From the Dean

Purdue Agriculture People

Awards and Recognitions

Dean Jay Akridge was elected to the Board of Directors of Agriculture Future of America (AFA) at its Leaders Conference in November. He will begin his term in March 2017. AFA provides premiere personal and professional development programs to college students and young professionals in agriculture. AFA programs have impacted 13,000 college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43 states since its inception in 1996, and the organization has awarded more than $9 million in academic and leader development scholarships.

David Downey, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics and founder and executive director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business, was recognized with the Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award by the Agricultural Retailers Association on Nov. 30 at the organization’s annual conference and expo in Orlando, Fla.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/downey-honored-for-lifetime-contributions-to-ag-retail-industry.html

Marcos Fernandez, Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs, has been elected Secretary for the Academic Program Section of the Academic Committee on Policy and Organization of APLU, representing the North Central region. His appointment will begin with the Annual Winter Meetings in March 2017 in Washington, DC. This is a progressive national leadership appointment over four years (Secretary, President-elect, President, Past-President).

Linda Mason, Entomology, was named the recipient of the 2016 Violet Haas Award from the Purdue Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence. The award recognizes individuals, programs or departments that have facilitated the advancement of women in hiring, promotion, education and salary, or have enhanced a positive professional climate for women at the university.

Bob Nielsen, Agronomy, received the 2016 Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana on December 9 at the annual convention of Indiana Farm Bureau. He was honored for his ongoing service and commitment to the state's corn producers. The Hovde award is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who has provided exceptional service to the improvement of rural Indiana.

Full story: http://bit.ly/2gLscX8

Three College of Agriculture faculty members are among eight Purdue professors who were elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in November. The Fellows were recognized for their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished. The fellows from Agriculture are: Andrew DeWoody, Forestry and Natural Resources; Barbara Golden, Biochemistry; and Wally Tyner, Agricultural Economics.

Anderson Smith, a senior in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, recently received and accepted an invitation to become a part of the Orr Fellowship with KSM Consulting, a strategic management, technology, and data consulting firm, as his host company. The Orr Fellowship, named in honor of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, is a very competitive two year program to develop the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Accepted candidates are placed with a host company in the Indianapolis area and work as full time employees. They also receive personal and professional development in the form of professional seminars, networking events, a continuing education curriculum, civic engagement opportunities, executive mentorship, and an unrivaled peer network.

Margaret Hegwood, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, is one of two students from Purdue (and 11 students nationally) selected as the 2016-2017 Land O'Lakes Emerging Leaders for Food Security. Emerging Leaders work with a professor or academic mentor to explore critical food security issues and agricultural challenges through the school year as they complete challenge assignments. They receive a stipend and an 11-week paid summer internship to work with industry experts at Land O’Lakes, Inc. To learn about hunger, agriculture and sustainability, they travel to key Land O’Lakes locations, Washington, D.C., and rural African communities.

Purdue Agriculture in the News

Purdue’s Center for Global Soundscapes featured on CNN

Bryan Pijanowski, professor of landscape ecology in Forestry and Natural Resources  and director of the Discovery Park Center for Global Soundscapes, is the focus of an in-depth story now posted on the CNN website. John Sutter, a columnist for CNN Opinion focusing on climate change and social justice, accompanied Pijanowski and a team of researchers to the Costa Rican rainforest, where they recorded the sounds of amphibians in danger of extinction as part of the Center for Global Soundscapes’ Vanishing Soundscapes initiative. Sutter’s account of the expedition, “Listening for the amphibian apocalypse,” is available at http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/11/world/vanishing-sutter-amphibian-extinction/index.html.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/purdues-center-for-global-soundscapes-featured-on-cnn.html

Christmas tree supply looks strong for 2016 holiday season

People ready for some holiday cheer can celebrate a healthy 2016 Christmas tree supply with plenty of choices in size and species, said Daniel Cassens, professor of forestry and natural resources and Purdue Extension wood products specialist. A dry summer and wet autumn initially caused some worries, said Cassens, who has grown and sold Christmas trees for 38 years at his farm in rural West Lafayette. "Conifers don't like wet feet and we had a wet August," he said. “And the dry June and July were a bit scary, especially for seedlings. But we've seen no lasting effects from weather and no significant insect or fungal problems either. The trees look very healthy."

