Purdue Ag Roundup
Purdue Ag Roundup
Mengel will be teaching "Soybean Management," one of six Purdue Agriculture Certificate Courses (PACC) July 7-18. The courses are flexible programs designed to offer farmers and agribusiness people current information on agriculture necessary to maintain profitability.
"Fifty years ago farmers normally chose one soybean and one management practice for a whole field," Mengel said. "Today we fit soy genotypes to environments and analyze such things as the topography, water-holding capacity and nutrient capacity at many points across a field. We then can increase or decrease planting depth, herbicide applications, fertilizers or seeding rates in response to differing conditions."
Mengel will discuss management, then offer sessions in the field that will help illustrate what happens when inappropriate seeding or herbicide rates are used. Recognizing mistakes is often the first step in correcting crop problems, Mengel said.
"I want students to have diagnostic experience" he said. "I want them to correlate what is taught in class with what they can see, touch and feel."
The class will spend more than one whole session discussing the spread, life cycle and habits of the soybean cyst nematode, a problem some people say is the No. 1 yield robber in the state. Mengel also will provide information on variety selection, replant decisions, soil fertility, mineral nutrition, common diseases, insect pests and more.
Other ag certificate courses offered this summer are "Commodity Marketing Management," "Introduction to Precision Farming," "Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management," "Swine Management I," and "Introduction to Soil Science."
PACC allows participants to complete 12 courses for a certificate of graduation or just the courses that meet their specific needs. The courses are offered on Purdue's West Lafayette campus and meet for one to two weeks each. Grades will be awarded in each course, and a Purdue academic record will be developed for all PACC students.
To be admitted to PACC, students must be high school graduates or at least 18 years old. Applications are due by June 28. There is a one-time, nonrefundable admission fee of $30 for new students and a $150 fee for each course.
For more information, contact Alan Goecker, assistant dean of agriculture, (888) 398-4636 or (765) 494-8473; fax , (765) 494-8477; e-mail, adg@agad.purdue.edu
Previously, Armstrong had been a professor of animal science at North Carolina State University, where he also was assistant director of Academic Programs and director of the Agricultural Institute, which awards associate degrees.
While at North Carolina State University, Armstrong twice received awards for outstanding undergraduate teaching. His research focused on the initiation of reproductive cycles in livestock and the resumption of the cycles after the animals have given birth. He received his Ph.D. and master's degrees from North Carolina State University, and his bachelor's degree from Murray State University.
Armstrong replaces Bud Harmon, who had been department head since 1986. Harmon has returned to teaching and research.
Victor Lechtenberg, dean of agriculture at Purdue, said Armstrong brings excitement, as well as outstanding credentials, to the position. "He's enthusiastic, and that enthusiasm for animal sciences is contagious to those around him," Lechtenberg said.
CONTACT: Armstrong, (765) 494-4808; e-mail, jarmstro@ansc.purdue.edu
The Multi-state Consortium on Animal Waste recently announced its projects for 1997-98. The consortium conducts research on economically viable and environmentally sound ways to help producers address livestock manure and odor problems. Research focuses on swine, but may have applications in other livestock production areas.
The consortium was formed by Iowa State University and North Carolina State University in February 1996. Since then, it has added Purdue, University of Missouri, Oklahoma State University and Michigan State University. The consortium aims to prioritize research, make more effective use of research dollars, boost collaborations among the institutions and ensure efforts aren't duplicated.
Iowa leads the nation in hog production. North Carolina is second; Indiana, fifth; Missouri, seventh; Oklahoma, 11th; and Michigan, 12th.
Consortium projects involve researchers at two or more universities. Projects include:
CONTACTS: Bill Baumgardt, Director of Agricultural Research Programs, Purdue, (765) 494-8362; Colin Scanes, Executive Associate Dean, ISU College of Agriculture, (515) 294-1823
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
