Post on 21-Oct-2021
February 12, 2016
Volume 2, Issue 1 Porter County Ag Newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Farm Succession…………………...2
Women in Ag………………….……..3
Farmers’ Tax Guide.....…………...3
Pesticide App. Train./Exam…….4
Small Farm Winter Webinars....5
Corn Production Workshop…….6
Midwest Mint Growers…………..6
Irrigated Soybean Meeting……..7
Corn and Soybean Bulletin……..8
Small Farm Conference………….9
Cover Crops Workshop……….….9
Apple Prune and Graft……..…...10
Michiana Veg. & Fruit…………...11
Avian Influenza Update………….12
USDA News…………………………..13
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Purdue Extension—Porter County
2016 Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference
Febraury 17-18
The 15 Annual Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference will take place on
Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 17-18, 2016, at the Clarion Hotel and Confer-
ence Center in Columbus, IN. The planning committee has been working hard
to provide a program to fit the needs of women in all sectors of agriculture
and in different phases of their life. Speakers will provide you with the infor-
mation need by women involved in various aspects of agriculture to help their
enterprises and help them live a better life.
Featured this year as keynote speaker is Jolene Brown of West Branch, IA, a
farmer, author, professional speaker, and champion for the people of agricul-
ture. Besides full days of general and elective sessions, networking breaks and
activities on Wednesday and Thursday, attendees can elect to attend a pre-
conference program on Tuesday afternoon covering land leases on tight mar-
gins. In addition, there will be a Young Ladies of Agriculture Forum on
Wednesday evening at the same location.
Full details and registration information is at the Purdue Women in Agriculture
website at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/WIA/. You can still register to
attend!
2
Farming Together Workshops Focus on Succession
Planning
Farm families that involve more than one generation in the operation are in-
vited to consider seriously participation in the upcoming Farming Together
Series. The focus of this workshop will be on “Planning for Retirement and Es-
tate Management.”
The first day of the two-day workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (local
time) and includes lunch. This session is highlighted by discussion of the fol-
lowing topics:
How do you account for sweat equity in the business?
How does insurance fit into estate planning? What do I need to do to effec-
tively prepare my estate plan?
How do you account for generational differences in estate planning?
How do you plan for possible long-term care needs? What are my options?
What alternatives do you have to fund your retirement? How do you plan
to retire?
The second day includes a complimentary one-hour farm family meeting with
a member of Purdue Extension’s Farm Succession Planning Team. The empha-
sis will be placed on reviewing the needs of the family operation and facili-
tating a discussion to communicate a plan to develop strategies based on what
was learned from Day 1. More specifically, individual families can get assis-
tance to help organize their goals, assess financial feasibility of a transfer, eval-
uate alternative strategies to achieve family goals, and assist in identifying
their planning team.
Registration is due Feb. 16 for the following location.
Jasper County: Jasper Co. Fairgrounds, Rensselaer (March 1-2)
The workshop registration fee is $150 for the first four family members and
$15 for each additional member. Registration forms are available at the Porter
Co. Extension website at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/porter. For more
information, contact Denise Schroeder, Purdue Extension Educator – White
County, at 219-984-5515 or schroedd@purdue.edu.
Funding for the workshop was provided by the North Central Risk Manage-
ment Agency and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Partners
include the Purdue Women in Agriculture Team and the Purdue Farm Succes-
sion Planning Team.
3
Purdue Women in Agriculture Regional Meeting,
March 8
A northwest regional meeting of Purdue Women in Agriculture will be held on
Tuesday, March 8, at the Purdue Extension – Tippecanoe County office locat-
ed at 3150 Sagamore Parkway South in Lafayette. With registration beginning
at 9:30 a.m. EST (8:30 a.m. CST), this program will be both inspirational and
informational for women involved in many aspects of agriculture.
The program will feature Sharing a Passion for Ag: Through the Lens of a Farm
Girl by Erin Ehnle. With a passion for agriculture and photography, Erin ties
the two together to promote and spread agriculture awareness through the
digital world. She uses her ag photography, designed with facts and statistics,
to advocate for and help spread ag knowledge.
Additional topics will include strategies to survive in 2016, back to the basics
of farm financial management, keeping the farm business in the family-
managing its transfer, and other hot topics.
