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September 2011 |
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From the
Dean
Colleagues, At a recent public forum, Provost Tim Sands outlined some proposed areas of priority for Purdue in the next ten years. He mentioned the goal of expanding Purdue’s presence and engagement around the globe and said, “Agriculture has been doing this for 60 years.” Indeed, Purdue Agriculture has a long, distinguished history of research, education and engagement around the world. We are just as engaged this year as ever, with highly successful ongoing initiatives and new prospects being developed. Let me highlight just a few this month. Two of our most well-known efforts are the Advancing Afghan Agriculture Alliance (A4) project (Kevin McNamara and a team of others), which was the foundation for the new $32 million USAID project, “Strengthening Afghan Agriculture Faculties”; and the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) project (Larry Murdock and a team of others), which continues to deliver impact and make a difference in West and Central Africa. Based on PICS success with cowpea storage, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided an additional $1.1 million for research activities focused on testing and adapting PICS technology to other crops including maize, common bean, sorghum, millet, dried cassava and other crop products. Purdue Agriculture is continuing to build strategic relationships with China Agriculture University (CAU), Beijing and Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), Yangling. From the beginning of the program in 2004, CAU has become the largest single source of undergraduate transfer students for our College. Joint research centers have been established at both NWAFU and CAU, focused on plant protection (NWAFU, led by Jin-Ron Xu, Botany and Plant Pathology) and plant stress (CAU, led by Jian-Kang Zhu, Horticulture and Biochemistry). We are renewing and re-energizing our links with South American institutions. Jeff Stuart (Entomology) and I have just returned from Bogotá, Colombia and it looks like we have some important opportunities to partner with the College of Engineering in research and graduate education there. We are also working to re-connect with Brazil, where we share almost 60 years of partnership with the Federal University of Vicosa (UFV). Last Spring, 11 Brazilian scientists and administrators participated in the Frontiers in Bioenergy Symposium on here at Purdue. The symposium led to a reinvigorated discussion between Purdue and UFV centering on undergraduate exchanges; joint graduate educational opportunities; and joint research projects. In international Extension, Purdue Agriculture is partnering with the Center for Tropical Agricultural Research and Education (CATIE) in Costa Rica to link Purdue County Educators with farmers' groups. Three county educators were resource people for a workshop with an organic farmers’ cooperative near Turrialba, Costa Rica, in March of this year. Two more workshops are planned in Costa Rica in the next year, and the International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA) office is exploring extension links in other countries in Latin America. A record number of College of Agriculture students—272—participated in study abroad last year. More than 25% of our graduating seniors have studied abroad as part of their Purdue Agriculture experience. Linda Vallade in IPIA does a tremendous job of coordinating study abroad opportunities. And, our faculty do a tremendous job of putting together high impact study abroad experiences. Success in these efforts takes committed faculty, and Purdue Agriculture faculty worked in more than 60 countries last year. We have so many more efforts we could highlight: Bruce Hamaker working in West Africa, Thailand, South Korea and India; John Sanders in West Africa and Central America; Mitch Tuinstra in West Africa; Kwamena Quagrainie in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana; Stephen Weller and Rick Foster in Honduras—and that barely scratches the surface! Phil Nelson and Gebisa Ejeta have each established international centers to carry on their World Food Prize legacies. It takes support: business office support and staff leadership and support both inside and out of IPIA, and we have some exceptional staff members who make sure these deliver on our international activities. Finally, it takes leadership, and we are fortunate to have Associate Dean and Director of IPIA Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer at the helm. His deep knowledge of funding agencies, international institutions, and passion for international research, education, and engagement has enabled Purdue Agriculture to develop and deliver a high impact portfolio of international activities. This global outlook, perspective, and the resulting connections extend our impact and reach beyond our state and our nation to every corner of the world.
All the best,
News Around Purdue Agriculture
US News ranks ABE number one--again!
