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 AgComm
News Purdue Extension Purdue
Agriculture Purdue University 
Jay Akridge Olivia Maddox Cherryl Frederick  Agricultural Communication |
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August 2009 Welcome to Purdue Agriculture Report, an e-newsletter for business and community leaders on research, academics and Extension across Indiana and around the globe. Helping students go back to school with science on their mind For Indiana students, the importance of a quality education has never been more significant. As such, we have made helping to improve P-12 education in the sciences one of the goals of our new strategic plan for Purdue Agriculture. By doing this, we help Indiana students become more academically competitive and our state more economically competitive. Efforts include:
And our newly announced effort for students beyond high school, the Pathway Program, will allow students even greater access to higher education. Agricultural career opportunities are there, and we will work to make sure our students are prepared to pursue them. Ivy Tech, Purdue to co-enroll students for agriculture degree
The Purdue University College of Agriculture and Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette are partnering on a new program to help make higher education even more accessible to Indiana students. The Pathway Program allows students to co-enroll at Ivy Tech and Purdue in preparation for an undergraduate degree in the College of Agriculture. Students in the program will take courses simultaneously at both institutions with the goal of eventually earning a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Purdue. "It is anticipated in the future that we will see greater demand for jobs in the life sciences and agriculture-related fields, and this program is a way to help provide even more successful, career-ready graduates for the industry," said Dale Whittaker, associate dean and director of the Office of Academic Programs in Agriculture at Purdue. The program will begin accepting students this fall for fall 2010. Information on how to apply will be announced in September. Crop report reflects abundant crop, meaning lower prices A Purdue agricultural economist and state agricultural officials at the Indiana State Fair Aug. 12 were surprised at the abundant 2009 crop projected by a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, especially given the difficult time farmers throughout the Eastern Corn Belt had getting their crops planted this spring. Indiana corn production is forecast at 903 million bushels, up 3 percent from 2008, with an expected yield of 163 bushels per acre. There was virtually no change in soybean production, which is estimated at 245.6 million bushels with an expected yield of 45 bushels per acre. Both Indiana corn and soybeans were rated as 66 percent in good to excellent condition. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt said that Indiana had a difficult start to the crop year because of the late planting, which put crops in jeopardy. But the USDA report, he said, puts that aside with increased crop production across the board. "The numbers for corn yields were higher than what the market was expecting by about two bushels. If this crop comes through, we could be looking at record yields. I expect to see a 5- to 7-cent drop on the corn market based on this report." The USDA August Crop Production Report is available online at http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/crop0809.txt.
New Web site aims to deepen public knowledge of omega-3s
Hoping to broaden understanding about the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids, a Purdue University-based international consortium has launched a Web site and newsletter campaign to educate the public, physicians and veterinarians. Bruce Watkins, Purdue professor of nutrition and director of the International Omega-3 Learning and Education Consortium for Health and Medicine, said most people know that Omega-3 fatty acids are good for them and can often name a few foods that contain them, but that's about it. "People have heard of Omega-3s, but they don't understand what Omega-3s are, the types of Omega-3s in food and how to use them for better health," Watkins said. "There are different types of Omega-3s needed throughout the lifetime. We're trying to help consumers with information that will help them make good decisions throughout their lives." Seminar aims to improve decision-making processes Leaders and managers responsible for strategic decision-making at businesses and organizations are invited to attend a seminar conducted by Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business. Structuring Decisions: Innovating Through Turbulence will focus on improving the decision-making process. The event takes place Sept. 15-17 on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The program will help participants recognize new opportunities, clarify alternatives and manage the downside risk in business decisions. Through lectures and hands-on activities, seminar leaders will provide examples of real-world situations. For more information and to register online, visit https://www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab/programs/index.asp?programCode=sdit. Purdue ABE undergrad program receives high ranking U.S.News & World Report has ranked the Purdue University Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) undergraduate program the nation's second best in that discipline. The news comes just months after the magazine ranked the department's graduate program No. 1 nationally. "This is really good news for us," said Bernie Engel, ABE professor and department head. "This is confirmation of our outstanding undergraduate programs and shows that we are one of the premier ag and biological engineering programs in the country. We have great students, faculty and staff that make this possible." The annual ranking of universities was released by U.S. News on Aug. 