Ag Research Spotlight: Jian-Kang Zhu, Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology

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 Jian-Kang Zhu, Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology, whose work underscores the theme “Utilizing molecular approaches to expand the frontiers of agriculture and life sciences.” 

Full story: https://ag.purdue.edu/arp/Pages/spotlight.aspx

2014 Ag Alumni Fish Fry Gallery

An estimated crowd of around 1,600 people attended the 2014 Ag Alumni Fish Fry at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Feb. 1. Some came for the food, others for the fellowship of seeing old friends. And many came to hear guest speaker Don Thompson, president and CEO of McDonald's, Purdue alum and member of the Purdue Board of Trustees.

Here is a collection of photos from the event: http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/Connections/NOW/Pages/2014_Fish_Fry.aspx

9 receive Purdue Ag Alumni's Certificate of Distinction

Nine agricultural leaders received the Purdue University Agricultural Alumni Association's Certificate of Distinction during the group's annual Fish Fry in Indianapolis. The Certificate of Distinction, the association's top award, recognizes contributions to agriculture - and society in general - that go far beyond the requirements of a job or profession, said Donya Lester, executive director of the alumni association. "The high level of the professional accomplishments of these nine people would be reason enough to honor them," she said. "But it is their incredible legacy of service that each of them has established in their professions and their communities that makes them worthy of this recognition. They are truly servant leaders."

Full story: http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/Connections/NOW/Pages/Purdues_Certificate_of_Distinction_2014.aspx

Tuinstra scientific director of Purdue Moves plant sciences initiative

Mitch Tuinstra, professor and Wickersham Chair of plant breeding and genetics in the Department of Agronomy, has been appointed scientific director of the plant sciences research and education initiative that is part of the university's Purdue Moves program. The initiative, announced in September, is among 10 targeted programs designed to develop more research and educational opportunities for students and broaden Purdue's global impact. The Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline is intended to further enhance Purdue's position as a world leader in plant sciences to help feed a rapidly growing world population. The initiative will link discoveries in plant biology to commercially important crops, using automation to assess the performance of the crops under field conditions and moving the improved plants or plant products to commercialization. The initiative will also help recruit and train the next generation of talent moving into the plant sciences.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/tuinstra-scientific-director-of-purdue-moves-plant-sciences-initiative.html

Project Manager named for Plant Sciences initiative

Julie Hickman has been named Project Manager of the Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline initiative. Julie comes to us from Physical Facilities, where she was a project manager for more than ten years, managing 60-90 projects at a time in all stages of planning, design, and construction. She has a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and has worked extensively with our college and across the university on renovation projects.  As project manager, Julie will take our scientific requirements and translate them into spaces that will meet our research and education needs. She will be the point of contact for all phases of activity, from meeting with the working groups to translating faculty interest into new facilities and programs. Julie is currently scheduling meetings with the Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline working groups. She is located in Whistler Hall, room 206D.  You can reach her by phone at 49-66252 or by email at julie@purdue.edu.

Distinguished Agriculture Alumni to be honored March 7

Agriculture faculty, staff and students are invited to meet and celebrate the 2014 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni on Friday, March 7. The college reception begins at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Distinguished Agriculture Alumni convocation at 3:30, both in the North Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union.

More information on the 2014 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2014/February/DistinguishedAlumni.html

'Big Data in Agriculture' symposium open to faculty, staff, graduate students

Purdue faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to attend and present posters at "Big Data in Agriculture," a symposium March 5. Registration is free but required, and the deadline is Feb. 21. The symposium, organized through a collaboration of several Purdue academic departments, will take place from 1 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Beck Agricultural Center, 4540 U.S. 52 West. The symposium will examine questions and challenges related to leveraging public and private data and records to improve farmer decisions, advance research methods and enable improved policy. The symposium will include poster sessions, "lightning round" presentations that will last five to six minutes each, and a series of presentations and team activities geared toward undergraduate students. There is no limit to the number of faculty, staff and graduate student poster presenters or attendees. Faculty across several disciplines will distribute a total of 180 tickets to undergraduates. Undergraduates with significant interest in attending may contact Dennis Buckmaster, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, at dbuckmas@purdue.edu.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2014/Q1/purdues-big-data-in-agriculture-symposium-open-to-faculty,-staff,-graduate-students.html

New online series highlights rural Indiana issues

The Department of Agricultural Communication has launched an online series that provides insight about challenges and opportunities facing rural Indiana and highlights the public-private partnerships that are helping turn the tide. "The rural areas have resources and value to offer; they may just need to be packaged differently today," Director of Extension Jason Henderson says in the current installment of the weekly series, "Giving New Life to Rural Indiana" on the website of Agricultures.

