In Focus Articles Stories
Ag Alumni leader and friend of Purdue Agriculture retires
Monday, November 5th, 2018
After nearly three decades serving Purdue’s College of Agriculture and its alumni, Donya Lester, executive director of the Agricultural Alumni Association, retired in August. Lester shepherded the alumni association through an era of dynamic growth. She was passionate about establishing ties between students and alumni, creating the Ag Alumni Mentoring Program in 2012. She was…
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Support agriculture students with Ag Alumni Swiss Cheese
Monday, November 5th, 2018
Purdue Ag Alumni Swiss Cheese is now available. The cheese was formulated in the 1950s by a Purdue professor of agriculture and has been a favorite of alumni in the decades since. Proceeds go to the Purdue Ag Alumni Trust and support scholarships and student programs, including the College of Agriculture Public Policy Internship Program…
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MESA program director named National Social Worker of the Year
Monday, November 5th, 2018
Ten years ago, Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez (BA ’96, social sciences) established a program in the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication to prevent sexual violence across the life span of farm workers, Latin American immigrants and other marginalized populations. Her ongoing work as director of Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault (MESA) has earned her…
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Celebrating Giant Leaps in agriculture at the Ag Alumni Fish Fry
Monday, November 5th, 2018
From Homecoming 2018 to Homecoming 2019, Purdue University marks its sesquicentennial by commemorating 150 Years of Giant Leaps. Purdue and the College of Agriculture will host a variety of events including many focused on four topics: a sustainable economy and planet, health and longevity, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Purdue will display its impact…
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Unexpected consumer reactions to mandated GMO labeling
Monday, November 5th, 2018
Federal legislation mandates the labeling of foods with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients (commonly called genetically modified organisms, or GMOs) by 2020. Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, wanted to test how consumers would respond to this labeling. His recently published findings surprised many — including him. Co-authored with Jane…
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National Black Farmers Association honors AgrAbility
Monday, November 5th, 2018
AgrAbility’s vision is to enhance the quality of life for agricultural workers with a wide range of disabilities from arthritis and back impairments to spinal cord injuries, amputations and behavioral health issues. Approximately 19 percent of active farm operators are no longer able to perform essential tasks due to a disability. AgrAbility works to ensure…
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As our climate shifts, so do trees
Friday, April 27th, 2018
When we think of migratory species, trees are probably not the first things we picture. Perhaps that’s why the work of Songlin Fei has captured the imagination of the scientific community. Fei, associate professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and researcher with Purdue’s Climate Change Research Center, led a study that shows…
Read MoreWe want to feed the world. But how?
Friday, April 27th, 2018
You may have read the prediction that by 2050, we’ll have 10 billion people to feed across the globe while facing increasing environmental change. It’s a daunting task but a solid wager that we have the tools and ability to address this challenge. To do so, we need a clear understanding of the threats and…
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$5 million Gates Foundation grant targets weed-resistant crops in Africa
Friday, April 27th, 2018
Striga, a parasitic weed threatening African crops, robs maize, sorghum, rice, pearl millet and sugarcane of necessary nutrients. Its impact on production of these essential crops affects more than 100 million people across the continent. Over the last four years, Gebisa Ejeta has found the molecular mechanisms responsible for imparting striga resistance to sorghum, identified…
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New animal sciences complex has immediate impact
Friday, April 27th, 2018
It was three years in the making, and in March, the Purdue community came together to dedicate its new animal sciences complex. The $60 million, 123,000-square-foot facility includes the Hobart and Russell Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences and Land O’Lakes, Inc. Center for Experiential Learning. The building’s dedication took place in the adjoining Purina Pavilion,…
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