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/christmas-tree-supply-looks-strong-for-2016-holiday-season.html

Gary students operate urban farm as part of unique business program

This year, Purdue selected the Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary, Indiana as one of two Indiana schools where it started a middle/high school chapter of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Program. MANRRS promots the agricultural sciences and related fields in a positive light to ethnic groups that have not been consistently connected to opportunities in the agricultural business fields. Thea Bowman students will work on projects and participate in activities throughout the year at Purdue West Lafayette and be mentored by students and faculty from the Purdue College of Agriculture. Myron McClure, Assistant Director in the Office of Multicultural Programs, oversees the program.

Full story: http://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/gary-students-operate-urban-farm-as-part-of-unique-business/article_5f257cfa-72d0-59c5-83bd-16a00e8c7600.html

Purdue, ARA program aimed at sharpening management skills

The Purdue Center for Food and Agricultural Business will again partner with the Agricultural Retailers Association to present the ARA Management Academy in early 2017. This workshop-style program, which is Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in West Lafayette, will dive into management, leadership and decision-making through faculty-led presentations, interactive exercises and small-group discussion. Purdue faculty experts Allan Gray, director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business; Scott Downey, associate director of the center; and Michael Gunderson, associate director of research for the center, will facilitate the program. Joining them will be Rodney Vandeveer, professor in Purdue's Polytechnic Institute.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/purdue,-ara-program-aimed-at-sharpening-management-skills.html

Purdue receives grant to improve health of Great Lakes basin

The Department of Agronomy has received a $225,000 grant for one of the first large-scale attempts to directly link in-field soil health parameters with intensive edge-of-field water quality monitoring across the Great Lakes basin. “The boundary between soil and edge-of-field water is challenging but an important area of work. This effort is designed to understand how the soil’s health impacts the retention or release of major plant nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus,” said Ron Turco, professor of agronomy. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative awarded the funding as part of a $508,000 grant to improve the health of the Great Lakes basin.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/purdue-receives-grant-to-improve-health-of-great-lakes-basin.html

Plasma-zapping process could yield trans fat-free soybean oil product

Two Purdue Agriculture researchers have developed a hydrogenation process that could solidify soybean oil for food processing without creating trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease and stroke. Former Purdue professor Kevin Keener, now at Iowa State University, and Food Science doctoral student Ximena Yépez developed a process known as high-voltage atmospheric cold plasma (HVACP) hydrogenation. This process occurs at room temperature, avoiding the high temperatures that cause trans fats to form. "Cold plasma processes are being researched in many different fields," Yépez said. "They're used in things like fluorescent lighting, or in changing material properties, like increasing conductivity. Dr. Keener developed this method in food science to eliminate pathogens. But as far as we know, no one has ever used this technology to hydrogenate oil before."

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/plasma-zapping-process-could-yield-trans-fat-free-soybean-oil-product.html

2017 Midwest vegetable production guide now available

The 2017 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers is now available for purchase or free download from Purdue Extension's The Education Store. The guide is an annual summary of state-specific information on vegetable varieties, fertility, seeding rates, fertilizer rates, weed control, insect control and disease management. Lead author Dan Egel, Extension plant pathologist, said the new edition covers a large portion of the Midwest - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and this year, Michigan. "The addition of MSU to the team means additional expertise in vegetable production and pest management," he said.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/2017-midwest-vegetable-production-guide-now-available.html

Crop futures rally drives large increase in producer sentiment

Agricultural producer sentiment about the industry's economy improved substantially in November, in part because of soybean and corn futures price rallies, according to the December 6 report of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer, which is based on a monthly survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers, jumped to 116—the highest reading since October 2015, and up 24 points from the October 2016 reading of 92. "Producer sentiment about the future climbed partly because of a significant rally in futures prices for corn and especially soybeans this fall," said Jim Mintert, barometer principal investigator and director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture. "The rally included not just nearby futures contracts, but extended to prices for both the 2017 and, to a lesser extent, 2018 harvests."

