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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. Research that hits home in Indiana Purdue University researchers will help find solutions to some specific Indiana agriculture matters, thanks in part to a creative way of funding applied research. Called the "Mission-Oriented Grant Program," the effort will become an annual source of funding for integrated research and Extension projects that address issues tied to Purdue's land-grant mission to serve the state of Indiana. Purdue Agriculture has set aside $250,000 to address some of these key concerns for Hoosier farmers. The funding pays for studies tied to Indiana State Department of Agriculture strategic initiatives. Ten of the 12 projects funded this year will address concerns regarding livestock and biofuels expansion. The others will focus on hardwood production and pest control in stored organic products. These findings will also have impact beyond Indiana's borders, as these regional issues take on greater importance on the national scene. Overweight farm trucks could bring heavy penalties Farmers who haul agricultural commodities and inputs should weigh the consequences of operating trucks thousands of pounds over the legal limit, said a Purdue University Extension specialist." Producers need to be aware that law enforcement officials are keeping a closer eye on the maximum weight trucks, trailers and tractor-trailers are plated to carry, especially on the return trip from an elevator or any other pick up or delivery involving their farm or operation," said Fred Whitford, coordinator of Purdue Pesticide Programs. Violators can be forced to park their loaded trucks until they replace the plate with one that reflects the vehicle's weight. They also could face fines ranging from 5 cents to 10 cents per pound for every pound a truck, trailer or semi-trailer weighs above the plated limit. Laws addressing the transportation of farm commodities can be confusing because they incorporate both state and federal statutes, Whitford said. Adding to the complexity are the limited exemptions afforded to farmers on some weight load laws. State laws cover truck license plates, while federal laws deal with hauling weights. Indiana issues plates for various weight limits up to a plated rate of 80,000 pounds. Information on transporting agricultural products is available in two Purdue Extension publications. "Carrying Farm Products and Supplies on Public Roads," Extension publication PPP-68, is geared for farmers. "DOT Rules of the Road: Putting Responsible Drivers and Safe Vehicles on the Road," Extension publication PPP-65, is aimed at businesses and farmers who operate commercially. Both publications also can be downloaded online at no charge at http://www.btny.purdue.edu/PPP/PPP_pubs.html . USDA report shows highest U.S. corn acreage since 1944
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's March 30 Prospective Plantings report shows that growers plan to plant 90.5 million acres of corn, a 12.1-million-acre increase over the 2006 corn crop. "Those added acres come primarily from shifting acres from soybeans, cotton and spring wheat," said Chris Hurt, Purdue University agricultural economics specialist. Soybean acreage is expected to be down 8.4 million acres, and spring wheat acreage is projected to decline by 1.1 million acres. Indiana producers were no exception, as corn acreage is expected to be up by 13 percent. Indiana producers indicated they would plant 6.2 million acres of corn, up 700,000 acres and the highest number of acres planted since 1985. Acres planted to soybeans is expected to drop to 5 million, the lowest since 1995. Corn for ethanol production is expected to surge by at least 65 percent for the 2007 corn crop compared to last year's crop, Hurt said. This expected surge caused corn prices to be very high during the winter, which led producers to increase acreage to meet the growing demand, he said. Test finds manufactured nanoparticles don't harm soil ecology
Scientists added both dry and water-based forms of manufactured fullerenes -- nanosized particles also known as buckyballs -- to soil. The nanoparticles didn't change how the soil and its microorganisms functioned, said Ron Turco, a Purdue University soil and environmental microbiologist. Concerns surround the increased use of nanoparticles in everything from car bumpers, sunscreen and tennis balls to disease diagnosis and treatment. Questions have arisen about whether the microscopic materials could trigger diseases if they enter the soil or water through manufacturing processes or if medicines based on nanoparticles behave in unexpected ways in the body. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture talks on future of ethanol at Purdue When Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns spoke about renewable energy and the 2007 "Energy deficits are changing rural America," Johanns said. "Agriculture is going to be a big solution to the nation's energy challenges." Producers are challenged to grow more crops with higher yields, researchers are challenged to find the most efficient way to produce cellulosic ethanol and consumers are challenged to decrease gasoline consumption, Johanns said. "This isn't your grandfather's farm bill," Johanns said, in presenting the U.S. Department of Agriculture's farm bill proposals. The 2007 Farm Bill should target the next generation of renewable fuels - cellulosic ethanol, Johanns said. Today's production of corn- and soy-based biofuels is not going to meet demand, but cellulosic ethanol can, he said. Cellulosic ethanol uses feedstock such as specialty crop