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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. New technologies speed up food contaminant detection The U.S. food supply is the safest in the world, but still food contamination sickens millions of Americans annually. Part of the problem is the time that it takes to identify food contaminants. Current detection methods are slow and may take days. At Purdue University, The Center for Food Safety Engineering is developing new technologies to quickly detect food-borne pathogens. Among them: Other research seeks ways to destroy these pathogens before they can sicken consumers. Purdue Agriculture is helping to engineer, produce, process and deliver the safest and best-quality food products possible. Price is right for farmers to spend more on inputs Farmers might part with more of their money this coming crop season to cash in on the biofuels revolution, said a Purdue University agricultural economist. With corn and soybean prices climbing higher and faster than agricultural input prices, producers likely will spend more to ensure high yields, said Alan Miller, a farm business management specialist. "Last year, we were in a cost-price squeeze, and the story really was cost," Miller said. "This year, the prices of crops have far outpaced input prices and have changed the whole picture. In general, what we'll see is that input prices overall probably will be flat but that we'll still see a rise in crop costs in 2007. With higher prices for corn and soybeans, producers are going to go back to thinking top yield and may be more willing to pour on the inputs." An online resource could help farmers calculate their crop production costs. The 2007 Purdue Crop Cost and Return Guide can be downloaded at http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/pubs/ID166_2007.pdf. Scientists find method to pick non-competitive animals, improve production A new statistical method of determining genetic traits that influence social interactions among animals may provide for more productive livestock.
The tool makes it possible to design selective breeding programs to effectively reduce competitive interactions in livestock, he said. The method also aids in predicting how social interactions impact the natural evolution of species. "There is an inherited part of the associations among animals that has profound effects on performance," Muir said. "It's called competition. Animals compete for food, space, territory and mates. This selection methodology is a roadmap to improving the breeding of domesticated animals," Muir said. "The tool also could allow us to domesticate more species as readily available food sources, such as cannibalistic shellfish and game fish." Tours will feature diversified farming across Indiana The 2007 Indiana Farm Sustainability Tours feature Hoosier farmers leading the way in a variety of innovative practices that add value to their farms and their communities. The tours will give educators, farmers and other rural residents the opportunity to investigate ways to diversify their operations and to learn from other diversified Hoosier farmers. "In today's agricultural economy, there are real opportunities for farmers to take advantage of consumer-driven niche markets in their local communities," said Sarah Yeager, program manager of Diversification for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. "Through these new opportunities, diversified farming operations can improve family income, reduce reliance on federal farm programs and serve emerging non-traditional markets." During the tours, participants will have the chance to interact with the farm owners and operators and to learn about their experiences, management styles and how they make important decisions. The tours vary from month to month and focus on topics such as business structure, keeping the family involved, agritourism and niche marketing. The tours also include a specialist from Purdue who will discuss the topic of the day and be available to answer questions. The Indiana Farm Sustainability Tours begin in March and run through November. For more information and to register, visit http://www.conf.purdue.edu/farmtours. Portable generator turns trash into electricity A group of scientists have created a portable refinery that efficiently converts food, paper and plastic trash into electricity. The machine, designed for the U.S. military, would allow soldiers in the field to convert waste into power and could have widespread civilian applications in the future.
The "tactical biorefinery" processes several kinds of waste at once, which it converts into fuel via two parallel processes. The system then burns the different fuels in a diesel engine to power a generator. Ladisch said the machine's ability to burn multiple fuels at once, along with its mobility, make it unique. The machine eventually could be deployed in disaster situations, similar to Hurricane Katrina, or at any crisis location where people are stranded without power. Emergency crews could then use the machine to turn debris such as woodchips into much-needed electricity. Purdue Extension offers resources to grow agritourism Landowners looking for a way to enter the agricultural industry can turn to agritourism to supplement their incomes with help from the free "Indiana Resource Guide for Agritourism." The resource guide is a CD containing tips for starting an agritourism venture and also includes contact information for agencies and Web sites to help farmers along the way. It also contains a list of those who can offer either technical or financial assistance both at the county and state levels. Some of the most challenging issues for new agritourism business owners involve liability, marketing and business planning, said Jerry Nelson, Purdue Extension New Ventures educator. "Usually the owners understand production very well. What they need help with is promotion, partnerships and polices. There is usually much confusion with liability issues, creative ways to get people to come out to the farm and getting enough capital to start their business." The Indiana Resource Guide for Agritourism is available for free online at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extbusiness/value.htm and at Purdue Extension county offices. Workshop to offer tips on making money from lumber Of Indiana's 4.4 million acres of forestland, 87 percent is privately owned by people who may very well have money growing on their trees. "Some of these trees may be of the highest quality timber and be globally competitive," said Dan Cassens, Purdue University forestry and natural resources specialist. "Landowners aware of current and potential timber values, who manage their timber stands, optimize growth for preferred species and increase potential income." Cassens is coordinating the Hardwood Log, Lumber and Tree Grading Workshop, which is designed for landowners, portable mill operators, foresters, timber sales consultants, log and timber buyers, mill personnel, and loggers. The workshop will be March 22 and 23 at the Feldun-Purdue Agricultural Center in Bedford. For those who will not be able to attend the workshop but wish to learn more about hardwoods and lumber grades, a CD called "Hardwood Lumber of the Central Midwest" is available at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/new and includes information about decay resistance, mechanical properties, the production process, purchasing and selling hardwood lumber, shrinkage of lumber, steam bending, understanding lumber, and wood machining properties. Upcoming Events Mar. 2 - Apr. 20: Operation an Efficient Farmer's Market Workshops Mar. 15: Organic Weed Control Mar. 15: 2007 Indiana Farm Sustainability Tour Mar. 16: Starting a Farmer's Market in Your Area
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Scientists from Purdue University, the Netherlands and England designed mathematical equations based on traits to choose animals that are more congenial in groups, said William Muir, a Purdue Department of Animal Sciences geneticist. The new method is a tool that may contribute both to animal well-being and to securing the world's future food supply, including possibly permitting more animals to be domesticated, Muir said.
"This is a very promising technology," said Michael Ladisch, the professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University who leads the project. "In a very short time it should be ready for use in the military, and I think it could be used outside the military shortly thereafter."