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/rankings/2011/110913EngelRanking.html
E. coli, Salmonella may lurk in unwashable places in produce Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110815DeeringPathogens.html
Interactive applications help agronomy students learn about feeding the world
Full story: http://www.itap.purdue.edu/newsroom/detail.cfm?NewsId=2354
Donkin joins Agriculture Research Office
Stuart takes on International role
Pretreatment, proper harvest time boost ethanol from switchgrass
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110831LadischSwitchgrass.html
Farm incomes to reach record levels despite low crop yieldsHigh worldwide grain demand coupled with lower-than-expected yields means U.S. farmers can look forward to a record-high farm income total from the 2011 crop, according to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report. In the Farm Sector Income Forecast released on August 30, USDA's Economic Research Service projected the total U.S. farm income will reach $103.6 billion, up 31 percent from last year's total. The previous farm income record was $84.7 billion in 2004. "These are not just records, but records that are substantially higher than we've seen before," said Chris Hurt, Purdue Extension agricultural economist. Both crop and livestock revenues are up in 2011, but Hurt said the income totals don't tell the whole story. Input costs are on the rise, as well. Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/110901HurtIncomes.html
Dunning to deliver Kohls Outstanding Teacher lecture
Purdue 'tool box' could be ace in the hole for golf courses Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110823BigelowGreens.html
Art and science combine in organic sculpture
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/general/2011/110824_Sidewinder.html
Joern to present Spirit of Land Grant talk
More information: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/in_focus/2011/September/SpiritFlyer2011.pdf
Purdue highlights the best of undergraduate research in new journal Full story: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jpur/
MESA seeking donations for outreach work with Migrant Farm Workers
Drought stress blankets Indiana, likely continues into harvest
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/110908ScheeringaDrought.html
Extension Assistant Director position filled
Purdue Extension to help 2 regions' economic development
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2011/110829HutchesonDevelopment.html
Input sought on characteristics of Purdue's next presidentJoan Fulton, Member of the Special Advisory Committee and the Presidential Search Committee and Natalie Carroll, Member of the Special Advisory Committee to the Presidential Search, invite Purdue Agriculture faculty and staff to a lunch-time listening session on Thursday, September 15 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in the Dean’s Auditorium, Room 241 Pfendler Hall. Purdue Trustees JoAnn Brouillette and John Hardin will be joining us at this session. Their presence gives us the opportunity to deliver our ideas directly to trustees who will ultimately make the decision on hiring the next president, and we’re honored that they are taking the time to be there. For those who are off campus, the event will be streamed at this URL: http://video1.itap.purdue.edu/AgComm and questions/comments can be submitted by email to dmcclure@purdue.edu.
A/P Staff Advancement Work BeginsThe 2011-2012 Administrative/Professional Staff Advancement Program is underway. All A/P staff should have received the materials via email. Advancement documents are to be processed and approved through the individual department committees this fall before they are submitted to the Dean’s Committee for evaluation (due January 11). It is recommended that staff update their advancement documents each year. This will make it much easier when they are eligible to submit a document for advancement. For details, visit the College of Agriculture’s A/P Staff Advancement Program web site under the “faculty & staff” tab on the Purdue Agriculture home page: http://www.ag.purdue.edu/Pages/advance_info.aspx
Popcorn--Get Your Purdue Agriculture Popcorn!
WorkLife Ambassadors Here to HelpWorkLife Programs Ambassadors serve as the eyes and ears of WorkLife Programs in individual departments on campus. Their main responsibility is to help motivate colleagues to achieve healthier lifestyles by learning about the variety of campus resources, sharing suggestions and ideas in committee meetings, and actively advocating wellness and worklife activities among their co-workers. Your College of Agriculture WorkLife Ambassadors are Candy Byers, Animal Sciences; Pam Mow, Botany & Plant Pathology; and Becky Rice, Ag Administration. Let them know if you have any questions, suggestions or comments.
Two receive Women in Agriculture awards at state fair
Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/outreach/2011/110812HollowayWIA.html
Awards and Recognitions
Frank Dooley, Agricultural Economics, has been named a Provost Fellow for 2011.Each year during the strategic plan, up to five faculty members who have demonstrated leadership potential and have an interest in administration are chosen by the Provost to work on specific projects. Frank's area of concentration will be the IMPACT (Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation) project, which is aimed at redesign that draws upon research into how people learn, and efforts are being concentrated on large-enrollment, foundational courses. Its goals include better rates of course completion and retention as part of student success.
Vic Lechtenberg, Purdue Vice Provost for Engagement and former Dean of Agriculture, has been recognized by the state of Indiana for his leadership in agriculture spanning more than 40 years. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman presented him with the 2011 AgriVision Award during a Celebration of Agriculture ceremony on August 17 at the Indiana State Fair. The award, in its fifth year, is given to an Indiana resident who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in helping to reshape Indiana's agriculture to position the state as a world leader in agricultural production.
Linda Mason, Entomology, was named associate dean in Purdue's Graduate School in the Fall of 2010. In this role, Dr. Mason oversees Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), new professional development activities, program assessment, program reviews, and other special initiatives. We apologize for having omitted this announcement from InFocus.
Alan Mathew, Animal Sciences, has been selected to represent the Animal Science Department Chairs/Heads on the US Pork Center of Excellence Board of Directors. The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence was established in 2005 for the purpose of bringing about a higher level of cooperation and collaboration among and between universities, the pork production industry, and government.
David Petritz, retired professor of Ag Economics and Associate Dean and Director of Extension, will be inducted into the Farm Science Review Hall of Fame at the Vice President’s Luncheon on Sept. 20. He was selected for induction for his long-time dedication and commitment to the Farm Science Review and his contributions to its success. The Farm Science Review takes place Sept. 20-22 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
Jeff Stuart, Entomology, has been elected Vice President-Elect of the Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology Section of the Entomological Society of America. The Entomological Society of America (ESA) is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 6,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Members are students, researchers, teachers, extension service personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, and hobbyists.
