but all of our information is based on independent, non-biased research." Maize Match contains more than 250 different hybrids and five years of data. That gives growers a chance to compare the performances of those hybrids against each other. Information about weather, soil type and chemical applications also is available at the site. read more Retired general to rule the podium at Purdue Fish Fry For the third consecutive year, the event will be held at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. "Having the Fish Fry at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion gives so many more of our members the opportunity to see a speaker of such high national prominence as Gen. Myers," said Donya Lester, executive secretary of Purdue's Agricultural Alumni Association. The Agriculture Forecast is free. Tickets for the Fish Fry are $20 with reserved parking available for $5 and $10. More information is available online or contact the Agricultural Alumni Association, Pfendler Hall of Agriculture, Room 107, 715 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2061 or (765) 494-8593. read more Upcoming Events Jan. 5 -- Illiana Vegetable Growers' School, Schererville, Ind. Jan. 12 - March 2 -- Marketing sessions for farmers, Terre Haute, Ind. Jan. 23-25 -- Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show, Indianapolis Click here for a complete list of upcoming events
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White
County needed jobs. John Heimlich, chairman of the county commissioners,
was concerned for the county's economic future. He saw the need for
stable employment opportunities and a plan for directing resources
in this west-central Indiana county comprised largely of rural areas
and small communities.
Retired Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, will be the guest speaker at the Purdue University Agricultural
Alumni Association Fish Fry at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 11.