It is Homecoming weekend and a great time to be on the Purdue campus! So much is going on in the College: the Department of Entomology is celebrating its 100th anniversary; the Department of Animal Sciences is recognizing its most recent class of distinguished alumni; the Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association and our undergraduate Agriculture Council will be sponsoring a pancake breakfast Saturday morning before the game…thanks to all who will make this a special time for our alumni, students, and their families.
I’m glad to be back on campus in time to enjoy the Homecoming events, after a few weeks of travel. The idea that the land-grant university of the 21st century has a global footprint is alive and well in our College. I recently spent eight days in China with some of our faculty and department heads, working to move some of our key relationships in China forward. Ragu Raghothama, Associate Director of International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA), leads our China partnerships and put together a very productive trip. Our first stop was Shanghai, where Bob Joly, Head of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Joe Anderson, Head of Agronomy, and Jian-Kang Zhu, Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology in HLA, met with representatives from the Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences (SIBS). Dr. Zhu has developed an important partnership with SIBS in the area of plant stress biology and our conversation focused on how we can support and build on his work, engaging other Purdue faculty and students in the process.
We moved on to Beijing and meetings with our long-time partner, China Agriculture University (CAU). Ragu led the establishment of a joint research center at CAU a few years ago, and one of the important objectives of this stop was to further develop and focus the work of the Center. Maize is an area of mutual interest to both CAU and Purdue, and we conducted a joint workshop on maize research there. Cliff Weil (Agronomy), Mitch Tuinstra (Agronomy), Mike Mickelbart (Horticulture and Landscape Architecture), and Joe Anderson all made presentations during the workshop, as did a group of CAU maize researchers. China is making major investments in maize research, and based on our discussions, we believe there are areas of mutual research interest. We also discussed enhancements in our successful 2+2 program, where CAU undergraduates spend their first two years at CAU before coming to Purdue to complete their final two years and earn a degree from both institutions. More than 35 CAU undergraduates are on campus this fall as part of this program. We also explored some interesting professional MS program opportunities while we were there.
Our final stop was Yangling, the home of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU). Jin-Rong Xu (Botany and Plant Pathology) has established an important relationship there in the broad area of plant protection, and we also have a joint research center at NWAFU. Though Peter Hirst (Horticulture and Landscape Architecture) was not on this trip, he has an important collaboration with NWAFU on apple research. Much of China’s national apple research is led by a faculty member at NWAFU. Our focus during this visit was on expanding the research/extension relationship with NWAFU, and we will likely host a workshop with NWAFU next summer focused on plant protection and apple research.
On the heels of that trip, I was in Canada at a conference on the bioeconomy that I helped plan. Wally Tyner (Agricultural Economics) gave one of the keynote presentations on the prospects for and policy issues around cellulosic ethanol. In the last six weeks, a team from Purdue (Janet Ayres, Agricultural Economics and Jim Murren, International Programs in Agriculture) was in the Republic of Georgia exploring possibilities with a group from Ivy Tech and led by Energy Systems Network CEO Paul Mitchell. Marshall Martin, Ag Research and Agricultural Economics, recently made a quick trip to Colombia in support of Purdue’s emerging relationship there. Gebisa Ejeta, Agronomy, was in Tanzania at the African Green Revolution Forum. Betty Bugusu, Managing Director of the International Food Technology Center and Suzanne Nielsen, Head of Food Science, will be giving a presentation on reducing post-harvest loss at the World Food Prize Dialogue next week in Des Moines. And Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer, Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in Agriculture? Just in the past couple of months, Jess has been in Ukraine, Republic of Georgia, Niger (twice), and Burkina Faso…and, I know there is so much more international work happening that I have not mentioned here!
The issues our College works on are global ones. The world our students are moving into is ever more connected. The depth and breadth of our College’s global portfolio and impact is exciting. A previous Agriculture Dean once said that the reputation of Purdue Agriculture grows with every mile from the Wabash River. Dining with a group of Purdue alumni in Beijing a couple of weeks ago, all of whom had earned PhDs in plant-related sciences and had moved into top leadership positions in Chinese universities and research institutes, illustrated the truth of that statement.
Enjoy Homecoming weekend!