Registration is $20 and includes handouts and lunch. Registration is due by
March 1. A registration flyer is available at www.extension.purdue.edu/
Porter or call the Porter County Extension office for more information at 219-
465-3555.
Farmers’ Tax Guide
Income tax season is soon to be upon us. The Farmer’s Tax Guide explains
how federal tax laws apply to farming. Specifically, this IRS publication
(Publication 225) describes the taxation of income, expense deductions, the
tax basis of assets, depreciation, gains and losses on the disposition of assets,
and various taxes (e.g., self-employment taxes) impacting production agricul-
ture. A PDF version of the Farmer’s Tax Guide is available at: www.irs.gov/
pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf. An online version (HTML) is also available at
www.irs.gov/publications/p225.
4
Pesticide Applicator Training/Exams
Those needing to obtain certification as a private pesticide applicator may do
so in 2016 by taking the pesticide core exam. A private pesticide applicator is
anyone who applies pesticides to property they own, rent or otherwise con-
trol, for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity. Any private
applicator wishing to buy and use restricted-use pesticides must be certi-
fied. Certification demonstrates a person’s responsibility to personal, fami-
ly, and employee health and safety; community welfare; and protection of
land and water.
To become certified, a private applicator must pass the Pesticide Core exam
administered by the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC), the state regula-
tory agency that oversees pesticide and fertilizer products and those who
sell, transport and apply them. Private applicators may register for one-day
trainings on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus at the end of which the Core
exam is taken. They may also take the Core exam with no training at regional
locations around the state – the closest site is Pinney Purdue Ag Center near
Wanatah on Tuesday, February 16, anytime from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. CST.
Everyone taking an exam at any of the locations must show a government
issued photo ID.
A private fertilizer applicator is anyone who applies manure from a Confined
Feeding Operation (CFO) to property they own, rent or otherwise control, for
purposes of producing an agricultural commodity. Any private applicator
wishing to use (apply, handle or transport) manure from a CFO must be certi-
fied by passing the Agricultural Fertilizer (Category 14) exam. Farmers that
just apply commercial fertilizer to their own acres are not required to be cer-
tified. The ag fertilizer (Cat. 14) exam may be taken at the same locations as
the pesticide Core exam. The study manual for the ag fertilizer exam may be
viewed online.
For information about training and exam sessions, and more information
about the certification process, please visit the Purdue Pesticide Program
website at www.ppp.purdue.edu and click on “Private Applicators.” There
you can download a flyer for the training sessions plus Core exam or infor-
mation about the regional exam only dates and locations.
Those private or commercial applicators who have a current certification are
also encouraged to visit the Purdue Pesticide Program website
(www.ppp.purdue.edu) to get information about their certification from the
OISC database, to view session dates for recertification credits, to review
pesticide laws and regulations, and to obtain access to information about
products, dealers and pesticide complaint investigations.
5
Winter Webinars Cover Ag Production, Marketing
Topics for Beginning or Small Farmers
Purdue Extension is offering a series of weekly webinars to provide beginning
farmers and operators of small farms with information on a range of topics.
The webinars are free and will run 11 a.m. to noon Central time on Wednes-
days. Topics already presented (beekeeping, sustainable farm planning and
productive pastures) are recorded for viewing; see information below.
“Participants will learn how leading practices in production, management
and marketing can help them improve profitability and sustainability,” said
Roy Ballard, Extension educator in Hancock County and a member of Purdue
Extension’s Small Farms Team, which is sponsoring the series.
Remaining topics and presenters:
Feb. 17: “High Tunnel Opportunities”; Liz Maynard, Extension vegetable
production.
Feb. 24: “Walk-Behind Tractors and Their Applications on Small Farms”; Mi-
chael O’Donnell, Extension educator in Delaware County.
March 2: “Food Safety Modernization Act”; Scott Monroe, Extension food
safety educator.
March 9: “To Certify Organic Or Not? Separating the Production and Certifi-
cation Issues”; Maria Marshall, small business development.
March 16: “Foodlink: A New Tool to Link Customers with Farm Fresh
Foods”; Roy Ballard, Extension educator in Hancock County.
March 23: “Alternative Energy Possibilities on Your Farm”; Chad Martin,
renewable energy.
