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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 Purdue Agriculture is the land of opportunity We recently welcomed students back to campus. We have more undergraduates again this year than the previous fall, as well as another large freshman class. While animal sciences continues to enroll the most freshmen, enrollment is growing in others areas, too, such as biochemistry and entomology. We're also seeing more students from non-rural backgrounds. This tells me that students are attracted to the wide variety of opportunities that an agriculture degree brings, and they're getting the message that Purdue Agriculture is farming and more. Our students are our highest priority and our most important product. And our growing student enrollment is also a good sign for the entire agriculture industry. Higher crop prices a risk some farmers can't take
As crop prices have risen - especially corn to feed the burgeoning ethanol industry - so, too, has the cost to produce those crops, said Mike Boehlje. "Even though high prices might infer higher profits, they actually have the potential, at the same time, to create higher risk," Boehlje said. "We're now seeing some fairly significant increases on the cost side in agriculture. It isn't unusual when you get better prices that you may be more willing to pay a little bit more cash rent for land and more for fertilizers, seed and chemical products. "What we see happening increasingly is what is often referred to in the business world as margin compression. When you combine that with the fact that we are moving our entire price structure up and we aren't adjusting the government program on top of that, we also have more of what we call margin risk, or risk exposure." Ag economists give tips for renegotiating lease arrangements Increased demand for corn and soybeans, increased commodity prices, and increased variability and risks create a complicated situation for landowners and tenants trying to reach a fair lease agreement, say Purdue University experts. It is important to look at each case individually because of the variety of factors at play in this new economic environment, said Purdue Extension specialist Craig Dobbins. "It's difficult to make blanket statements about what rents ought to be," he said. Luc Valentin, Alan Miller and Dobbins, all Purdue Extension ag economists, sat down and worked through information for parties involved in rethinking and renegotiating lease arrangements. Valentin broke down the different types of lease arrangements by landowner and tenant from least risky to most risky. Purdue launches CAFO Web site to aid decision makers A new Web site featuring scientific information about concentrated animal feeding operations was developed by Purdue University to help people who make decisions about CAFOs. "We wanted to develop a source of information that is based on science, not sentiment," said Alan Grant, head of the Department of Animal Sciences. "We are excited because this Web site brings information from multiple disciplines together and is easy for people to access." The information, written by Purdue experts, is targeted to zoning boards, planning commissions, agricultural Extension educators, as well as citizens and farmers. The Web site, online at http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/CAFO, covers environmental issues, public health issues, social and economic issues, and general information. Additional content will be added in the coming weeks.Parking spaces outnumber drivers 3-to-1, drive pollution and warming
"Even I was surprised by these numbers," said Bryan Pijanowski, the associate professor of forestry and natural resources who led the study in Purdue's home county of Tippecanoe. "I can't help but wonder: Do we need this much parking space?" Students can convert beans to bucks in soybean contest
The contest, co-sponsored by Purdue Agriculture and the Indiana Soybean Alliance, challenges teams of three to four participants to invent new, environmentally friendly products from soybeans. "Past participants of this contest have had a lot of doors opened up to them," said Bernard Tao, Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering and competition administrator. "Throughout the contest there are networking opportunities with several large companies, and the products are well publicized." Purdue ready to assist agricultural entrepreneurs Indiana farmers can earn a living without raising corn, soybeans, cows and pigs, and Purdue University can show them how, Purdue offers an array of resources for enterprising producers who want to branch out into non-traditional agricultural businesses, said Roy Ballard, Purdue Extension educator in Hancock County and co-chairman of Purdue's Ways to Grow and Beyond committee. "Purdue is expanding its resources for farmers who want to diversify their farm operations and those who are not currently farming but would like to start an agricultural enterprise," Ballard said. Nationally, data indicates economics doesn't get its due In addition to the "three Rs" add economics to the topics that schoolchildren need to learn more about this year, according to Purdue University experts. A report released this month based on the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress test indicates that only 42 percent of U.S. high school seniors were considered "proficient" in economics. "Economic reasoning is a skill that is essential to financial responsibility, both on the personal and community level, said Harlan Day, director of the Indiana Council for Economic Education located at Purdue. Most Indiana students do not take a formal economics course until their senior year. Day said the importance of economics education cannot be understated, and, in an effort to help students learn important economic lessons early on, ICEE has been training teachers how to integrate economics into other subject matter, even in earlier grades. Bigger Profits through Targeted Sales workshop will be Sept. 27 The New Ventures Team will hold the Bigger Profits through Targeted Sales workshop from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Ross Ade Pavilion in Purdue University's Ross Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. "The workshop is designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners who wish to grow their business," said Jane Anderson, instructor and senior project manager of the New Venture Team. "To be successful in today's marketplace, small business owners must have clearly defined marketing and sales strategies." Additional information and registration forms are available at http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/newventures/. Indiana land values, cash rents highest since 1977 Indiana farmland values and cash rents took a sharp turn upward from last year, according to a Purdue University survey. The "Land Values and Cash Rent Survey" indicates an increase in land values of 17 percent to 19 percent across Indiana, and a 9 percent to 10 percent climb in cash rents from the June 2006 level. "One needs to go all the way back to 1977 to find an increase of this magnitude," said Craig Dobbins, Purdue Extension farmland economics specialist and survey coordinator. Upcoming Events September 15: Forest Management Field Day in Putnam County September 18-20: Farm Science Review September 20: Indiana Farm Sustainability Tour: Family Farming September 20 : Organic Poultry Production September 27: Bigger Profits throughout Targeted Sales Workshop October 9-10: Hardwood Log, Lumber and Tree Grading Workshop October 11: Indiana Farm Sustainability Tour: Specialty Marketing Partnership October 16-18: Hardwood Lumber Grading and Manufacturing Workshop October 19 : Walnut Lumber Grading and Manufacturing Workshop October 29 - Nov. 1: The Energizing Entrepreneurs Institute Workshop
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Farmers enjoying robust corn and soybean prices might be surprised to find themselves earning less for their crops, said a Purdue University agricultural economist.
From suburban driveways to the sprawling lots that spring up around big retailers, Americans devote lots of space to parking spaces – a growing land-use trend that plays a role in heating up urban areas and adding to water pollution, according to a recent study.