Purdue Agriculture Report

Welcome to Purdue Agriculture Report, an e-newsletter for business and community leaders on research, academics and Extension across Indiana and around the globe.

Indiana’s agricultural industries are served by some of the nation’s leading regulatory agencies, a few of them found at Purdue University.

As dean of Purdue Agriculture, I oversee the Office of the State Chemist and Seed Commissioner, the Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory, the Indiana Creamery Division and the Indiana State Egg Board.

Because Purdue is a land-grant university, these services provide science-based regulation and education. Our laboratory and testing facilities are among the nation’s best, at a quality-level that few state agencies can provide. These agencies also attract top experts that are national leaders.

And at a time of concern about the state’s fiscal outlook, these agencies, with the exception of the ADDL, operate solely on fees with no state taxpayer dollars. The ADDL is funded by a combination of fees and a state appropriation.

These efforts ensure that Hoosier producers and businesses receive the best protection for their crops, animals and products.

As part of the proposal to establish an Indiana department of agriculture, these functions would stay at Purdue. We appreciate the support that shows in our ability to provide the state with effective, cost-efficient services.

We are working with the new administration to continue to see that agricultural services in Indiana are second to none.

Organic agriculture market shows promise for profit

Farmers looking for ways to increase profits may find organic crop production a profitable move, according to a Purdue University Cooperative Extension agriculture economist.

"Nationwide, the market for organics is growing at 20 percent per year," said Corinne Alexander. "It's the fastest growing food area."

According to the 2002 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture, American farmers used 562,486 acres to produce more than $3.9 million worth of certified organic crops. Indiana farmers used 1,419 acres of land to produce approximately $851,000 in organic products — an average of $600 per acre. Traditional farming averaged $318 per acre in sales for the same year.

Alexander cautioned that costs even out many of the differences, because organic production is more expensive. "A lot of time and labor is substituted for chemicals," Alexander said. "It's also a lot more risky. If you end up with a pest infestation or weed problem, it can be serious because you don't have the chemicals to control it." read more

Scientists find common roots for thousands of plant compounds

Just one cellular pathway produces the raw ingredients plants use to make thousands of compounds, from molecules with anticancer properties to the active ingredient in catnip, according to a team of researchers at Purdue University and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology.

This finding challenges long-held assumptions about how plants produce these commercially important products. The research also could have important implications for researchers trying to harness plant pathways to produce essential oils, often used as flavor additives in food and medicine or as fragrance in body-care products, said Natalia Dudareva, professor of horticulture and lead researcher of the study.

"Our research has applications in the future metabolic engineering of essential oil production," Dudareva said. "The yield of these compounds depends on the amount of materials available in the cell, and knowing where these compounds come from and which pathway produces them is the place to start." read more

Plant protein mimics hormone that mitigates diabetes and obesity

A common protein that protects plants from fungal infection mimics the activity of a hormone in mammals that is linked to weight loss and is believed to play a role in mitigating heart disease, obesity and diabetes, according to a team of researchers at Purdue University and several collaborating institutions.

The research has the potential to lead to a simple screening system for developing new drugs to treat these and several other human diseases, including some forms of cancer, said Ray Bressan, distinguished professor of horticulture and one of the study's authors.

The study also raises questions about the human health role of this type of plant protein, found in many fruits, seeds and vegetables such as grapes, oats and tomatoes. read more

Within the house of horrors that has become the soybean rust saga, some farmers are finding a window of opportunity.

Producers who own spray equipment might offer custom fungicide application for soybean growers who don't have or cannot purchase the equipment, said Fred Whitford, director of Purdue University Pesticide Programs. Farmers considering spraying-for-hire, however, are taking big risks if they don't provide the services legally, he said.

Farmers certified to apply chemicals on their crops aren't allowed to treat other fields without advanced certification and meeting other requirements, Whitford said. Not only could farmers face fines for noncompliance, but also liability if they fail to control rust on soybean fields they've sprayed. Also, many farm insurance policies do not cover damage resulting from applications for hire. read more

To prepare themselves for the fungal threat, producers can pick up the knowledge and training they need to control the disease during a series of soybean rust management workshops sponsored by Purdue University's Diagnostic Training and Research Center. The workshops take place in February and March at locations across Indiana.

"The workshops will provide pertinent information on the history and biology of soybean rust, and address management issues and their relationships with soybean development and growth," said center director Corey Gerber.

Workshop topics include "Foliar Fungicides for Soybean Rust Control," "Detection of Soybean Rust: What You Should Know," "Soybean Crop Response to Soybean Rust" and "Application Techniques to Maximize the Efficacy of Fungicides." read more