March 30: “Identifying Disease and Pest Problems on the Farm”; Tom Cre-
swell, director of the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab.
April 6: “Irrigation Options for Market Gardens and Small Farms”; Lyndon
Kelley, irrigation.
April 13: “Dairy Goats 101”; Sara Dzimianski, Extension educator in Perry
County.
The webinars are free, but registration is required. Each program will be rec-
orded and available for viewing later on the Small Farms Team website at
https://ag.purdue.edu/Extension/smallfarms/Pages/default.aspx.
For more information or to sign up, go to: https://purdue.qualtrics.com/jfe/
form/SV_bmBrd3hIYREwlWB.
6
Corn Production Workshop, February 25
Northern Indiana farmers are encouraged to attend an agronomic meeting on
corn production with an eye on the bottom line. Sponsored jointly by Purdue
Extension and Michigan State Extension, Corn Production Practices for Rough
Economic Times will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb.
25 at Southwestern Michigan College-Niles, 33890 U.S. 12, Niles, Michigan
(located just 3 miles north of the state line near South Bend).
The program consists of speakers from Purdue and Michigan State presenting
information on corn marketing, corn disease, pest, weed and nutrient man-
agement focusing on cost effectiveness and production efficiencies. There will
also be a session on using precision ag data to find yield limiting factors in
corn production. The program is co-sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing
Council and Michigan Corn Marketing Program.
Registration is $30 per person. A workshop flyer with more information and
online registration is available at http://events.anr.msu.edu/
cornproduction2016/. Registration deadline is Feb. 16.
Private and commercial applicators in Michigan and Indiana can get pesticide
applicator recertification credits. Indiana private applicators need to bring
their license and $10 for a PARP fee. Also, Certified Crop Advisers can get con-
tinuing education unit credits toward their certifications.
Midwest Mint Growers, February 25-26
Midwest mint growers will gather Thursday and Friday, Feb. 25-26, in north-
ern Indiana to learn various topics about production of this essential oils crop.
The Midwest Mint Growers Meeting is hosted by the Indiana Mint Market De-
velopment and Research Council, Agricultural Research at Purdue and Purdue
Extension. It will be held at Swan Lake Resort, 5203 Plymouth-LaPorte Trail
near Plymouth, Indiana.
Mint has been a staple crop in northwestern and north-central Indiana since
the late 1800s because of the favorable soil types and relatively high water in
the area. It also does well in southern Michigan and Wisconsin. Mint is pri-
marily grown for its oil, which is used as flavoring for gum and candy, tooth-
paste and other oral hygiene products, and in the pharmaceutical industry.
Indiana ranks fourth in peppermint production and fifth in spearmint produc-
tion in the United States. (cont. pg. 7)
7
The meeting will cover topics including weed management, crop insurance,
pest control and industry updates. Presentations from several Purdue spe-
cialists with expertise in economics, equipment, growing and processing will
be included in the meeting.
On Feb. 25, guest speaker Noel Stuckman, a longtime mint grower from
Michigan, will deliver an after-dinner talk about mint production in the
1940s. For more information on this meeting you can click on the link be-
low: https://ag.purdue.edu/arp/Pages/Mint.aspx.
Credits for private and commercial applicators and Certified Crop Adviser
continuing education units will be available. Private applicators are asked to
bring their license and $10 for the PARP fee.
Irrigated Soybean Meeting, February 29
Irrigated Soybean Production will be held 8:30 a.m. EST to 3:30 p.m. EST on
Monday, Feb. 29 at the Blue Gate Restaurant, 195 North Van Buren St., Ship-
shewana, Indiana.
This program will also feature speakers from both Purdue and Michigan State
Universities on the following topics: soybean seeding rates, irrigation schedul-
ing, soybean cyst nematode and diseases, and cutting soybean production
costs. In addition, a producer panel will share experiences raising irrigated soy-
beans. The program is co-sponsored by the Michigan Soybean Checkoff and the
Indiana Soybean Alliance.
Registration is $10 and an RSVP is requested. A meeting flyer with more infor-
mation can be found online at https://
events.anr.msu.edu/2016soybeanshipshewana. Registration deadline is Feb.
26.
Private and commercial applicators in Michigan and Indiana can get pesticide
applicator recertification credits. Indiana private applicators need to bring their
license and $10 for a PARP fee. Also, Certified Crop Advisers can get credits to-
ward their certifications.