Full story: https://ag.purdue.edu/agricultures/Pages/Spring2014/Table-of-Contents.aspx

Book Harmon Leadership Forum to feature Ag Alumna

Agriculture faculty, staff and students are invited to attend one of two Book Harmon Leadership Forum presentations on Tuesday, February 18th at Noon and at 4:30 pm. Kenda Resler Friend, External Communications and Media Relations Leader for Dow AgroSciences, will share her experiences and perspectives on "Planning (Living) Your Personal Leadership Journey" at Noon and will also present the interactive Book Harmon Leadership Challenge Workshop: “Good Questions Lead to Good Communications” at 4:30 pm.  

More information: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2014/February/BookHarmonLeadershipForum.pdf

Deadline approaching for publishing in JPUR

February 15 at 11:59 pm is the deadline for proposals for publication in the 2014 issue Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research (JPUR). If you or your graduate students are supervising undergraduate researchers, please encourage them to submit a 250 word abstract describing their research project via www.jpur.org.  All submissions will be reviewed under the supervision of the journal's Faculty Advisory Board and invitations will be issued in March to student authors who are selected to write articles. 

JPUR publishes two kinds of article; full-length research contributions of 2,500 words and brief research snapshots of 250 words. Submissions from all disciplines (from agriculture to liberal arts, from health sciences to engineering) are encouraged with the only requirements being that they present original research conducted by students affiliated with Purdue. Undergraduate authors receive feedback and writing support, and their work is copy edited and typeset to a high standard under the auspices of Purdue University Press and Scholarly Publishing Services. The final journal is issued in full-color print and electronic form in August. Any questions about the journal can be submitted to Charles Watkinson at ctwatkin@purdue.edu.

Turco to receive Spirit of the Land-Grant Mission Award

Agronomy professor Ron Turco will receive Purdue's 2013 Spirit of the Land-Grant Mission Award on February 21. The award is presented yearly to a Purdue faculty member in the Colleges of Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences or Veterinary Medicine whose work exemplifies the university's land-grant mission of discovery, engagement and learning. Dr. Turco is well known nationally and internationally for his work on the environmental problems that challenge our state and our nation, particularly in the areas of water and soil quality. He seamlessly integrates discovery, learning and engagement in his work, leading a high impact research program, and sharing his research-based insights with Extension audiences as well as students in the classroom.

More information: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2014/February/SpiritOfLandGrantAward2014.pdf

Nicole Olynk Widmar, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, received a prestigious Emerging Scholar Award from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association at their annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. The Emerging Scholar award highlights the work of high-performing assistant professors with 3 - 5 years of experience in their profession. Dr. Widmar operates a high-impact integrated program incorporating interdisciplinary approaches to evaluate the economic and biological consequences of management decisions.  Much of her research, Extension, and teaching focuses on the measurement and incorporation of outside forces (in particular, consumer preferences and changing legislation) in on-farm decision-making.

Sherry Fulk-Bringman, laboratory and outreach coordinator in the Department of Agronomy, was featured recently in Purdue Today's "Momentum Makers" series that profiles "extraordinary staff, outstanding achievement." Sherry is passionate about the intricate science behind the earth's soils, and she is also deeply committed to helping Purdue students absorb that information -- and go on to fulfilling careers. Find out more at www.purdue.edu/momentummakers.

Tracie Egger, the College of Agriculture's assistant director of academic programs, was featured in a recent edition of Purdue Today spotlighting staff members. She leads the College's undergraduate recruiting efforts, promote agriculture education and the College of Agriculture to prospective students. When she's not explaining to high school students how an agriculture degree can lead to a career as a doctor, scientist, business leader or something else, Tracie advises the College's undergraduate student ambassadors and its pre-veterinary medicine students.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/purdueprofiles/2014/Q1/purdue-profiles-tracie-egger.html

