Purdue Ag News Roundup
Purdue Ag News Roundup
Purdue Agricultural economist Mike Boehlje calls it "a frank and brutal look" at where farms, input suppliers, processors and consumers are heading.
"Everyone in agriculture will be able to find themselves in this book," Boehlje says. "No punches are pulled."
Nearly a year in development, "FoodSystem 21: Gearing Up for the New Millennium" will formally debut at Purdue's Center for Agricultural Business' 1997 National Conference for Agribusiness Nov. 10-11. Other presentations will follow throughout 1998. The material already has been presented to senior U.S. Foreign Service administrators who work with developing countries.
The conference will present an overview of FoodSystem 21 on the first day with a focus on agricultural input suppliers on the second day. Registration for the conference is $695. For more information, contact Sharon Wall at (765) 494-4247.
Boehlje says that in FoodSystem 21, 50 Purdue professors and others in agricultural economics, animals sciences, horticulture, food science and other disciplines not only determine trends and where the industry might be headed, they also provide details on what it means for individual parts of the human food chain. Each chapter went through extensive review by industry leaders.
The idea, he says, is for each reader to evaluate the scenarios laid out by the book, anticipate what it could mean for his or her business or operation, and then try to shape the industry or the operation to "survive and thrive."
"Our hope is that people will take the material and use it to plan improvements if they choose to compete in the future," Boehlje says. "For instance, a Midwest dairy producer shouldn't try so hard to get the price of milk raised. With current government policies, it's not going to happen. Also, with dairy herds of 2,000-plus head concentrating in the West, Midwest producers will need to manage their business to become a low-cost competitor."
While the authors steadfastly refused to make recommendations in the book, Boehlje says he personally has taken some lessons for his family's crop and livestock farm back in Iowa.
"On the hog side, our operation is going to have to decide if we're willing to enter into some network arrangement or grow big enough to incorporate some of the new technologies in pork production. If not, we're going to have to think about a smart exit," he says. "On the crop side, we need to decide whether we want to stay in the commodity business or move to characteristic-specific crops, which would require a new set of additional skills.
"The big lesson from the 452-page book is 'Don't be myopic,'" Boehlje says. "A grain farmer needs to know what the hog producer is going through, and they both better know what is going on with the consumer who is going to buy from here and abroad."
Some of the highlights include:
Agricultural economics department head Wally Tyner calls it the most broad-based study of the future of agriculture to date, more comprehensive than the Ag 2000 study the department completed five years ago: "One major difference is more emphasis on interpreting consumer trends and applying them all the way back to the farm gate."
The book without the video costs $29.95, from the Purdue Media Distribution Center, 301 South 2nd Street, Lafayette, IN, 47901-1232, (888) EXT-INFO. The videos will be offered separately through the Center for Agricultural Business.
CONTACT: Boehlje, (765) 494-4222; e-mail, boehlje@agecon.purdue.edu
"Autumn is a prime growing time for cool season turfgrasses," Reicher says. "That's when they produce tillers, increasing density and filling in any thin or damaged areas from the summer. This is also the time when the grasses store their energy reserves for the winter, which determines winter hardiness and performance next summer."
With unseasonably high temperatures and very little rain this autumn in Indiana, the turf plants are dormant or growing very slowly. Without ample rain or irrigation, Reicher says widespread winter-kill could occur.
"The bottom line is that if you want to insure that your lawn survives winter and performs adequately next spring and summer, start watering now," he says.
Reicher suggests watering thoroughly enough to wet the soil four to six inches deep, and water often enough to keep the grass green and growing.
More lawn and turf information, including weekly updates by Purdue turf experts, can be found on the Internet at http://www.aes.purdue.edu/agronomy/turf/turftips.htm
CONTACT: Reicher, (765) 494-9737; e-mail, zreicher@dept.agry.purdue.edu
"The fall, up until mid-November, is the ideal time to control broadleaf weeds in turfgrass, because broadleaf weeds are most susceptible to herbicides at this time," says Zac Reicher, associate professor and turfgrass extension specialist. "This autumn, that time is extended a bit because of the unusually dry and warm weather."
Killing weeds in November offers other advantages, too, Reicher says. The turf is growing well enough that it can quickly fill in the spaces where the weeds once were, and there is reduced risk of damaging herbicide-sensitive ornamentals at this time of year
According to Reicher, broadleaf weed herbicides should be applied to the foliage of the weeds when the weeds are actively growing.
"Pick a sunny day with moderate temperatures, no wind, ample soil moisture and no rain in the 24-hour forecast. This will have the maximum effect on the weeds with the least potential of damage to lawns," he says.
A herbicide containing three chemicals -- 2,4-D; MCPP; and dicamba -- will control most broadleaf weeds with one application, Reicher says. Caution must be used when spraying the herbicide around flowers, vegetables, trees or shrubs, because these herbicides can also damage these plants, he adds.
Creeping weeds, such as wild violet or ground ivy (creeping Charlie), in the lawn are extremely difficult to control because they spread through underground stems or root stalks.
"Herbicides are very effective at controlling the foliage but usually cannot translocate to the root or stem," Reicher says. "The violets and ground ivy will often resprout after the foliage is killed."
According to Reicher, these weeds originate in shadier areas where the turf cannot be vigorous and competitive.
"The best method for homeowners is to apply a product that includes 2,4-D. This should be applied preferably in mid- to late fall for maximum control and then possibly again when it is flowering in May."
In addition to using lawn chemicals, Reicher notes that proper lawn care, such as mowing the grass at about three inches tall, fertilizing primarily in the fall to encourage turf growth, and irrigating to improve turf density during dry periods will allow homeowners to use less chemicals.
"Remember, too, that these weeds are tough to overcome and many homeowners will eventually give up this fight," Reicher says. "Many people learn to like the flowers that these weeds produce."
More lawn and turf information, including weekly updates by Purdue turf experts, can
be found on the Internet at http://www.aes.purdue.edu/agronomy/turf/turftips.htm
CONTACT: Reicher, (765) 494-9737; e-mail, zreicher@dept.agry.purdue.edu
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
