Graduate Ag Research Spotlight: Chris Currey “We’re enhancing the efficiency of propagation. That’s the compelling part for me – trying to contribute a more efficient system.” -Chris Currey THE STUDENT In the summer between his high school graduation and enrollment at the University of Minnesota, Chris Currey worked at a public garden along the[Read More…]
Two projects are underway in the Midwest to test and expand the use of mechanical grape vine pruning. One project in Wisconsin will evaluate mechanical rough pruning for cold climate hybrids. Another research project at Purdue University is looking at cutting edge technology to perform finer pruning using robotics. During 2012, David Danzinger of Danzinger[Read More…]
The day before Halloween, I wrote a story about Pleasanton, Calif.-based Adept Technology Inc., whose automated ClamPAC system is now being used to pack clamshells at San Juan Batista, Calif.-based Earthbound Farm. The next night, following my kids around the dark streets of our neighborhood, I was just a tiny bit afraid of running into[Read More…]
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – A farm owned by Purdue near campus now has roughly 10 acres of certified organic land. This places researchers in a strong position to help develop more effective organic farming practices. The land’s located at Meigs Farm and is part of the Throckmorton Purdue Agricultural Center in Tippecanoe County.. It[Read More…]
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University researchers received $6 million in grants to automate one of the most laborious and costly jobs in vineyards and apple orchards. Each year, fruit growers spend about 20 percent of their labor costs on pruning vines and trees. Peter Hirst, an associate professor of horticulture, is leading a program[Read More…]
Vision Robotics is well along in developing a robotic pruner for grapes, shown at work above, and the robotic shears pictured in the inset photo. Apple tree canopies are more three-dimensional than grapes and pruning decisions harder to make, a problem that will be addressed by experimenting on the tall spindle system, which uses a[Read More…]
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University scientists have mapped the entire pathway plants use to create benzoic acid, a precursor to a number of important compounds. Natalia Dudareva, Distinguished Professor of Horticulture, said plants use benzoic acid to create defensive compounds and growth regulators, and to attract pollinators. Drugs, such as the anticancer medication Taxol,[Read More…]
Roberto Lopez found that poinsettia growers can lower greenhouse temperatures to finish the plants, but they’ll need to start them a little earlier than usual. (Photo provided by Ariana Torres.) Download Photo WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Growers who carefully select their poinsettia cultivars can lower their greenhouse thermostats in mid-October to save on energy costs[Read More…]
James K. Rathmell Jr. Memorial Scholarship Recipient: Christopher Currey, Purdue University Currey, a PhD candidate at Purdue University, hopes to continue working in research and education and will be pursuing this goal through collaboration at the University of Queensland, Australia. “My career goals are to combine education, outreach, and research to ensure the continued success and further[Read More…]
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