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/crop-futures-rally-drives-large-increase-in-producer-sentiment.html

Purdue Extension to offer farm succession planning workshops

The Purdue Extension Succession Planning Team is offering a workshop to introduce farmers and their families to the legal, financial and team-building aspects of transferring farm ownership.
The workshop, "Next Steps to Successfully Growing Future Farm Generations" will be presented by attorneys and estate planning. Topics include the timing of succession, communication and team building, insurance, retirement planning, asset transfer and goal setting.
"Farm succession planning is a crucial part of ensuring your family farm business's long-term viability," said Kelly Heckaman, Extension educator in Kosciusko County. "But it can be a daunting process, so if people are uncertain about how to begin or would like some advice, these workshops could be really beneficial."

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/purdue-extension-to-offer-farm-succession-planning-workshops.html

Nutrition program improves food stamp family's food security

Food stamp participants who participated in a supplemental nutrition education program were able to improve their food security by 25 percent, according to a study by Purdue University. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, serves millions of low-income individuals and families. SNAP is a part of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. The direct education provided through SNAP-Ed programs in Indiana are hands on, and all lessons combine maximizing the food budget while focusing on nutritional components, such as consuming lean meats and vegetables and fruits. These lessons are provided through local Purdue Extension offices.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2016/Q4/nutrition-program-improves-food-stamp-familys-food-security.html

University News

Federal court injunction halts Fair Labor Standards Act implementation

As communicated to leadership campus-wide recently, a temporary injunction granted Nov. 22 in a federal court lawsuit filed by 21 states and more than 55 business groups will block the implementation of changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which were to become effective Dec. 1. Since that ruling, University leadership has consulted heavily with Purdue’s Big Ten peers and others to try to understand what might be logical steps to move forward. As a result, the University has decided to suspend implementation of its FLSA changes until resolution of this issue becomes clear. Based on detailed conversations over the past few days, this position is in line with the majority of Purdue’s Big Ten peers.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2016/Q4/federal-court-injunction-halts-fair-labor-standards-act-implementation.html

Purdue community: Adverse winter weather procedures

If adverse weather conditions necessitate that a wind chill, snow or ice emergency be declared for the West Lafayette campus, special procedures pertaining to classes, operations, parking, pay and/or attendance will become effective. Carol Shelby, senior director of environmental health and public safety, describes procedures for adverse winter weather in this memo.  

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2016/Q4/-purdue-community-adverse-winter-weather-procedures.html

New Halstead research supercomputing cluster ready for use by Purdue faculty

ITaP is building Purdue’s ninth research supercomputing system in as many years through the Community Cluster program, which gives Purdue researchers the best collection of high-performance computing resources for use on a single campus in the country. The new supercomputer, named Halstead, will have the same processors as the Rice supercomputing cluster built in 2015, but will be better on all other specifications, including memory per node, network bandwidth and cost to researchers, says Preston Smith, ITaP’s director of research services and support. Like Rice, Halstead will work well for most kinds of science and engineering research. Its scratch storage space is better optimized for smaller files, so users should find going back and forth between numerous small files more efficient. The new cluster features two 10-core Intel Xeon CPUs per node, 128 GB of RAM and Mellanox EDR 100 Gb/s Infiniband interconnects. Halstead is expected to be ready for use in December. Purdue researchers can already buy capacity in it through ITaP Research Computing’s cluster orders website.

Full Story: http://www.itap.purdue.edu/newsroom/news/161130_Halstead.html?source=pt

Employee feedback sought on benefits enrollment, wellness offerings

Human Resources-Benefits is seeking employee input and feedback about the recent benefits open enrollment as well as overall health and wellness offerings at the University. Employees on all campuses who are benefits-eligible will receive a brief, two-part survey via email from Human Resources regarding both of these topics. “Open enrollment for benefits is a big event every fall, and we want to make sure we provide tools, communications and support that meet the needs of our faculty and staff,” says Teresa Schnarr, associate director of benefit operations. “We are interested in thoughts about the current online tool, the various communications that are developed and other types of resources that are provided.” Purdue remains dedicated to ensuring convenient access to health care and wellness opportunities. The survey will provide helpful information that will be used for future planning. Watch for the survey to be released early next week via email.

Full Story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2016/Q4/employee-feedback-sought-on-benefits-enrollment,-wellness-offerings.html