All the best,
The Ag Research Spotlight shines each month on an individual whose work reflects our commitment to the six strategic themes that guide Agricultural Research at Purdue. This month's spotlight is on Barbara Golden, Biochemistry, whose work underscores the theme “utilizing molecular approaches to expand the frontiers of agriculture and life sciences.”
Agriculture Communication staff member Tom Campbell accompanied retired Purdue Agriculture faculty member and World War II veteran Ralph Green on a recent Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., and wrote about the experience in an issue of ConnectionsNOW! Donya Lester, Executive Secretary of the Agriculture Alumni Association, was also an escort on the Honor Flight. Pam Mow, administrative assistant in Botany and Plant Pathology and a Gold Star Mother, was one of the organizers of the Honor Flight.
Sir Gordon Conway, former president of the Rockefeller Foundation and an author, scholar and adviser to several governments and development agencies, will speak at Purdue on Oct. 12 as part of the Global Food Security Distinguished Lecture. Conway, currently head of the Agriculture for Impact program at 
Enrollment in the College of Agriculture increased slightly for the 2012-13 academic year, led by higher numbers of freshmen and graduate students. Figures released by the university show a college enrollment of 3,289, compared with 3,283 last year. Agriculture students represent 8.4 percent of the 39,256 students at Purdue's West Lafayette campus. "Enrollments across agriculture and related majors remains strong, and interest continues to grow as evidenced by the size of the incoming class," said Marcos Fernandez, associate dean and director of academic programs. Freshman enrollment is 499, up 3.3 percent from last fall's incoming class. Graduate student enrollment grew from 596 to 631 in that same period.
Purdue Agriculture hosted more than 1135 students and 124 employers at the Fall Career Fair, held in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. Lori Pence Barber, OAP, coordinator of the career fair, said she received several positive comments regarding the organization of the fair, hospitality, and how well prepared Agriculture students are. "The caliber of our students really stands out among our peers and many of the employers touted our Fall Career Fair as one of the best," she said. "I believe this really says a lot about the College of Agriculture and Purdue University."
Myron McClure has joined the 
Michael D. Wilcox Jr., associate professor of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Tennessee, has been hired as assistant program leader for economic and community development with Purdue Extension and senior associate at the Purdue Center for Regional Development. As a member of the Purdue Extension leadership team, his responsibilities include staff development and Extension program planning, development, evaluation and reporting. PCRD responsibilities include leading and supporting Center projects related to regional development in both Indiana and nationally. He began his new role Sept. 4. Wilcox, also an adjunct assistant professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky and president of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Cornell University, a master's degree in fisheries and allied aquacultures from Auburn University and a doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
Nearly 50 new students have indicated an interest in participating in the 
Faculty, staff and students are invited to the College of Agriculture Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, October 13, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on the Memorial Mall – in the tent on the north end of the mall. Cost is $5.00 per person; children 6 and under eat free. No reservations are needed; pay at the door. Enjoy pancakes, sausage and omelets served by Ag Council and other ag student leaders. College of Ag departments and student organizations will have exhibits in the tent, and faculty and staff will be on hand. Register to win cool Purdue prizes. You need not be present to win, and we’ll mail prizes to the winners so that you don’t have to take anything back to your car before the game. Feel free to drop in any time during our serving hours and stay as long as you like to enjoy the food and the fellowship. For more information, contact the Purdue Ag Alumni office, (765) 494-8593 or e-mail Debby Jakes, 
Bailey Farrer of Royal Center, Ind., a sophomore studying animal sciences, was featured as one of “5 Students Who are Legacy Makers”. Bailey, who will be the 25th family member to graduate from Purdue, grew up showing livestock and participating in 4-H. She was named Reserve Supreme Showman at the Indiana State Fair in 2008 and is Miss Cass County 2012 and runner-up to the 2012 Indiana State Fair queen. 
Allan Gray, professor of Agricultural Economics and director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and the MS-MBA in Food and Agribusiness Management, was named by the Purdue Board of Trustees to the Agriculture Chair of Excellence in Engagement. The Agriculture Chair of Excellence in Engagement was created by the College of Agriculture to provide leadership in engagement and innovation in Extension related to agriculture.
