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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. Basic research: The answer to many of life's questions When visiting with Purdue Agriculture alumni and friends across the state and nation, I am often asked about the connection that basic research has to the everyday lives of people. Sometimes it is difficult to see the successful application of laboratory findings into the public sector. Since the major role of research is to expand our understanding of the world that surrounds us, this means every new discovery brings us closer to deciphering the mysteries that make up our lives. Basic research answers questions like: how dry is too dry for a plant? how can we better protect our food supply? and what causes disease? The importance of basic research cannot be emphasized enough; therefore, it gives me great pleasure to welcome a new research advocate to Purdue Agriculture. Sonny Ramaswamy joins the college this month as associate dean and director of Purdue Agricultural Research Programs. Former head of the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University, Sonny brings vision and optimism to his Purdue post. I know that he is excited about the task ahead and relishes the opportunities to travel Indiana and share the opportunities and benefits of research. With the challenges that have yet to be conquered in disease, world hunger and environmental preservation, the significance of research has never been more apparent or more important. Study shows fewer farmers are ag input 'convenience' buyers A trip to the corner farm supply store still works for some, but more farmers base their seed, fertilizer and pesticide product purchases on factors other than convenience, a Purdue University study reveals. Purdue's Center for Food and Agricultural Business conducted the study, which compared data from farmer surveys in 1998 and 2003. The study found that farmers place greater importance on price, product performance and customer service than on ease of purchase when making agricultural input buying decisions. "Agribusiness professionals are concerned that there's been a decline in the number of farmers who make purchases based on their longstanding relationships with businesses," said agricultural economist Corinne Alexander. "Our study shows they are correct and provides insight into how today's farmer makes those decisions." read more Soybean aphid might break with tradition in 2006 A tiny insect with a history of causing problems every other year for soybean growers could become a troublemaker two years in a row, said a Purdue University Extension entomologist.
Since aphids were first detected in Indiana in 2000, the pests have been particularly active in Hoosier soybean fields in odd-numbered years. "There is the potential for that every-other-year cycle to be broken this crop season," Krupke said. "One of the primary reasons is that we're not seeing the number of predators going into overwintering that we've seen in past big aphid years." read more Ag Forecast to feature bioenergy panel discussion The 2006 Agriculture Forecast will feature a panel discussion on bioenergy research at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 11 in the Old National Bank Grand Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Panelists, Michael Ladisch, Bernard Tao and Klein Ileleji, all Purdue professors in agricultural and biological engineering, will discuss their bioenergy research. This free event will be moderated by farm broadcaster Gary Truitt of Brownfield, an agricultural news network. The Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Fish Fry will immediately follow the Agriculture Forecast in the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion at 11:30 a.m. Retired Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be the guest speaker. Tickets for Fish Fry are still available from the Agricultural Alumni Association, Pfendler Hall of Agriculture, Room 107, 715 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2061 or (765) 494-8593. Tickets are $20 with reserved parking available for $5 and $10. Parrots' behaviors mirror human mental disorders The bird doing loop-the-loops in the cage and pulling out its feathers is not just playing and preening. Stress may cause these activities and also may provide insight into similar human behaviors, according to Purdue University researchers. A study of abnormal repetitive behaviors practiced by Orange-winged Amazon parrots indicates that environment plays a role in two types of behavior that the caged birds perform. One of the behaviors, feather picking, closely mirrors compulsive behaviors in humans, according to researchers. "There is a lot of merit in studying abnormal behaviors just in terms of figuring out ways to control them for the welfare of both companion animals and those bred for production agriculture," said Joseph Garner, assistant professor of animal sciences and the study's lead author. "Another benefit is that if animal abnormal behavior is caused in the same way as in humans, then we may have a whole new range of model animals for studying human mental disorders." read more Purdue Extension effort to promote healthy communities It takes a village to raise a child and apparently help keep him from getting fat. That's part of the idea behind a Purdue University Cooperative Extension effort to help form wellness coalitions in communities across the state of Indiana. While targeted to promoting healthy lifestyles for people of all ages, the effort called Healthy People, Healthy Communities is largely based on a program to combat childhood obesity. The uniqueness of this effort is its multi-dimensional approach. In each county of the state, Purdue Extension educators in all program areas will work collectively to bring a variety of local resources together to enhance community health. "We are taking a holistic approach to healthy living," said Karen Zotz, Purdue Extension program leader in consumer and family sciences. read more Agriculture faculty part of international trade mission Two Purdue professors were part of a delegation that traveled in Central America in early January to create new trade opportunities for Indiana businesses. Suzanne Nielsen, head of the Department of Food Science, and Maria Marshall, assistant professor of agricultural economics, were part of the Central America Agriculture Trade Mission. The Indiana delegation, composed of government, commodity organization, academic, food and agribusiness leaders, made stops in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. "Being a part of the delegation was a great opportunity to interact with leaders of Indiana agriculture, to understand their challenges and opportunities regarding trade in Central America," Nielsen said. "In several Central American countries, the Purdue College of Agriculture is active in research, outreach and education programs that will contribute to mutual trade opportunities. Our delegation got to see first hand one of those programs in Costa Rica." Delegates have begun to forge business relationships by agreeing to send product samples to contacts made in Central America and scheduling return trips to the region. There is even talk of a reverse trade mission from Guatemalan food processors. read more Purdue landscape architecture ranks second in nation Purdue University's undergraduate landscape and architecture design program was ranked No. 2 in the nation in an annual survey of America's best programs. In the rankings released in December by DesignIntelligence , Purdue's program jumped up five notches from seventh place last year. Programs are ranked based on a survey of leading landscape architecture firms and practitioners. "What sets Purdue's program apart from others is our one-year internship program," said Bernie Dahl, chairman of the program. "Our students have a great level of confidence when they meet with employers because they have already spent a year in a business setting before they graduate." read more Upcoming Events Jan. 23-25 -- Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show, Indianapolis Jan. 23-25 -- Wine Grape Symposium, Indianapolis Feb. 1 -- Beginning Organic Farming, West Lafayette & IP Video Feb. 1 - Mar. 26-- Annie's Project, Training Program, Indiana Feb. 11 -- Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Fish Fry, Indianapolis - Tickets are Still Available Feb. 11 -- Midwest Small Farm Conference, Crawfordsville Feb. 18 -- Purdue Lambing School, West Lafayette
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The soybean aphid, a pinhead-size pest that damages soybean plants by feeding on plant sap, entered the winter in a position to come back strong in 2006, said entomologist Christian Krupke. Farmers in northern Indiana counties battled aphids this past year and should monitor their fields closely for aphids in the coming crop season, he said.