Anneliese Kay, Office of Academic Programs assistant director for transfer/dual credit, was honored by the Purdue Academic Advising Association (PACADA) as outstanding advisor on January 30. Anneliese is a key player in the student-by-student success of Pathway to Purdue, which assists students who are enrolled simultaneously in Purdue's College of Agriculture and at Ivy Tech Lafayette. Her nominators noted that Anneliese is consistently effective and respected at the individual and organizational level because she is caring, warm, thorough and committed.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2014/Q1/pacada-honors-two-advisors-for-outstanding-work.html

Embedding molecules in starch may help prevent Type 2 diabetes

A Purdue food science researcher has developed a novel method of modifying the digestion of starch, potentially offering a simple, cost-effective way of preventing Type 2 diabetes. Srinivas Janaswamy, research assistant professor of food science, found that inserting "guest" molecules into the natural structure of potato starch causes glucose to be released more slowly during in vitro digestion. Slow, sustained glucose release could help stave off Type 2 diabetes and other health problems associated with elevated blood glucose levels. "Embedding molecules in the water pockets of starch is a simple and practical way of tweaking starch digestion," Janaswamy said. "Having the ability to slow down the digestion of starch would revolutionize the way we approach a number of health issues."

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2013/Q4/embedding-molecules-in-starch-may-help-prevent-type-2-diabetes.html

Purdue Extension launches website on propane gas shortage

Purdue Extension has created a website to help homeowners and renters conserve propane gas and use it more efficiently in heating their homes as a shortage of the fuel continues. The objective of the Extension Disaster Education Network website, launched Feb. 10, is to show how propane users can stretch their supply while at the same time free up more of the fuel for those who need it most."We're encouraging users that if their tank is at least 30 percent of capacity to let others who might need propane more get it. So conserve what you have rather than rush to get more," said Abby Hostetler, an EDEN communications specialist who provided the information on the website. The website is at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/eden/Pages/Propane-Conservation.aspx.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/purdue-extension-launches-website-on-propane-gas-shortage.html

National AgrAbility workshop set in Lexington, Ky.

Farmers and other professionals with disabilities can receive training and learn about issues related to disability in agriculture at the 2014 AgrAbility National Training Workshop. The workshop will be March 31 to April 3 at the Downtown Lexington Hilton in Lexington, Ky. Participants can attend preconference sessions, breakouts, tours and special events. Participants can also attend a banquet with a benefit auction for farmer and rancher scholarships. Josh Bleill, a Marine corporal and community spokesperson for the Indianapolis Colts, will deliver the keynote address. Bleill is a disabled war veteran who was activated for a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006 and lost both of his legs. He is author of a book, One Step at a Time: A Young Marine's Story of Courage, Hope, and a New Life in the NFL.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/national-agrability-workshop-set-in-lexington,-ky..html

Purdue expert: Livestock producers can lower propane use

Farmers who rely on propane to heat livestock facilities can take steps to use the increasingly costly fuel more efficiently – and without making expensive capital investments, says Dr. Al Heber, Agricultural and Biological Engineering.The liquid propane, or LP, used for heating many confined livestock barns has been in short supply and high demand amid the frigid Midwestern winter. That has translated to the recent high price of propane. According to Heber, the place to start for more efficient use of propane in barns is the thermostat. He goes on to list other actions to increase efficiency.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/purdue-expert-livestock-producers-can-lower-propane-use.html

Purdue agronomists seek collaborators for on-farm trials

Two Purdue Extension agronomists are seeking farmers who are willing to collaborate in on-farm, field-scale research trials to study corn plant populations and nitrogen management. Corn specialist Bob Nielsen and soil fertility specialist Jim Camberato have been studying corn yield response to nitrogen fertilizer in field-scale trials for eight years, and plant populations for 13. Between the two projects, they have accumulated a database of results from about 275 such trials - the majority of which have been conducted in collaboration with growers on their fields, using their equipment. "Even though we have a large database of trial results, we believe there is more to be learned from continuing these field-scale trials," Nielsen said. "Yield responses to both of these crop inputs are often influenced by growing conditions and conducting more trials helps us sample a wider set of growing conditions."

