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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 looks for new leader At the end of June, David Petritz retires as director of Purdue Extension. As we search for his replacement, it‘s apparent that Purdue Extension touches people’s lives from the young to the old, from those with few resources to those with many, and from rural, to suburban to urban settings. The next Purdue Extension director must be as savvy as a corporate president, but with a heart for service, and a visionary who sees a future for Purdue Extension that incorporates new challenges, but with a desire to continue to serve existing stakeholders. The great thing about Purdue Extension is not just the individual who heads it, but the entire staff in county offices and on campus, who are committed every day to serving the people of Indiana.
Philip E. Nelson, the Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing at Purdue University, has been named winner of the World Food Prize for his contributions to food processing and preservation. Nelson is credited with developing technology to transport processed fruits and vegetables without product spoilage. The technology, known as aseptic bulk storage and distribution, revolutionized global food trade. Nelson will receive his $250,000 award at an Oct. 18 World Food Prize ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa. Purdue begins national study of air quality at animal feeding operations
Led by Purdue University, the 2.5-year, $14.6 million study will measure levels of hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter and ammonia, among other chemicals, released from livestock facilities. Measurements have begun in locations throughout the country and by midsummer will be under way at all 20 study sites in eight states. "This study will give us a wealth of much-needed scientific information about livestock-generated air pollution," said Al Heber, the Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering who leads the study. "There has never been a study this comprehensive or long-term." Gates Foundation funds Purdue effort to protect food, enhance African economy
With a one-time cost estimated at a little more than $3 per household, farmers in West and Central Africa will learn how to better protect cowpeas, an important food and cash crop, and increase their household income on average about $150 per year. The foundation awarded $11.4 million to Purdue Agriculture to help people in 10 African nations safely store the crop. Purdue will work with partners in Africa to recruit and train technicians who will travel from village to village to educate the mostly illiterate population by demonstrating the proper method for cowpea storage. Indiana crop growers have one more spring insect to look for
The Asiatic garden beetle is a relative of the Japanese beetle. As its name implies, it is an invasive species. The grub lives underground and feeds on roots, while the adult feeds on plant foliage. The beetle can feed on a wide range of plant materials, including perennial plants, flowers, vegetables and field crops. For more information about the invasive pest, visit the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory Web site at http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/. Putting green speed is all in grass management
Turf grass researchers and golf course management experts have ways of influencing how difficult a green is to play, said Cale Bigelow, a Purdue University agronomist and turf expert. The type of grass and management programs can determine whether the velvety looking greens are fast or slow. On fast greens, a slight tap of the putter sends the ball many feet, while a ball struck the same way on a slow green will travel only inches. To meet specific needs of both professional golfers and weekend duffers on the United States' 16,000 courses, turf scientists have developed and bred new species and varieties of grasses, he said. The various grasses, such as Bermuda, fescue, bentgrass and Kentucky, fill niches on golf courses since different conditions are required depending on the level of play and whether the turf is in the rough, on the fairway or on the green. Climate and soil conditions also play a role in the type of grass used. Farm Management Tour to showcase Kosciusko County agriculture The 2007 Indiana Farm Management Tour, scheduled for June 26-27, will showcase four farms in Kosciusko County. "The Farm Management Tour gives people an opportunity to visit very successful Indiana farms and agribusinesses to learn about management directly from the business operators. It is an excellent way to learn about the opportunities and challenges currently faced by Indiana agriculture," said Alan Miller, Purdue University farm management specialist. The agricultural economy is changing rapidly as a result of biofuels development in the United States. The 75th annual Farm Management Tour highlights producers who are adapting to the changing agricultural economy. The event is free, but lunch on June 27 costs $5. For more information, visit the Farm Management Tour Web site http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/programs/farm_tour.asp. Upcoming Events
June 26-27: Indiana Farm Management Tour June 28: The Aquaculture Research Laboratory Open House June 28: Surface Mine Reclamation Field Day
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Purdue food science professor winner of agriculture's 'Nobel'
Research has officially begun in the largest study ever conducted to measure levels of various gases and airborne pollutants emitted from poultry, dairy and swine facilities across the nation.
Some of the world's poorest people could increase their supply of a food staple and improve their region's economic standing, thanks to a Purdue University research and Extension education effort funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Indiana has become home to a new invasive insect, the Asiatic garden beetle, and it was recently found for the first time feeding on field crops.
Golfers' frustrations with high scores, long rounds and putting greens can be multiplied or lessened depending on how the turf is managed.