Purdue Agriculture

Forbes recognizes young entrepreneur and her formula for success

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

Michelle Egger, co-founder and CEO of BIOMILQ, woke up on Dec. 1 to an inbox full of congratulatory emails that left her completely confused.

“I’d been so focused on the scientific milestones we were working toward that it took me a couple of hours to figure out what in the world the emails were referring to,” Egger recalled. “It was like the rest of 2020. Low lows and high highs, both coming out of nowhere.”

Forbes selected Egger for its 30 Under 30 list for 2021, an annual compilation of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

Purdue researchers explore how sound drives Mongolian herder cultural practices

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

By Brian Wallheimer Any trip to Mars, likely to take a year or longer, will require astronauts to grow at least some of their own food along the way since it can cost $10,000 to send a pound of anything just as far as Earth’s orbit. Astronauts will need the nutrients provided by fruits, leafy…

Five agriculture students named Academic All-Big Ten

Wednesday, January 6th, 2021

Five student-athletes from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition during the fall 2020 sports season. They were among 96 Purdue student-athletes to earn the title across the university.

To qualify for Academic All-Big Ten honors, student-athletes must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher while enrolled full-time. Though cross country, soccer and volleyball were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Big Ten chose to recognize eligible players.

Purdue-developed sorghum safer for grazing animals and takes stress off producers

Tuesday, January 5th, 2021

Sorghum is a great crop for grazing, but certain conditions can cause the plants to become deadly for animals. Purdue University’s Mitch Tuinstra has developed a sorghum that contains no dhurrin, reducing the risk of poisoning in the animals.

Purdue Agriculture’s 20 most-read stories of 2020

Monday, January 4th, 2021

“2020 was a year unlike any other, with numerous challenges, opportunities and accomplishments across our college,” said Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of the College of Agriculture. “Through it all we were proud to share Purdue Agriculture’s stories with the incredible community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and so many other supporters.”

Student’s research looks for answers at Purdue to questions raised at home in Nigeria

Monday, December 7th, 2020

Adebukola Dada grew up on a Nigerian farm where her father raised various plants and animals. “If our crops did not do well, I asked my dad to tell me why,” Dada recalled. “That’s up to you to figure out,” her father replied. Now a Ph.D. student in agronomy, Dada is on her way to finding the answers.

Behind the Research: Ben Hancock

Monday, December 7th, 2020

Graduate students and researchers come and go from Purdue, but their computer applications stay behind. Programmer Ben Hancock maintains these legacy applications — greater in number than you might think — by managing servers, responding to users who need help and implementing fixes as needed.

Purdue’s hemp specialist observes birth of a Hoosier industry

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020

The hemp plant often thought to be native to North America, originated in the Tibetan Plateau, the world’s largest and highest plateau located in southwestern China. The multi-use plant predominantly harvested for its oil and fiber is gaining popularity with Hoosier growers as regulations change and the hemp byproduct industry grows.

Retiring professor reflects on decades of opportunities, changes and constants

Monday, November 30th, 2020

As retiring professor of agricultural economics Chris Hurt reflects on his 40-year career at Purdue, he talked about the people for whom he has worked through Extension and as a professor.

“Growing up on the farm, my neighbors and our community, they were wonderful people. I think of the people I have worked for in my job to be just like those neighbors—strong family people, hardworking and appreciative people. To think that I could bring the information to them to make better decisions, that’s been my contribution to society.”

Hand sanitizer makes scents to Purdue alum

Wednesday, November 18th, 2020

John Whittington, BS ’96, is always looking for the next big thing. An entrepreneur at heart, Whittington operated a large trucking company with his father, owned and operated an RV park in Florida, managed a fleet of hazardous waste trucks in Ohio and been a part of a successful NASCAR team.

In 2004, he bought an abandoned lumberyard in Morristown, Ind, and turned it into a successful biodiesel fuel-manufacturing site.

Purdue Ag Alumni Swiss Cheese tradition continues at Indiana creamery

Monday, November 16th, 2020

Purdue Ag Alumni Swiss Cheese was first produced in 1969 when Dave Pfendler, an associate dean of agriculture, launched the program in the now closed Purdue Creamery to raise money for student support. The program has encountered twists and turns over the past 50 years, but the latest turn brings it back to an Indiana creamery and its original recipe.

Ag alumni share their Purdue Pete lore

Monday, November 9th, 2020

Each school day afternoon, the busses line up outside Woodbrook Elementary in Carmel, Ind. In bus #168, driver Van Betulius, BS’76, and passenger Brayden Krueger patiently wait to get to the front of the line by playing math games.

“There must be seven buses in front of us,” says Betulius, intentionally miscounting the number to challenge Krueger’s math skills.

The two became bus buddies earlier in the school year when Betulius told Krueger he had once been Purdue Pete.

Purdue Extension: Building resilience in communities

Wednesday, November 4th, 2020

Crises often leave families feeling helpless and out of control. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception as Hoosiers face the loss of jobs, resources, life experiences and social contacts. With the help of Purdue Extension, Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences is helping families cope with change and even find positivity during the pandemic.

Clean lab coats and muddy boots balance student’s research

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

“In every generation, there are new discoveries that shift the trajectory of the industry,” said Ayodeji “Ayo” Aderibigbe, a doctoral student in the Department of Animal Sciences. “That motivates me to work hard and be among a group of people who are dedicated to improving global food security. I want to be a problem solver, not just a solution announcer.”

Research hits home for professor caught in the digital divide

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

As a professor of agricultural economics at a major research institution, Nicole Olynk Widmar relies on Purdue’s high-speed internet. But once she leaves campus and arrives home about 15 minutes later, Widmar counts herself lucky to even connect to the internet. Zoom can, at times, be a pipe dream.

Purdue Agriculture Halloween Activity Pages

Wednesday, October 28th, 2020

Are you looking for Halloween activities for children? Here’s a festive page with a corn maze, “carving” pumpkins and connect-the-dots. (Bonus: you can teach your little one a fun fact about bats!)

Purdue food science video scavenger hunt welcomes new majors

Tuesday, October 27th, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented large hurdles to overcome, particularly for Purdue’s new incoming students. Allie Kingery, the department’s undergraduate academic adviser, approached the food science club officers with the idea of making a Philip E. Nelson Hall Scavenger Hunt video for the department’s freshmen seminar class. Purdue’s Food Science Club jumped at the opportunity to help. The club members remembered having the scavenger hunt in the beginning weeks of their freshmen year and how fun it was to explore the building.

Professor’s path leads her to a new landscape

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020

Whether she was growing up in rural England, attending high school and college in Michigan and graduate school in North Carolina, or now living and working in West Lafayette, Linda Prokopy has always been keenly aware of the landscapes that surround her.

Recently appointed ABE endowed chair knows what makes good research run

Monday, October 19th, 2020

As a machine systems engineering specialist, Andrea Vacca, professor of agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) and mechanical engineering, understands what makes a machine tick, including the apparatus of interdisciplinary research as well.

Purdue family creates jobs, getaways during pandemic

Friday, October 16th, 2020

“There’s an element of gambling to lumber,” said Mark Smith. “Lumber is a commodity market so it’s up and down all the time.”

Purdue alumni Mark and Jenny Smith faced the fluctuations for 31 years as suppliers of lumber and plywood, but never experienced shifts as abrupt as those in 2020. Within a span of months, the owners of Great Lakes Forest Products, Inc. saw their expanding business reduced to a bare-bones crew before unexpectedly needing to hire a record number of employees.