Extension

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.

Purdue Extension to offer virtual workshop twice on farmland leasing

Tuesday, October 27th, 2020 • University News Story

The Purdue Extension Land Lease Team is hosting two virtual workshops for landowners and farmers to learn more about farmland leases, legal aspects of leases and leasing trends. The workshop, “More Than a Handshake,” will be offered 10 a.m. to noon (ET…

SARE grants to support Purdue’s sustainable agriculture programs

Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 • University News Story

Faculty, staff and graduate students from the Purdue College of Agriculture and Purdue Extension were recently awarded eight North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program grants, accounting for over 20% of the $…

Family farming roots run deep at Purdue

Monday, October 12th, 2020

Jones’ family began dairy farming in Star City, Ind., in 1942. Four generations later, the family is still milking cows along with growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa, mainly used to feed back into the dairy herd. They were the first dairy farm in Indiana and the tenth in the nation to adopt robotic milking practices. Jones’ parents, Sammy and Pam, manage the day-to-day operations with her brother, Josh, who is a Purdue Agriculture and Biological Engineering graduate. Amy helps on the farm each month along with her sister, Christy, a Purdue Animal Sciences alumna, and her brother, a Purdue Liberal Arts alumnus.

Keeping Indiana 4-H youth engaged and safe in a pandemic

Thursday, October 8th, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic guaranteed this year to be like no other. The pandemic affects people of all ages, but it has been especially challenging for children as schools went virtual and youth organizations were forced to cancel activities and trips. Knowing it is critical for youth to engage in hands-on learning experiences to build life skills, Indiana 4-H was determined to continue reaching youth statewide.

Indiana orchards are still harvesting fun

Monday, October 5th, 2020

Leaves are changing, the air is cooler and Hoosiers are still looking for fun and safe things to do while we follow pandemic health and safety standards. From picking apples and pumpkins to firing apple cannons and getting lost in a corn maze, Indiana’s orchards provide fun activities for all ages to enjoy, even if they do look slightly different than past years.

In addition to changes due to COVID-19 precautions, farm visitors will notice that there are fewer apples to pick this year. A late frost blanketed the state this past April and had a devastating effect on the apple crop.

A century shared in the soybean field

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

“Several years ago, I organized a soybean field day at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE),” recalled Marshall Martin, professor of agricultural economics, the senior associate director of agricultural research and graduate education and assistant dean in the College of Agriculture.

“There were funny-looking plants growing in one of the soybean plots that I didn’t recognize. It looked like some kind of weed or vine on the ground— something that you’d plant as a ground cover around the front of your house. The plants had small pods with only one or two flat, black seeds each. They were soybeans.”

Purdue Extension shares insights about organic certification

Monday, September 28th, 2020 • University News Story

Despite rapid growth in consumer demand for organic products that outpaces domestic supply, certified organic land accounts for less than 2% of U.S. farmland and even less in Indiana. Purdue Extension’s Organic Agriculture educators are working with fa…

Indiana farm fatality summary reminds Hoosier farmers of dangers

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 • University News Story

Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program released the annual Indiana Farm Fatality Summary with Historical Overview, coinciding with National Farm Safety and Health Week, which has been observed the third week of September since 1944….

Purdue Extension: Creating hope for Hoosier farmers

Monday, September 21st, 2020

Fall harvest, one of the busiest and most stressful seasons for farmers, is quickly approaching, which is why the third week in September has historically been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week since 1944. This year’s theme, “Every Farmer Counts,” celebrates America’s farmers and ranchers while acknowledging the need to prioritize their safety and health.

Mental health and stress are the areas that the Purdue Extension Farm Stress Team is tackling alongside Indiana farmers.

Purdue Extension: Growing communities one garden at a time

Friday, September 11th, 2020

Located within an Indianapolis food desert, 25 volunteers gathered on a hot July day to build six raised garden beds and plant cool-season vegetable crops in a community garden on the campus of HealthNet Martindale-Brightwood Health Center. The volunteers made a vision for quality food access a reality sought by determined HealthNet employees, Martindale-Brightwood residents and the help of Purdue Extension.

Study reviews impact of wind energy on local Indiana communities

Thursday, September 10th, 2020 • University News Story

Wind power electricity generation arrived on the Indiana landscape in 2008. Early projects were concentrated in areas with favorable wind conditions. But a recent study by Purdue researchers revealed that subsequent innovations in wind power technologi…

Broadband grows best when states are proactive, take down barriers

Thursday, September 10th, 2020 • University News Story

Access to high-speed broadband internet improves entrepreneurship and economic growth, while lack of it has detrimental effects on education. Still, millions of people across the United States, many living in rural areas, lack access to broadband and t…

Purdue Farmer-to-Farmer Program switches to virtual assignments

Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 • University News Story

Purdue Farmer-to-Farmer Program Switches to Virtual Assignments

Tuesday, September 8th, 2020

In April 2020, Purdue University’s International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA) and Purdue Cooperative Extension announced the USAID John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program to be implemented by Purdue University in Trinidad and Tobago over the next three years. A United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded program, F2F provides technical assistance from U.S. volunteers to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses, and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries.

“Peter Hirst, Purdue Extension fruit specialist, speaks with Calvin Beasley, owner of Beasley’s Orchard, during filming of the virtual fruit and vegetable field day.”

Purdue Extension steps in to help Hoosier fruit growers

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020

From juicy red strawberries to sweet apples and melons, Indiana is home to many fruit growers. While each year presents its challenges in the field, this year Indiana faced an unfortunate late frost event, causing crop damage during a crucial point in the growing period. Outside of the fields, growers faced another challenge, creating a safe and healthy environment for employees and customers.

Indiana 4-H’ers demonstrate resilience

Tuesday, August 25th, 2020

Each year, youth from Indiana’s 92 counties learn and fulfill the 4-H pledge, vowing their hands to larger service and their health to better living from their club to their community. They participate in club meetings, community service activities, leadership events and more while completing a project of their choice. Each project is a collection of hard work and hands-on learning experiences, resulting in new skills that prepare youth to be leaders in their communities.

Women award recipients praised for dedication to Indiana agriculture

Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 • University News Story

Three Indiana women were honored for their dedication and contributions to the agriculture industry at the Indiana Statehouse on Aug. 20. The recipients were selected by the Purdue Extension Women in Agriculture team. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Karen …

Virtual field days present challenges and benefits

Friday, August 21st, 2020

Hundreds of green industry professionals gather every summer for Purdue’s Turf and Landscape Field Day. As COVID-19 spread, so did the realization that 2020’s event would look different.

For a healthy lawn in 2021, seed and feed now

Monday, August 17th, 2020

“You may notice that some areas of your lawn have declined or died this summer,” said Cale Bigelow, a professor of horticulture at Purdue University. “That can happen to anyone. It is nothing to beat yourself up over and does not mean you are a failure as a green thumb. You can fix the problem.”