biomass, switch grass, corn stover, straw and other woody biomass. A panel discussion followed Johanns' presentation. Topics ranged from the "food versus fuel" question to the impact of renewable energy on the nation. No county left behind? The education level of adults in most Indiana counties falls below the national average. Improved access to higher education and new high-tech jobs can help Hoosiers make up lost ground. The distance between many Indiana workers and most of the nation's top jobs cannot be measured in miles, but in degrees-college degrees. Management and professional jobs make up the fastest growing and dominant occupational sector in the country, comprising almost one-third of the total U.S. labor force. However, most Indiana workers do not qualify for those jobs, because less than 25 percent of Hoosier adults have a four-year college degree, according to the most recent Census data. A Purdue University publication called "No County Left Behind?" relates the significance of education to Indiana's economic future. In this report card on the status of education in the state, Purdue agricultural economist Brigitte Waldorf says all but five of Indiana's 92 counties lag behind the national standard for educational attainment. Waldorf says the state does have more high-school graduates than many states, but about 22 percent of those who earn a high school diploma do not intend to further their education. Not a good sign, given that higher education is linked to higher-paying jobs. "We need students to think that going to college is the norm, rather than something that is unattainable," she says. Scientist sheds light on agriculture and economic development, humans and their environment
In these disparate places, Shively, a Purdue University professor of agricultural economics, has uncovered commonalities in humans' relationship with agriculture and the environment, and shown that -- with sensible policies -- technological advancements can foster more sustainable development. In his trademark project, for example, Shively demonstrated that the introduction of an irrigation system in a remote, lowland area of the Philippines indirectly led to less deforestation by creating jobs for nearby upland residents who otherwise would have cleared forest. His research, which has implications "for the design of strategies that improve agricultural productivity and the welfare of farm households while preserving the environment," as one of his peers said, has earned him the 2006 Agricultural Research Award from the Purdue College of Agriculture. The Agricultural Research Award is given annually to a Purdue College of Agriculture scientist on the basis of research excellence and contributions made to agriculture, natural resources and the quality of life for Indiana citizens. Minimize human-related risks on the farm Tragedies occur and can be detrimental to a farm operation, but too often farmers neglect risk management because it requires thinking about events that are both unfortunate and unexpected, said a Purdue University expert. Many things can happen to friends of friends, community members and neighbors. But what happens when a death, disability or divorce hits home? Will the farm continue operating? How will it affect loved ones? "Contingency planning is crucial to the survival of a farm business after a disaster because it can reduce the impact to a farm business from a divorce, disability or death," said George Patrick, Purdue financial planning and tax specialist. The first step is to identify those events that are not likely to occur but, if they do, could have significant adverse consequences for the farm operation. The next step is to take those identified events and develop an action plan to reduce risks and deal with them if they occur. It is crucial to follow through after the planning stage, Patrick said. "In some instances, contingency planning may cause us to make some fairly dramatic changes in the way things are organized," he said. Organic IP video program features insect and disease control April 19 Session III of the Tri-State Organic IP Video Program will focus on insect and disease control in organic vegetables. The program will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. EST at viewing locations in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio . Topics include preventing insect problems in organic vegetable systems; biological control and organic pesticides in organic vegetable production; diagnosis and prevention of vegetables diseases in organic systems; and specific approaches to disease management in organic systems. Registration is $10 per person/farm. A registration form is available online at http://www.conf.purdue.edu/VIDEO/. Upcoming Events April 14-15: 2007 Purdue University Spring Fest April 19: Insect & Disease Control in Organic Vegetables April 19: Indiana Farm Sustainability Tour April 20: Operating An Efficient Farmers' Market Workshop April 25: An Introduction To Starting A Specialty Food Business In Indiana
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Farmers have responded to the corn ethanol boom by indicating they will plant the largest corn acreage in the United States since 1944. 
The first published study on the environmental impact of manufactured nanoparticles on ordinary soil showed no negative effects, which is contrary to concerns voiced by some that the microscopic particles could be harmful to organisms. 
Farm Bill during a March 21 discussion at Purdue University, he was referring to cellulosic, not corn-based, ethanol. 
Gerald Shively's research has taken him all around the world, from the Philippines to Vietnam and Malawi.