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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 supplies state’s various educational needs As Indiana officials deal with property tax concerns, Purdue Extension is a vital resource. At 40 sites across the state, more than 250 local government officials recently participated in a Purdue Extension video workshop with agricultural economist and public policy expert Larry DeBoer, who explained new legislation affecting local finance options. The officials were able to ask questions and receive unbiased information about how their decisions would affect certain Hoosiers, including homeowners, farmers, and businesses. Several options on how to finance local communities were presented. The videoconferencing technology that made this event possible is put to use hundreds of times each year, in similar situations, for many different groups. Related link: Larry DeBoer’s Local Government Web site http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/crd/Localgov/ Public encouraged to be part of new director selection process Four candidates for the position of Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service director and associate dean of Purdue Agriculture will be on campus at the end of July and beginning of August. During that time, each candidate will take part in a seminar to present information about his or her background and vision for Purdue Extension. Each seminar will be open to the public via live streaming video at http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu. Information on the candidates is also available on the Web site. "We have excellent candidates for this position, and we want to make sure the public has an opportunity to see them and participate in this process with us," said Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. "We feel this is important because Purdue Extension is about reaching out to people."
In a study that could lead to new ways to prevent infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and similar organisms, Purdue University researchers have been able to genetically modify a plant to halt reproduction of a related virus. Cauliflower mosaic virus attacks a group of plants that includes the largest number of agriculturally important plants in the world. The plant virus and HIV, which causes AIDS, use the same process to multiply in their victims' cells and spread disease. "After HIV infects a person, it must recruit and latch onto particular human proteins so that the virus can replicate throughout the body," said Zhixiang Chen, a Purdue professor of botany and plant pathology. "We found that cauliflower mosaic virus relies on the same protein complex to multiply in plants. "We believe that the proteins in these host plants might be particularly important for these types of viruses, such as HIV, because if you block them, then the viruses simply can't replicate." Public holds power to identify, slow invasive species Whether plants, insects or pathogens, invasive pests of plants can be devastating, but thanks to a new Purdue University Web site, people will now be able to help identify and report these menaces. The Indiana Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program, which is a collaborative effort between Purdue, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service division of Plant Protection and Quarantine, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Indiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy, recently launched a new Web site highlighting Indiana's "most unwanted" invasive plant pests, http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/CAPS. The Web site reports the pest's known distribution and whether it is currently present in Indiana. Visitors also can learn which invasive plant pests are found in specific Indiana counties. Gold nanoparticles may pan out as tool for cancer diagnosis When it comes to searching out cancer cells, gold may turn out to be a precious metal. The technology would be about three times cheaper than the most common current method and has the potential to provide many times the quantity and quality of data, said Joseph Irudayaraj, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering. "We hope that this technology will soon play a critical role in early detection and monitoring of breast cancer," said Irudayaraj, leader of a research team that developed a new method for fabricating the nanoparticles. "Our goal is to see it in commercial use in about four years." More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States, and 80 percent of those women receive some type of therapy, Irudayaraj said. Since 40 percent of them will have a relapse, regular monitoring, which this technology aims to do, is vital. More planes to fly Indiana skies in July Ag companies have been promoting the use of fungicides in a year where the demand and price for corn has growers looking at opportunities to increase yield, said a Purdue University expert. This year, based on commercial ag dealer reports, approximately 1.2 million acres of Indiana corn will be treated by aerial application of fungicides. "This is a significant increase in acres treated with fungicides and something very new to Indiana," said Indiana state chemist Robert Waltz. Traditionally only high-value crops like seed corn are treated with fungicides, usually totaling 100,000-200,000 acres in Indiana. Variability the theme for 2007 state crop yields Inconsistent summer rainfall and concerns about corn prices and storage will be discussed by a panel of Purdue University and state agriculture experts as part of a harvest forecast on Aug. 10 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The 2007 crop briefing will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Our Land Pavilion. The discussion, which is open to the public, will cover the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service crop futures report scheduled to be issued that morning. Forecast panelists are Greg Preston, director of Indiana Agricultural Statistics; Andy Miller, director for Indiana's State Department of Agriculture; and Chris Hurt, Purdue agricultural economics Extension specialist. Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, will moderate the panel. Purdue Day Purdue University agricultural events and displays will highlight Purdue Day Aug. 15 at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis. Purdue Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The university-wide exhibits on Main Street will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. "Purdue Day is one of the most anticipated days of the Indiana State Fair," said Danica Kirkpatrick, events coordinator for Purdue Agriculture. "Alumni, friends and supporters come to experience the exhibits, activities and overall fun that we add to the fair. "Purdue Day, which is also Farmer's Day, will include several activities, demonstrations and events for all ages. The complete schedule for Purdue Day can be found on the Indiana State Fair Web site at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/statefair/. Upcoming Events August 8-19: Indiana State Fair To Showcase Purdue Extension Exhibits August 10-11 : Field Day To Showcase Drainage Systems August 15: Train the Trainer Workshop For Caregivers Sept. 21: Nominations Due For The Hovde Award Of Excellence
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Discovery in plant virus may help prevent HIV and similar viruses