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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 Agriculture’s diverse appeal provides something for everyone These days, walking in my shoes lands me in a diverse variety of locations. While traveling from the Black Expo in Indianapolis to the Carroll County 4-H Fair, it struck me how varied (or wide-ranging) the interest in agriculture is today. From the accelerated growth in biofuels, to renewed emphasis on environmentalism and food safety, our disciplines attract the attention of many who may have never had an interest in agriculture before. In fact the number of urban and suburban students who apply to Purdue Agriculture outnumber those from rural areas. That’s partly due to demographics - there are just fewer people in the countryside and in small towns. However, it also shows the increasing appeal that agriculture has for young people who don’t live on farms. Purdue Agriculture has grown and changed in ways to accommodate new audiences and our traditional base. And the more people who learn about agriculture and what is has to offer, the greater our influence and reach.
Purdue ag economists analyze high commodity and food prices
In a Farm Foundation-commissioned report released on July 23, Purdue economists Phil Abbott, Chris Hurt and Wally Tyner highlight key factors gleaned from examining 25 recent studies, plus their own analysis. Their conclusion: A complex combination of factors is fueling agricultural commodity price increases and rising food costs. Tyner, an expert on energy and policy issues, said the price of oil is an important factor that has increased the demand for biofuels. "About $3 of the corn price increase is due to the higher oil price and $1 to the ethanol subsidy," he said. As high oil prices spur demand for biofuels, the increased corn production stimulates demand for fertilizer, diesel, propane and other agricultural inputs. The report "What's Driving Food prices?" is available at www.farmfoundation.org. Take 'stalk' in corn stover as state's ethanol future
Corn stover is plentiful in Indiana because of the state's large corn acreage and could be harvested less expensively than switchgrass, said Wally Tyner, Purdue agricultural economist and the study's lead researcher. Also, with high corn prices, corn stover would provide farmers extra profit without planting additional crops, he said. Switchgrass is a primary crop and must be planted separately. "For cellulosic ethanol in Indiana, corn stover is where it's at," Tyner said. "From a cost perspective, corn stover averages $40 per dry ton delivered to the ethanol plant while switchgrass averages $60 per dry ton. That's a huge early advantage to corn stover. Top 50 Indiana Companies to Watch More than 220 applications have been completed for the inaugural Indiana Companies to Watch awards program, which seeks to recognize the state's 50 most promising second-stage companies. "Indiana Companies to Watch will celebrate high-performing, second-stage companies from all across the state," said Sam Cordes, associate vice provost for engagement and co-director for Purdue's Center for Regional Development in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. Purdue University is collaborating with the Indiana Economic Development Corp., through its Small Business Development Centers, and the Edward Lowe Foundation for the 2008 program. Finalists are being reviewed, and the winning companies will be recognized Aug. 27 in Indianapolis. Handbook helps producers improve efficiency in lean times With high corn prices and market volatility, pork producers find themselves gambling on a daily basis or at least they may feel like it, according to Brian Richert, Purdue University swine management specialist. Richert believes the more information that producers have at their disposal, the better their chances for success. That is the aim of Purdue’s 2008 Pork Industry Handbook. With more than 1,400 pages, the handbook is packed with information, such as marketing strategies for market hogs to cull sows, the economic impact of genetic improvement and resolving conflicts with employees. It also has information about alternative feedstuffs and commodity options as price insurance. The Pork Industry Handbook is available in book format and CD. To order, call 888- 398-4636 or visit http://www.extension.purdue.edu/new. Nanotechnology conference to focus on the environment The interactions of nanotechnology with the environment will be highlighted during a Purdue University conference to be held Aug. 5-6 in Indianapolis. Called Nanotechnology and the Environment, the sessions will feature the latest research on the subject and future business possibilities in nanotechnology. "The goal of this conference is to bring to light what is known about this technology and help inform those who must make decisions about future opportunities and acceptance of nanotechnology," said conference coordinator Natalie Carroll, a Purdue professor of youth development and agricultural education. Registration is available at http://www.conf.purdue.edu/nano or by contacting John Wellman at jmwellman@purdue.edu. Upcoming Events AUGUST 1 : Summer Aquaculture Workshop AUGUST 6-17: Indiana State Fair AUGUST 19: Davis Purdue Ag Center Field Day
Click here for more information on upcoming events
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Commodity prices -- and resulting food prices -- are rising sharply, driven by a combination of factors that include high oil prices spurring biofuels growth, a weak dollar, and world production and consumption trends, according to an analysis by Purdue University agricultural economists.
Cellulosic ethanol made from corn stover and switchgrass could be the next big thing in liquefied energy. The biggest of the big -- at least in Corn Belt states like Indiana -- would likely be corn stover, a Purdue University study finds.