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/purdue-agronomists-seek-collaborators-for-on-farm-trials.html

Purdue agricultural economist: Farm bill process far from over

Agricultural economist Roman Keeney says that while Congress has agreed on a long-debated and much-anticipated farm bill, the process of interpreting and finalizing specifics of the law is far from complete. The $956.4 billion bill immediately eliminates direct payments for all commodities except cotton and instead offers farmers an enhanced safety net that includes insurance revisions and higher base-price levels - or the crop price at which farmers could claim payment. A vast majority of the bill's cost - about 75 percent - is in nutrition programs, while 15 percent goes to commodities and the rest divvied up among conservation programs, university research and risk management for specialty crops.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/purdue-agricultural-economist-farm-bill-process-far-from-over.html

'Master regulator' protein controls flowering, disease resistance in plants

The next time you stop and smell the roses, thank MED18. The protein MED18 controls many important plant processes, including when a plant blossoms, how it resists key fungal diseases, and how it responds to environmental stress factors, a Purdue University study shows. "MED18 is like a master regulator," said Tesfaye Mengiste, professor of botany and plant pathology and the study's lead researcher. "The versatility of its functions is surprising." Understanding and manipulating MED18 could lead to improved resistance to necrotrophic fungal diseases in plants, Mengiste said.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/master-regulator-protein-controls-flowering,-disease-resistance-in-plants.html

Purdue seminars to help ag professionals be better managers

Agribusiness professionals can build their management skills and expand their professional network at the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business 2014 seminars scheduled over the next several months. All of the seminars will be on Purdue's main campus in West Lafayette. "We offer unique programs directed at agribusiness professionals who want to continually improve their competencies in all aspects of, and for the life of, their careers," said Allan Gray, director of the center and Land O'Lakes Chair in Food and Agribusiness. "Our faculty and staff are passionate about delivering the best possible classroom environment for our participants so that they can take the skills they develop with us and make positive changes in their own companies."

Full story: https://ag.purdue.edu/aganswers/Pages/archive.aspx?story=510#.UvvJyUJdXUM

Purdue readying for another Afghan faculty training program

A State Department team has wrapped up a site visit to Purdue University as the College of Agriculture embarks on a three-year program to help faculty at a university in Afghanistan better provide academic programs supporting their nation's agriculture. During the partnership, several Purdue faculty will visit Herat University in western Afghanistan, and 44 Herat junior faculty members and students will undergo training at Purdue in groups during the summer and the spring and fall semesters. "The goal of the partnership is to strengthen their faculty by helping them to develop teaching techniques they can adapt to their needs in Afghanistan," said Kevin T. McNamara, assistant director of International Programs in Agriculture and professor of agricultural economics. "They need to modernize the agricultural education they deliver to Afghan students and develop applied research programs as well as outreach programs for farmers and industry."

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/purdue-readying-for-another-afghan-faculty-training-program.html

Center for Global Food Security offers student innovation grants

The Purdue Center for Global Food Security (PCGFS) announces a new grant competition for undergraduate students. The PCGFS Student Innovation Grants support undergraduate students in any academic discipline working in teams to develop a technology or program that may render creative solutions to a vexing food security problem for stressed communities in a developing country or for programs that support food insecure communities within the state of Indiana. Two grants of $10,000 each for international projects and two grants of $3,000 each for local projects will be awarded. To carry innovations forward, students must commit to entering their projects in subsequent national or international innovation grant competitions.

More information: http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/food/index.php

College invited to special mentoring seminar

College of Agriculture faculty, staff and students are invited to a brown bag seminar on February 26 to discuss "Strategies for Successfully Engaging 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities". The seminar will take place in the Deans Auditorium (room 241) in Pfendler Hall and is sponsored by the Mentoring @ Purdue (MAP) Program. For more information, go to http://www.ydae.purdue.edu/MAP/

Call for Nominations: Helping Students Learn Award

Each year the Class of 1922 alumni sponsor an award for Outstanding Innovation in Helping Students Learn. Faculty, administrative/professional staff, and graduate students are eligible for consideration for this $6,000 award. A list of past recipients can be found at the Provost Website. The deadline for submitting nominations for the Helping Students Learn Award is 5 pm, Friday, February 28.