Purdue University weed science graduate students recently won the inaugural national WeedOlympics in Knoxville, Tenn. The competition, sponsored by regional weed science societies, had four parts: weed identification, unknown herbicide injury, sprayer calibration and a "farmer problem" in which students had to identify an unknown issue in a field and make recommendations to fix it. Members of the Purdue team were Ryan Terry of Palmyra, Mich.; Paul Marquadt of Lafayette, Ind.; Jared Roskamp of Sutter, Ill.; and Chad Brabham of Trenton, Ill. WeedOlympics required students from across the country to learn about new crops, said team adviser Bill Johnson, Extension weed scientist and Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology.
Samantha Ambrose, a Purdue Agronomy graduate and now a graduate research assistant at Oklahoma State University, was awarded the American Society of Agronomy's Frank D. Keim Graduate Fellowship at the ASA's annual meeting.
Michelle Dirksen, a junior Agricultural Economics major, was recognized by Helena Chemical Company as the 2011 Outstanding North Central Division Intern Award winner. She was selected from a competitive group of fifty interns throughout the Midwest for her outstanding performance throughout her summer internship with Helena Chemical Company. Michelle worked as a Summer Sales and Marketing Intern for the Bluffton, Indiana branch.
Melissa McDonald, a senior in Agronomy, was named a Golden Opportunity Scholar at the ASA, CSSA and SSSA Annual Meetings. The Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute is a program of the CSSA that matches undergraduates with scientist-mentors and encourages talented students to enter the crop sciences, cultivate networks, and develop the necessary workforce to sustain the profession. Students are selected based on their academic achievements and interest in crop science.
Bob Easter, a senior in environmental plant studies in Botany and Plant Pathology and Mary Schott, a second-year master's student in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, are featured in Purdue's "5 Students Who Are Green Makers." Bob is inaugural president of Full Circle Agriculture and has the task of operating a fully-functional student farm. A joint venture between the College of Agriculture and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Bob and his peers have successfully developed an operational vegetable farm and are learning about developing farm budgets, crop rotations, managing plots for fertility and pests, and how to market their products. In 2008, Mary founded Trees for Tanzania (TFT). The organization helps address the detrimental impact of deforestation on the people and environment of one of the poorest places on Earth: the Kigoma Province of Tanzania. TFT helps establish sources of tree-based products such as firewood and timber. Mary also conducts research on native and endangered trees in her reforestation effort. More information: http://www.purdue.edu/fivestudents/green_makers/index.html
Purdue Extension was well represented at the recent NACAA Convention held in Overland Park, Kansas. Ten ANR Educators accompanied by Jim Mintert, ANR Assistant Director, attended this year’s convention. While at the convention, Walt Sell, Lake County Extension Director, received the NACAA’s Distinguished Service Award; Bryan Overstreet, Jasper County ANR Educator, received the NACAA’s Achievement Award; Gene Matzat, LaPorte County ANR Educator, was National Finalist in the Individual Newsletter Category for his Agri-Scope newsletter; and Nick Held, Spencer County ANR Educator, was a National Finalist for his Category 14 Fact Sheet and was also a Regional Winner in the Program Promotional Piece category for his Grain Purchasing Strategies Flyer.
Congratulations to our Purdue Agriculture staff who received "Thumbs Up" this month: Bev Logsdon: Bev is a grant pre-award specialist. Although there were unexpected last-minute hitches with what I had written, with Bev's help, patience, expertise, and energy, we were able to get a grant proposal submitted. It has been a pleasure working with her. -- Steve Hooser, Director, ADDL
University News
Purdue United Way campaign kicks offThe 2011 Purdue United Way Campaign aims to raise $740,000 for Greater Lafayette agencies beginning with its kickoff on September 13. The campaign runs through Nov. 16. By making donations and participating in organized activities throughout the campaign, Purdue employees can show their support for the local community. Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/faculty_staff_news/2011/110907_UW-Preview.html Volunteering in area's Read to Succeed encouragedPurdue employees can enhance a child's education in a rewarding way as part of the University's support of Read to Succeed, a joint venture by Greater Lafayette Commerce and the United Way. The Read to Succeed initiative is designed to place volunteers in the classrooms of local elementary schools to help struggling students become more proficient. Volunteers will donate an hour of time each week to work with an individual child -- and Purdue volunteers can do so on compensated time. The University has agreed to grant employees compensated time off for the volunteer activity. This includes an hour for actual tutoring and 30 minutes of travel time to and from the school each week. It will be possible for two employees to work with a student in alternate weeks. The commitment is for the whole elementary school academic year. Full story: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/faculty_staff_news/2011/110908_ReadSucceed.html Deadline to apply for APSAC professional development grant is Oct. 1
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