20. Information on the magazine's rankings is available at http://www.usnews.com. Study shows how to boost value of Alzheimer's-fighting compounds The polyphenols found in red wine are thought to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, and new research from Purdue University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine has shown that some of those compounds in fact reach the brain. Mario Ferruzzi, a Purdue associate professor of food science; Connie Weaver, Purdue's head of foods and nutrition; and Elsa Janle, a Purdue associate professor of foods and nutrition, found that the amount of polyphenols from grapeseed extract that can reach a rat's brain is as much as 200 percent higher on the 10th consecutive day of feeding as compared to the first. Many previous experiments, in which absorption was measured after single or sporadic doses, often found very little, if any, of the bioactive polyphenols reaching brain tissues. However, more chronic exposure appears to improve absorption. "This shows that reasonable and chronic consumption of these products may be the way to go, rather than single, high doses, similar to drugs," said Ferruzzi, who collaborated on the research with Mount Sinai's Dr. Giulio Pasinetti. "It's like eating an apple a day, not a case of apples over two days every month." Purdue honors outstanding women for dedication to agriculture
The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service honored two Indiana women for their outstanding dedication and contributions to the state's agriculture industry by choosing them to receive the 2009 Women in Agriculture awards. The Achievement Award, which honors women on the farm, was given to Kristi Kretzmeier, a Benton County resident, for her contribution to the family's 4,000-acre corn and soybean operation and beef herd. The Leadership Award, given annually to a woman in agribusiness, was awarded to Belinda Puetz of Hamilton County, for her work as the marketing manager for CountryMark, Indiana's only American-owned oil refining and marketing company. "The winners of these awards were selected from a pool of well-deserving nominations," said Stacy Clupper, educator, Purdue Extension Blackford County. "We look for nominees who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to Indiana agriculture. We look at the positive impacts they've had on the industry and their potential for future success." Study of 16 developing countries shows climate change could deepen poverty
Urban workers could suffer most from climate change as the cost of food drives them into poverty, according to a new study that quantifies the effects of climate on the world's poor populations. A team led by Purdue University researchers examined the potential economic influence of adverse climate events, such as heat waves, drought and heavy rains, on those in 16 developing countries. Urban workers in Bangladesh, Mexico and Zambia were found to be the most at risk. "Extreme weather affects agricultural productivity and can raise the price of staple foods, such as grains, that are important to poor households in developing countries," said Noah Diffenbaugh, the associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and interim director of Purdue's Climate Change Research Center who co-led the study. "Studies have shown global warming will likely increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves, drought and floods in many areas. It is important to understand which socioeconomic groups and countries could see changes in poverty rates in order to make informed policy decisions." MarketMaker provides opportunity to buy and sell local foods
Indiana MarketMaker, an electronic marketing tool for buying and selling locally produced foods, is now home to more than 290 registered producers - and is growing. Since its unveiling a little more than a year ago, the site has undergone updates that make it easier to use for both consumers and producers. The site, which draws an average of more than 100,000 hits each month, provides a directory for consumers to search for locally grown and niche food products. "Let's say you're looking for frozen, organic blueberries or certified organic lamb - you'd be able to find those things," said Maria Marshall, a Purdue University agricultural economist. "The state's farmers' markets also are listed there, so consumers can find them that way as well. "Producers can list their products by attribute, so if someone is looking for a particular organic fruit, the search option allows that person to type in what they're looking for and the site will find it," Marshall said. "The site also is geo-coded, which means consumers can actually find the products on a map. That's a new feature that closely resembles Google Maps." Study finds migratory birds not picky about their rest stops If a lush, protected forest with a winding stream is considered luxury accommodation for a migratory bird, a Purdue University study shows that those birds would be just as happy with the equivalent of a cheap roadside motel. John Dunning, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources, found that migrating birds are just as likely to stop in small woodlots in the middle of an agricultural field for the night as long as there is adequate protection and food. Dunning said the finding suggests that conservation efforts should extend to smaller forested lands to help stabilize declining migratory bird populations. "There are strategies for conserving forest for migratory birds, but those strategies emphasize the largest patches of forest," Dunning said. "We found that even very small woodlots were filled with migratory birds at times. It makes us believe we also need to conserve the little patches of forest, not just the big ones." Upcoming Events August 28: Getting A Grip On Rural Energy Costs Workshop September 2-3: Natural Resource Enterprises Workshop September 3: Crop Training Workshops Click here for more information on upcoming events |
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