Nomination information: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2014/February/HelpingStudentsLearn.pdf

Trask Innovation Fund application deadline set for March 14

Applications for the Trask Innovation Fund are being accepted through March 14 to eligible Purdue University inventors who are prepared to advance Purdue technologies toward commercialization. Applications must describe commercially relevant work that can be performed over a six-month period that furthers the development of a Purdue-owned technology which the Office of Technology Commercialization has endorsed. The awards are competitive and must assist faculty and staff at all Purdue campuses to further the commercial potential of Purdue discoveries that have been disclosed to the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. Information about applications is available at http://otc-prf.org/trask-innovation-fund

Full story: http://otc-prf.org/news/trask-innovation-fund-application-deadline-set-march-14

Purdue Research Foundation, Cook Medical partner on $12 million project to support life sciences startup opportunities

Purdue Research Foundation and Cook Medical officials announced on Feb. 4 plans to establish a $12 million evergreen investment fund to support Purdue-based life sciences companies.The Foundry Investment Fund, a not-for-profit fund, will seek to join with other investors to fund companies that are based on Purdue technology or expertise in the areas of human and animal health and plant sciences. The Foundry Investment Fund will provide a match to outside investors' funds, adding critical capital for the transition from the discovery of a promising technology to founding a viable life sciences company. Returns on the investments will remain in the fund for future investments.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/purdue-research-foundation,-cook-medical-partner-on-12-million-project-to-support-life-sciences-startup-opportunities.html

Emergency preparedness training to help campus community react to major emergencies continues

Purdue University's Office of Emergency Preparedness is offering its emergency preparedness training six more times this month to remind the campus community how to prepare for and react to potentially dangerous events.The one-hour training is offered at various times and dates in order to fit schedules, said Ron Wright, Purdue emergency preparedness director. Sessions are open to faculty, staff and students. Training sessions, all in the TERY Conference Room at the Purdue Police Department, 205 S. Martin Jischke Drive,

Training session schedule: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q1/emergency-preparedness-training-to-help-campus-community-react-to-major-emergencies-continues.html

New email header will alert individuals to probable phishing scams

Due to the continual increase in phishing attempts targeting Purdue email accounts, ITaP has created a new email header that will alert Purdue mail users to probable phishing scams. All individuals who use an @purdue.edu email address will be affected by this change. The alert will be added to the top of messages and will read as follows:

**** This header added by an automatic scan for phishing emails. ****

Please be advised that the email below contains a link associated with an identified phishing scam. Clicking on the link may harm your computer. If you believe your Purdue career account has been compromised, please contact your local academic IT support or the ITaP Customer Service Center at 765-494-4000 for help managing risk to you and the University.

**** This header added by an automatic scan for phishing emails. ****

The new message is intended as an early alert for students, staff and faculty to carefully review an email because a contained URL has been reported as potentially harmful. In some cases, Purdue’s spam engine may later update its definitions and quarantine messages as spam.

Full story: http://www.itap.purdue.edu/newsroom/news/140114_phishing_header.html

Provost search committee seeking faculty, staff input

The provost search committee would like to remind the Purdue community to submit nominations of individuals they think should be considered for the position of executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Nominations should be directed to Timothy Zwier, search committee chair, at zwier@purdue.edu, or to search committee members, who are listed here. Nominations and comments also may be sent through a confidential email account at provostsearch@purdue.edu.

Purdue, Colombia advance broad-based partnerships

A Purdue delegation led by President Mitch Daniels visited Colombia this month and furthered the unique nation-university partnership begun in 2010. Purdue and Colombian officials concluded several agreements continuing and broadening partnerships for faculty and PhD students and undergraduate internships; partnered on supercomputer infrastructure; established a Purdue partnerships office in Colombia and announced its director; and discussed future opportunities including Purdue’s role in planning the sustainable development of the Orinoquía region in Colombia.

Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2014/Q1/purdue,-colombia-advance-broad-based-partnerships.html

Procedures for adverse weather conditions

On an ongoing basis, but particularly as we enter the winter months, existing and predicted weather conditions are carefully evaluated by Environmental Health and Public Safety and Physical Facilities to ensure the health and safety of the members of our campus community. In accordance with Purdue University Adverse Weather Conditions policy IV.A.6, dated November 18, 2011, special procedures pertaining to classes, operations, parking, pay and/or attendance will become effective for the West Lafayette Campus should action pertaining to adverse winter weather conditions become necessary.

More information: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2013/Q4/131112_AdverseWeather.pdf

Report Hate and Bias

Purdue University is a community where diversity is valued and incidents of hate and bias are not tolerated. Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors who feel that they have been the victim of a bias related incident (or who have witnessed a bias related incident) are encouraged to report it online at www.purdue.edu/report-hate or to contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities at 765-494-1250. Your report can remain anonymous if you wish. Remember, if it is an emergency situation that requires immediate medical or emergency services attention, please call the Purdue University Police Department at 911 or 765-494-8221.