Scott Downey, Agricultural Economics, was inducted as a 2012 Fellow of the Purdue Teaching Academy, and Abigail Borron, Youth Development and Agricultural Education, was inducted as an Associate Member at a ceremony on September 26. They join more than 20 other Agriculture faculty in the Academy, which brings together the best teaching faculty across campus to create a collective voice for teaching and learning on campus.
Fiber designed by a Purdue food scientist may improve digestive health and decrease the risk of colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease and diverticulosis. Bruce Hamaker, the Roy L. Whistler Chair in Carbohydrate Science in the Department of Food Science, has developed a patent-pending designer fiber that is digested slower than other fiber, which could reduce digestive intolerance. The Purdue-designed fiber travels through the large intestine, including the descending colon where colon cancer, diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis commonly occur. The fiber can be designed to target different locations. This enables the bacteria in the large intestine to receive important nutrients from the fiber, which promotes overall health.
Growers who carefully select their poinsettia cultivars can lower their greenhouse thermostats in mid-October to save on energy costs and produce high-quality plants, according to a study conducted by a team including Roberto Lopez, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. The team's findings, reported in the journal HortScience, showed that 10 red poinsettia cultivars finished under cooler temperatures simply need to be planted a little earlier to be ready for holiday sales. "Over the past 10 years, energy prices for growers have increased more than 230 percent. As a result, many growers stopped growing poinsettias or lowered their thermostats without knowing what the cultivar-specific consequences would be," Lopez said. "Now we know that they can save money by reducing finishing temperatures, but they have to plan ahead a little and work with the breeding companies to make sure they are using the correct cultivars."
A Purdue University team has received a $5.2 million grant to develop a new type of plant that could be used to create biofuels directly. Their aim is to force a molecule in the plant that creates an useable biomass to instead create phenylethanol, a combustible biofuel. Clint Chapple, distinguished professor of biochemistry and leader of the research, said a biofuel that could then be blended with gasoline could be produced much more easily. The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the five-year project. Chapple said so far in biofuel production, the focus has been getting sugars out of cell walls and using microorganisms to ferment those sugars into fuel. The new method would alter a plant’s metabolic pathways and could lead to making biofuel directly.
Military veterans interested in establishing a career or small business in agriculture can learn more about their options and how to get started at a workshop in November. "Veterans and Agriculture: Opportunities for Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Enrichment" will be held Nov. 7-8 at the Beck Agricultural Center, 4540 U.S. 52 West, West Lafayette. The workshop will include sessions on business planning and funding, sustainable and organic farming, small farm marketing, agritourism, and Veterans Administration and Vocational Rehabilitation benefits. Sessions on such topics as post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans’ reintegration issues and horticulture therapy will also benefit veterans and professionals who work with veterans. The second day will include sessions at the Purdue Agronomy and Animal Sciences farms, as well as tours of several organic/all-natural farms in the area. 
Purdue University scientists aren't quite making house calls, but a new iPhone app can put their knowledge about tree disorders in the palm of anyone's hand. The Purdue Tree Doctor app can help homeowners, landscapers, master gardeners, nurseries, arborists and others quickly diagnose problems with their trees. The app is the first for sale through The Education Store, Purdue Extension's resource for educational materials. "We're Extension specialists, and our job is to give good information to people who need it," said Cliff Sadof, professor of Entomology and one of the specialists who developed the app. "Having an app that we can update regularly means people have the most up-to-date information at their fingertips." The app allows users to search by type of tree, insect or disease depending on what they're seeing. It covers more than 175 plant disorders found on most flowering, shade and conifer trees planted in the Midwest and North Atlantic regions of the United States.
Soybean vein necrosis virus, a new disease in Indiana soybeans, was confirmed earlier this month, says Kiersten Wise, Purdue Extension plant pathologist. A soybean sample exhibiting symptoms of the virus, also known as SVNV, was sent to Purdue's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. The laboratory sent the plant sample to Agdia Inc. for further testing. Molecular test results confirmed the presence of a tospovirus, or a disease causing cell death, in the sample. "SVNV is one of our newer viruses that we've confirmed in soybeans," said Wise. "This is the first year that we've confirmed it in Indiana, although we've seen suspect symptoms in the past." While the disease doesn't appear to affect yield, it does cause foliar symptoms similar to herbicide injury, including yellowing in or near plant veins and light green patches or mottled green and brown speckled areas associated with veins. Leaves will show a blotchier, scorched appearance in shades of orange and yellow. As the season progresses, Wise said the virus could cause tissue death, which can leave a scorched appearance on severely affected plants.
