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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. Dean's Message World Food Prize recipient exhibits Purdue can-do spirit This month, Purdue University food science professor Phil Nelson was recognized as a leader in modern food science technology, receiving the World Food Prize, which is known as the "Nobel for Agriculture." Thanks to his work in aseptic processing, people around the world benefit from food products that are safer and have a longer shelf-life. For example, more than 90 percent of tomatoes worldwide are aseptically processed. And, in humanitarian relief efforts, safe drinking water is available in flexible packaging made possible by Phil's work. I'm very proud of Phil Nelson and his achievement. I'm also pleased to say that the same can-do spirit exists throughout Purdue Agriculture. We will continue to serve the needs of people across Indiana, the nation and the world. And, maybe someday again, I'll be able to celebrate the accomplishments of another of my colleagues, recognized for making our world a better place to live. Related links: Agriculture graduates earn employment, higher salaries
Ninety percent of graduates were either employed or continuing their education as of Oct. 1. Those who were employed were earning an average salary of $39,631 for all degree fields. This is $3,397 higher than the 2006 average salary - an increase of nearly 10 percent. "With 90 percent of our graduates placed within just a few months of graduation, we continue to see the value of a Purdue Agriculture degree," said Dale Whittaker, associate dean and director of academic programs. "The vigorous demand for our graduates, both in the job market and in graduate and professional programs, also reflects the high quality of our students." Fungus genome yielding answers to protect grains, people and animals
The fungus, which is especially destructive to wheat and barley, has resulted in an estimated $10 billion in damage to U.S. crops over the past 10 years. The scientists who sequenced the fungus' genes said that the genome will help them discover what makes this particular pathogen so harmful, what triggers the process that spreads the fungus and why various fungi attack specific plants. These investigations also may lead to producing plants that are completely resistant to the fungus Fusarium graminearum, something that hasn't been possible previously, said Jin-Rong Xu, a Purdue University molecular biologist. He is pinpointing which genes enable the fungus to cause the disease Fusarium head blight, or scab. Rural Summit examines entrepreneurship, economic growth Rural residents are removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, but they'll need at least the hustle part if they hope to be successful entrepreneurs, said a Purdue University Extension small business development specialist. "There aren't that many differences between urban and rural entrepreneurs," said agricultural economist Maria Marshall. "Both have to connect to a market need and then meet that need. It takes a lot of planning and work." Marshall will speak on rural entrepreneurship during the second annual Indiana Rural Summit, Nov. 14-15 in Indianapolis. The summit provides a forum where civic and economic development leaders can share ideas on rural growth and economic progress. Tips for farmers pressured ever earlier to make seed selection Farmers are facing pressure from sales representatives to place their seed orders earlier each year, but the problem with this is that the current year's yield trial information is not yet available, said a Purdue University expert. "Ten to 15 years ago, it was common for seed orders to be placed in January or February," said Bob Nielsen, Purdue Extension corn specialist. "Now orders are being placed in August and September." "Seed selection is important and should not be based on advertising or a sales pitch, but on yield performance," Nielsen said. "Growers really need to look at yield performance and identify hybrids that perform well across a broad range of conditions, primarily weather conditions," he said. Find information on Purdue's Crop Performance Program at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/pcpp/. Purdue Agriculture alum new acting head of USDA
President George W. Bush selected Conner for the interim post after Mike Johanns resigned to run for the Senate. "Chuck has a long history of serving agriculture, and we at Purdue are proud that he will be leading the nation's agricultural interests at a pivotal time for the industry," said Randy Woodson, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. A 1980 Purdue graduate of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Conner has been deputy secretary of agriculture since 2005 and is a native of Otterbein, Ind. He previously served as agricultural adviser to Bush and to U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar. Beck Agricultural Center dedication Oct. 31
Upcoming Events October 29 - Nov. 1: The Energizing Entrepreneurs Institute Workshop October 31 : Beck Center Open House November 3: Tri-State Woodland & Wildlife Workshop November 8: Townsend Outstanding Communicator in Agriculture Debate November 15: Tri-State Organic IP Video Series November 16-17: The Purdue Agronomy Centennial Celebration
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May 2007 graduates of the Purdue University College of Agriculture are seeing an increase in job and graduate school placement and increased salaries as compared to previous years.
Why a pathogen is a pathogen may be answered as scientists study the recently mapped genetic makeup of a fungus that spawns the worst cereal grains disease known and also can produce toxins potentially fatal to people and livestock.
Purdue University agricultural alumnus Chuck Conner, who was named Sept. 20 as acting head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is known by Purdue officials as a determined individual who has spent many years in Washington, D.C., serving the Midwest.
The 20,000-square-foot Beck Agricultural Center will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m., Oct. 31, at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education on U.S. 52, located about seven miles northwest of the West Lafayette campus. The $5.2 million building will provide facilities for educational opportunities for all ages. It contains space for classes, meetings, hands-on demonstrations and research.