Environmental Systems Management (ASM 336)

1. Environmental Systems Management (ASM 336) Fall, 2012

2. Syllabus Course Objectives: • Learn to analyze agricultural systems in order to reduce environmental impacts with an emphasis on non-urban and agribusiness issues. • Become aware of technological and sociological options to reduce environmental contamination in the Midwest.

3. Instructor • Dr. Natalie Carroll • ncarroll@purdue.edu • 222 Ag Admin (AGAD) • Secretary - Linda Hines (494-8433) • Grader: Timothy Wright (graduate student)

4. Course Websites • http://www.ydae.purdue.edu/ASM336/ • Grades on Blackboard: www.itap.purdue.edu/tlt/blackboard/ (Note: Professor Carroll does not use Blackboard for e-mail.)

5. Course Website Environmental Systems Management ASM 336 Fall, 2012 • Syllabus • Lectures • Assignments • Web Links & Announcements: • Purdue COA publications, The Education Store • Purdue Pesticide Programs • General information, What's New • Indiana Pesticide Applicator Certification Requirements • Office of the Indiana State Chemist

6. When & Where • Meeting Time: • Monday, Wednesday, Fridays, 3:30 – 4:20 pm • Classroom: • M&W:ABE 205 F: ABE 116/118 (computer lab) • Office hours: • Monday & Wednesday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM and by appointment.

7. Texts • Home*A*Syst • Best Environmental Management Practices • Online publications

8. Course Outcome Students will gain a broad-based knowledge of choices and consequent environmental impacts of selected agricultural systems.

9. Course Goals • Develop a general awareness of the scope, concerns, and interactions of agricultural systems on the environment. • Become more familiar with major environmental issues related to agriculture. • Be aware of contemporary and future trends in agricultural technology and the potential effects on both the environment and society. • Be capable of managing technologies in an environmentally responsible manner, using a systems approach rather than focusing on one component. • Broaden/enhance knowledge of problem solving skills, written skills, and oral communication skills.

10. Student Responsibilities • Attend lectures and be responsible for material presented in lectures and reading assignments. • Prepare and participate in class, as requested. Be active listeners. Ask questions when you do not understand. • Complete all homework problems, computer assignments, quizzes, projects, and exams. • Seek assistance if you do not understand any part of the course or are falling behind. • Attain at least a 60% grade, as described in the grading section.

11. Course Topics • We will be studying the environmental concerns and considerations of agricultural systems in the Midwestern United States. Topics include: • chemical use and management • global environmental issues • regulatory and policy issues • soil and water conservation, • sustainable agriculture • waste disposal and management • water and air quality.

12. Grading

13. ABE Educational Goals Met • an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility • an ability to communicate effectively • a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning • a knowledge of contemporary issues

14. Attendance • Classroom attendance, advanced preparation and participation is necessary to accomplish the objectives of this course. We will use a “Responsible Adult Attendance” policy in this course – you decide when it is best that you miss class. • Stay home when you are ill. Do not attend classes if you are sneezing, coughing or contagious in any way. If you must miss class due to illness, you will be required to complete homework, quizzes, and assignments in a timely manner to the extent that is reasonable. Contact Professor Carroll by email prior to the beginning of the class period to obtain an excused absence. • Personal Emergency:Contact Professor Carroll by e-mail or phone, at your earliest opportunity to explain that you need to miss a quiz or exam.

15. Course Evaluation • During the last two weeks of the semester, you will be asked to evaluate this course and instructor (Dr. Carroll) using an online course evaluation. • You will receive an official email from evaluation administrators with a link to the online evaluation site on Monday of the fifteenth week of classes.  • You will have two weeks to complete this evaluation. • Your participation in this evaluation is an integral part of this course. • Your feedback is vital to improving education at Purdue University. • Please participate in the evaluation system and give your honest feedback.

16. Academic Honesty • The policy of Purdue University is: • “The commitment of the acts of cheating, lying, stealing, and deceit in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of ghostwritten papers, the use of substitutes for taking examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and copying during examinations) is dishonest and must not be tolerated.” • Moreover, knowingly aiding and abetting, directly or indirectly, others in committing dishonest acts is, in itself, dishonest.”

17. Cheating: Zero Tolerance • Integrity is an important attribute in the success of Purdue graduates. • Cheating on homework, quizzes, exams, and term projects will result in failure of the course. • This does not mean that students are prohibited from studying together, working together, or from discussing or assisting each other to on homework problems. In fact, this is encouraged. • However, the bottom line is that I expect and will require you to be responsible for learning the material covered. • Plagiarism and/or cheating is sufficient grounds for an F. (See the student handbook for University rules for more information.)