Purdue University scientists have mapped the entire pathway plants use to create benzoic acid, a precursor to a number of important compounds. Natalia Dudareva, Distinguished Professor of Horticulture, said plants use benzoic acid to create defensive compounds and growth regulators, and to attract pollinators. Drugs, such as the anticancer medication Taxol, also require benzoic acid for formation. The plants make benzoic acid by modifying the chemical structure of cinnamic acid the same way many organisms break down fatty acids. "There's a lot of potential. It opens the door to allow scientists to engineer plants for increased benzoic acid production," said Purdue postdoctoral researcher Joshua Widhalm, one of the authors of the findings. "If you want to modify the amount of compounds that attract pollinators, or improve plant defense, it would be important to understand this pathway."
Eating an apple a day may keep the doctor away, but eating watermelon may just keep the cardiologist at bay. A study from Purdue and University of Kentucky researchers showed that mice fed a diet including watermelon juice had lower weight, cholesterol and arterial plaque than a control group. The findings, reported in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, suggest that citrulline, a compound found in watermelon, plays a role in cardiovascular health. "We were interested in citrulline because previous studies showed that it may lower blood pressure," said Shubin Saha, a Purdue Extension vegetable specialist and study co-author. "We didn't see a lowering of blood pressure, but these other changes are promising."
The highly destructive emerald ash borer has been discovered in West Lafayette after being found in neighboring Lafayette last year, suggesting that most ash trees in the area now are infested, Cliff Sadof, Purdue University entomologist and expert on the invasive beetle said. Sadof said homeowners need to decide now if they want to protect their trees next spring because it is time to plan against next year's crop of beetles or begin putting money aside to pay for tree removal. He predicts that the beetle will kill every untreated ash in the Lafayette-West Lafayette area in 4-5 years.
Farmers dealing with moldy corn from the summer drought can find helpful identification and management information at a Purdue Extension website that focuses specifically on corn mold problems. The Managing Moldy Corn website, 
Indiana's pumpkin crop for the most part has fared well despite the drought that has gripped the Midwest, and consumers should have an abundance of healthy pumpkins to choose from this autumn. Initially, there were fears that the crop would not germinate properly because of the drought and heat, said Dan Egel, a Purdue Extension plant pathologist. But the pumpkins did germinate, and the dryness actually protected them from many of the diseases that afflict them in wetter years. The most important diseases this year have been viruses, which have been more prevalent than normal, though not prevalent enough to be severe. Most American consumers buy pumpkins either to carve for decoration or to eat. Edible pumpkins, known as pie or sugar pumpkins, are typically smaller than avolleyball, but Egel advises consumers to ask their sellers if they are not sure which kind of pumpkin they are buying.
Faculty from Michigan State University, Ohio State University and Purdue University gathered earlier this month in a new effort to strengthen both research and Extension outreach in food safety issues. The Food Safety Midwest Workshop last month in Fort Wayne, Ind., was the first gathering of the new Tri-State Research/Extension Funding Program (TSREFP), aimed at bringing together the strengths of each university to maximize opportunities to secure grants from external agencies. Another benefit is providing important educational and Extension outreach programs to stakeholders. Besides food safety, six other focus areas are part of the new venture: bioenergy and bioproducts, local foods, water quality, nutrient and waste management, animal welfare, and commercial agriculture and farm management. Karen Plaut, Associate Dean and Director of Agricultural Research, is Purdue's lead in the initiative.
Farming is stressful enough in a normal year, but add a months-long drought and many producers could be vulnerable to mental and behavioral health problems, says a mental health expert and former Purdue University assistant professor of nursing. The emotional strain of watching their crops wither and livestock feed prices soar could cause farmers to slip into deep depression, substance abuse and even thoughts of suicide, said Roberta Schweitzer. She urged farmers to get help dealing with their stress if they feel helpless and hopeless. Schweitzer, who recently teamed with the Purdue-based Indiana AgrAbility Project to present a webinar on drought-related mental health issues, said the independent nature of farmers makes them less prone to talk about their emotional struggles or seek counseling than city dwellers.
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