November 23, 2009

Purdue Extension specialists recognized by PUCESA

PUCESA awards honor Extension specialists who have significantly contributed to Indiana through Purdue Extension.

Award recipients include:

* Corinne Alexander, professor of agricultural economics, who received the Junior Award. While at Purdue, she has developed and maintained price risk management and marketing of value-added products programs. Alexander has shown expertise in her field by adapting to changing needs and providing programs for organic grain producers in several states.

* Fred Whitford, professor of botany and plant pathology, who received the Senior Award. His many accomplishments have contributed to the improvement of pesticide safety. He aided in establishing the Purdue Pesticide Programs, which has been recognized as one of the most comprehensive sources of pesticide information nationwide. Whitford also conducts voluntary inspections of businesses and farms to check on environmental, safety and human resource regulations.

* Alan Sutton, professor of animal sciences, who received the Career Award. Sutton has been instrumental in improving confined feeding operations practices and is a leader in nutrient management. He has communicated to producers, consultants and the general public on the latest information on nutrient management, nutrition and regulations. He has developed publications and coordinated workshops, seminars and IP video programs to promote nutrient management.

* Ronald Lemenager, professor of animal sciences, who received the Special Award. His research on a sustainable beef industry in Indiana and throughout the nation has resulted in an integrated research, teaching and Extension program. Lemenager has chaired the Five State Beef Initiative. These efforts have resulted in the IQ+BEEF quality assurance program, Indiana Farm Fresh Beef, Beef Ventures Group LLC and Heartland Premium Aged Beef LLC.

* The Purdue Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Team, which received the Team Award. CAFO Team members are Paul Ebner, Alan Sutton, Don Jones, Alan Grant, Mike Boehlje, Janet Ayres, Jane Brown, Chris Sigurdson, Beth Forbes, Al Heber, Jane Frankenberger, Dean Jones, Roman Keeney, Tamilee Nennich, Larry DeBoer and Steve Leer. The team was created to provide scientific information and research on CAFO-related topics to consumers, producers and community leaders. The team has distributed papers, developed a Web site and coordinated the Purdue University Livestock Siting Symposium. The team also conducted a study of 50 CAFOs in eight Indiana counties that examined owner/operator and labor characteristics, fiscal impact, land use, and environmental issues.

Writer: Elizabeth Fritz, 574-595-5154, libby.fritz@gmail.com

Source: Chuck Hibberd, associate dean of agriculture, 765-494-8489, hibberd@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: Photos of the winners will be available at noon on Monday (Nov. 23) at https://www.ag.purdue.edu/extension/awards/

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