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 AgComm
News Purdue Extension Purdue
Agriculture Purdue University 
Jay Akridge Olivia Maddox Cherryl Frederick  Agricultural Communication |
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March 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. Bioenergy fuels research and Purdue Extension efforts Purdue University has a long history of work in bioenergy, and we remain deeply engaged in research and Extension to help our nation become more energy self-sufficient. In this issue, we highlight Purdue Agriculture research findings that move us closer to economically viable cellulosic ethanol. Researcher Dennis Buckmaster (see article below) has discovered a way to more efficiently process corn stover, which has the potential to help ethanol producers deliver more cellulose for less cost. Purdue Extension also recently launched a Web site to serve as a resource on clean energy. The Renewable Energy Web site contains information on wind, solar and renewable fuels, as well as other resources for addressing our country's energy needs. It also has information on how to improve energy efficiency on the farm. (See article in this issue.) http://www.extension.purdue.edu/renewable-energy/ Purdue Agriculture will remain committed to developing innovative solutions to our world's energy issues. Shredding corn silage could produce more ethanol at less cost
A Purdue University researcher has found a way to get more bang for fewer bucks when it comes to processing cellulosic material to make ethanol. By shredding corn stover instead of chopping, as is commonly done, about 40 percent less energy is needed to gain access to more of the material stored in the plant. Dennis Buckmaster, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, said that by shredding corn stover there is better access to cellulose, which is the main part of plant cell walls necessary to make ethanol. "You can't just use a big chunk of cellulosic material. You need small particles," Buckmaster said. "What we want is access to what's in there." Buckmaster said the next step in his research is to compare shredded and chopped cellulosic material to see which produces more ethanol. He also is working to design machinery that can be used by farmers to shred plant materials during harvest instead of using current chopping mechanisms. Trend broken or at least leveled; number of U.S. farms increases The number of U.S. farms and ranches, which has been declining since World War II, increased by 4 percent to 2.2 million since 2002. "We are no longer just losing farms steadily, but we actually may have hit bottom and are increasing slightly," said Greg Preston, director of U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Ag Statistics Service office in Indiana. The 2007 Census of Agriculture numbers, which were released last month, showed the number of farms and ranches in Indiana followed the nation and increased by 1 percent to 60,938. Even with the number of farms increasing, the overall amount of farmland decreased by 2 percent and the average size of the Indiana farm decreased by 3 percent. More information from the 2007 Census of Agriculture can be found online at http://www.agcensus.usda.gov. Simple device can ensure food gets to the store bacteria free
A Purdue University researcher has found a way to eliminate bacteria in packaged foods such as spinach and tomatoes, a process that could eliminate worries concerning some food-borne illnesses. Kevin Keener designed a device consisting of a set of high-voltage coils attached to a small transformer that generates a room-temperature plasma field inside a package, ionizing the gases inside. The process kills harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, which have caused major public health concerns. "Conceptually, we can put any kind of packaged food we want in there," said Keener, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science. "So far, it has worked on spinach and tomatoes, but it could work on any type of produce or other food." Trading carbon credits worth examining, Purdue expert says Farmers and landowners could receive extra income from already-existing land management practices by selling carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange, said a Purdue University expert. "Farmers and landowners have an opportunity to sell carbon offset credits into carbon trading markets if they implement certain conservation practices," said Lenny Farlee, Purdue Extension forester. "Eligible practices include no-till farming - if implemented between 2006 and 2010 - grassland plantings that have been done since 1999, as well as forest tree plantings done since 1990." Carbon offset credits are emissions credits earned by eligible offset projects that sequester, destroy or displace greenhouse gas emissions. Purdue Web site fuels growing renewable energy movement Purdue University Extension has powered up a Web site on cleaner, greener energy. The Renewable Energy site offers an array of resources on environmentally friendly energy sources and conservation. The site is located at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/renewable-energy/. "The Web site provides information on various sustainable energy technologies and energy efficiency, based on research conducted at Purdue and other universities and government agencies," said Klein Ileleji, a Purdue Extension agricultural engineer. "You hear a lot about green jobs and energy independence. With this Web site we're hoping to be on the cutting edge of the sustainable energy revolution." Study: Soybean oil reduces carbon footprint in swine barns One of agriculture's most versatile crops could one day play a role in combating climate change, Purdue University research shows. In addition to using soybeans in beverages, biofuel, lip balm, crayons, candles and a host of other products, Purdue agricultural engineers Al Heber and Jiqin Ni found that soybean oil reduces greenhouse gas emissions when sprayed inside swine finishing barns. Heber and Ni led a team of Purdue and University of Missouri researchers in the yearlong project, which monitored the effectiveness of soybean oil on dust and odor within hog facilities. Additional research is needed to address problems with oil spraying and substantiate the study's findings, the researchers said. "This project provided baseline measurements of the greenhouse gas contributions of swine finishing barns," Heber said. "In addition to the baseline measurements, we now have some data on an abatement technology to reduce the carbon footprint contribution of a pound of pork." Read the results of the study, "Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emission From Two Pig Finishing Barns," online at http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/reprint/37/6/2001.pdf. Publications offer financial advice in a struggling economy
At a time when finances and the economy are on the minds of most, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is offering a free financial management curriculum to the public. "Focus on Financial Management" is an eight-part curriculum that includes financial planning advice and worksheets that help people organize financial goals, understand the ways they spend money, prepare and use net worth statements, manage risk, understand savings and investment options, use credit cards more wisely, deal with financial challenges, and plan for retirement. "Focus on Financial Management" is available for download through Purdue Extension's Education Store at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/new/. This program is a great resource for people who want a better understanding of their finances -- what they have and don't have, what they need and what might need tweaking," said Cindy Barnett, Purdue Extension family resource management specialist. "It's important to realize that it's difficult to make the best financial decisions without first understanding all of the assets you have, so these publications help individuals take stock of those assets." Latino adult education program now available any time of day Class is now always in session for Spanish-speaking students enrolled in an adult education program offered through Purdue University Extension. Thanks to technology improvements, Plaza Comunitaria students can take courses in English, basic computer skills, U.S. GED exam preparation and work force-related subjects at any time from any computer connected to the Internet. Purdue is hosting a Midwest portal -- a Web access point -- for Plaza Comunitaria. Plaza offers elementary through high school equivalency courses through a partnership that includes the government of Mexico and Indiana's Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Course content is provided and accredited by Mexico's adult education program, Instituto Nacional Para la Educación de Los Adultos. Upcoming Events March 5, 11, 19 & 26: Women in Ag - Annie's Project March 18, 19 & 29: Breeding Soundness Exams For Bulls at Purdue Clinics March 9 & 30: Enhancing Supervisory & Employee Performance March 21-22: Equine Reproduction Clinic March 25: Farmers Market Master Boot Camp March 27: Aquaculture Cooperative Workshop April 18: Indiana Dairy Youth Conference April 21 & 22: Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference April 25: Purdue Beef Unit Golden Girls Production Showcase & Sale Click here for more information on upcoming events |
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