18. Cheating: Zero Tolerance • All students are expected to act in an honest and ethical manner consistent with Purdue University regulations. • It is your responsibility to read "Academic Integrity: A Guide for Students" http://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/academicintegrity.php. • The consequences for acts of academic dishonesty will range from punitive grade reduction to course failure. Specifically, students should understand the definition of plagiarism. • The information on plagiarism at the following link is required reading, http://gervaseprograms.georgetown.edu/honor/system/53377.html

19. Safety: Fire • If the fire alarm is activated as a result of a fire or explosion, the building must be evacuated immediately. • Proceed to the nearest stairway, then to the nearest building exit doors and finally to the Emergency Assembly Area which is located on the Agricultural Mall directly in the front (north side) of the Food Science Building. • Building occupants are required by law to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds.

20. Safety: Tornado • In the event of a tornado or the sounding of the county tornado sirens, all ABE occupants should proceed to room 106A or 106B (main floor south of the hallway where the soft-drink machines are located). • This procedure may also be necessary if there are other emergencies that make it unsafe to be outside, such as release of a harmful or irritating gas outside of the building.

21. Safety: Campus Emergencies • In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. • Information about changes will be available on the Course website and Blackboard and through E-mail notices.

22. Faculty, Staff, & Student Rights and Responsibilities • Everyone should be familiar with their rights and responsibilities as members of the Purdue University community, www.purdue.edu/policies and www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness/ • Extreme Heat Tips • Severe Weather Tips • 2012 Building Emergency Plan (BEP) Summit Information • Pedestrian Tunnels Map • Purdue YouTube Videos: Campus Safety with Purdue Pete

23. Faculty, Staff, & Student Rights and Responsibilities • "Shots Fired on Campus: When Lightning Strikes"—active shooter awareness training ...Watch the video. • How to Program the Midland Weather Radio (WR-100) ... learn more. • Voluntary Registry for Persons Requesting Additional Assistance in the event of an emergency (PDF) • READY Purdue —Emergency Procedures Guide • Updates and emergency information will be posted on Purdue’s home page. We urge you to sign up for emergency text alerts.  Text message sign up procedures can be found on the Emergency Preparedness website: www.purdue.edu/emergency_preparedness/

24. Role Call • Abrell, Corbin   • Barry, Kyle   • Bechman, John   • Buuck, Dane   • Carbiener, Jay   • Cline, Tyler   • Easter, Robert   • Edwards, Seth   • England, Alex   • Fox, Matthew   • Friar, Darren   • Harader, William   • Harris, Melissa   • Hensley, Harve • Hershberger, Brandon   • Hession, Daniel   • Hession, Matthew   • Hoeing, Jake   • Holmes, Ashley   • Houtman, John

25. Roll Call • Kiess, Shawn • Koester, Matthew • Lambert, Justin • Leahy, Derek • Lively, Weston • Malott, Andrew • Mc Cray, Alyssa • Mc Cray, Ashlee   • McCarthy, Matthew   • McSherry, Ezekiel • Ortman, Benjamin • Owens, Ethan • Peters, Michael • Pottschmidt, Tyler • Quinn, Jason • Reese, Tyler • Riffle, Kyle • Ringel, Colton • Sell, Adam • Sills, Adam

26. Roll Call • Straw, Matt • Silvey, Nate   • Spreen, Clint   • Tapp, Joseph   • Troxel, Jackson   • Yeoman, Jacob   Class Demographics • Majors • Agricultural Systems Management, 38 • Botany, 2 • Ag Econ, 2 • Ag Pathway, 2 • NRES, 1

27. Questions? Note: • This course is not difficult and generally people do quite well if they do the work. The C’s & D’s that I get are from those who skip class, miss quizzes, and/or those who don’t do the homework or always turn it in late. • If you are having trouble, come and see me…

28. Drought, 2012 • How is it affecting you/your family farm, etc.? • U.S. map from Aug 14, 2012 E-mail, 7/25/12 (Extension system): To date, we have heard rumors of cows dying from nitrate poisoning, but only have confirmation of 2 dead cows. Scenario: corn was green chopped and the wagon pulled into a pasture of hungry cows. Hungry cows + unadapted rumens + large meal of high nitrate feed = dead cows. Could this have been predicted? Yes. Could this have been prevented? Yes. By the way, subsequent nitrate analysis indicated 23,000 ppm NO3 (really hot). Note: we consider 5000 ppm NO3 to be the break point for use as a primary feed without dilution. Producers need to know what they are dealing with and how to deal with it. We can feed high nitrate feeds, but we have to help producers do it in a smart and safe manner.

29. 3 Minute Discussion • Talk to the person next to you about the following question: • How do some homeowners (or renters) harm the environment? • & • Why do they do it? For each environmental harm, do you think it happens because of improper practices, human error, ignorance, $$, or for other reasons?

30. 3 Minute Discussion • Talk to the person next to you about the following question: • What farming practices harm the environment? • & • Why does it happen? For each environmental harm, do you think it happens because of improper practices, human error, ignorance, $$, or for other reasons?

31. Assignment • Answer the following questions, on your own. • Due before you leave today. • How do some homeowners (or renters) harm the environment? Why? • What farming practices harm the environment? Why? • I expect you to write the question. Answers do not need to be in full sentences. For example: • Oil spills – human error