Private and commercial applicators in Michigan and Indiana can get pesticide
applicator recertification credits. Indiana private applicators need to bring their
license and $10 for a PARP fee. Also, Certified Crop Advisers can get credits to-
ward their certifications.
8
2015 Corn and Soybean Performance Trial Data
The Purdue Crop Performance Program (PCPP) annual Corn and Soybean Per-
formance Trial Bulletin was recently posted online. The corn and soybean re-
sults are compiled from the 2015 growing season. Over 40 trial results were
collected from 13 test locations across Indiana. The PCPP is designed to help
farmers and others interested in crop production compare crop data across
Indiana and the surrounding states.
The Purdue Crop Performance Program collects corn and soybean data across
the state of Indiana. This data is used in the multi-state corn and soybean data-
bases. The databases are a tool used to effectively search and compare crop
test results. The databases are distinctive to Purdue University with results
from The Ohio State University, Michigan State University, University of Ken-
tucky and the University of Illinois.
In evaluating Indiana data, there are approximately 20 corn and 20 soybean
companies that are partnered with the program and over 200 corn hybrids and
180 soybean varieties evaluated each year. Each year a corn and soybean bul-
letin is designed to describe this data. The 2015 corn and soybean bulletin is
available at https://ag.purdue.edu/agry/pcpp.
Indiana farmers who raise soybeans are being asked to participate in a survey
to help identify soybean “yield gaps,” those factors that cause soybean yields
to be lower than what is and should be possible on your farm. Farmers are
asked to provide agronomic and yield information on four 2015 fields of soy-
bean and four 2014 fields of soybean that were grown on their farms.
Survey forms can be quickly completed as a “fillable” PDF form in a spread-
sheet format. The forms are available from the Porter County Extension office
(call 219-465-3555) or download a letter describing the soybean survey and
the forms at www.extension.purdue.edu/Porter. Surveys are asked to be re-
turned by February 29.
Keep in mind that all data submissions from Indiana soybean producers will be
kept strictly confidential. Annual reports will be provided to all crop producers
informing them of what factors have been identified that are likely limiting
soybean yields from reaching their full potential. Completed surveys can be
returned to the Porter County Extension office or they can be scanned and
emailed. Please contact Lyndsay Ploehn at the number above or email her at
lploehn@purdue.edu.
This project is funded by the North Central Soybean Research Program
(NCSRP) – part of soybean farmers’ check-off dollars. The goal is to collect at
least 300 surveys from across Indiana.
9
Small Farm Conference, March 3-5, 2016
The Purdue Extension Small Farms and Sustainable Agriculture Team is ex-
cited to announce the 4th Annual Indiana Small Farm Conference which
will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 3 – 5, 2016 at the Hen-
dricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex in Danville, Indi-
ana.
The Indiana Small Farm Conference will provide small farmers with oppor-
tunities to learn and interact with other farmers, producers, Extension ed-
ucators, researchers and students. There will be sessions about crop pro-
duction, hoop houses, livestock production, processing and marketing pro-
duce and foods, energy, and small farm management.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend practical pre-conference
workshops on Thursday, March 3. Formal conference sessions will be held
on Friday and Saturday, March 4 & 5.
For details visit www.ag.purdue.edu/smallfarms. To register for the 2016
Indiana Small Farm Conference, visit Purdue Extension – The Education
Store (www.the-education-store.com; scroll down to click on “Workshops”
on left side of page; select “Indiana Small Farm Conference” to begin the
registration process).
Cover Crops Workshop, March 29
Learn some of the many benefits of using cover crops in farming systems at a
workshop on Tuesday, March 29 beginning at 8:30 a.m. CDT at American Le-
gion located at 959 West Indiana Street (State Road 8) in Kouts. Sponsored
by Porter County SWCD and Purdue Extension, the workshop will include
morning presentations on the benefits of using cover crops in a cropping sys-
tem, nutrient cycling concepts using cover crops, soil moisture comparisons
with and without cover crops, and proper cover crop management and termi-
nation. Cover crop economic costs and benefits will also be discussed.
During the afternoon, visits will be made to a field farmed by Jim Kreiger
where cover crops have been planted to examine soil physical properties and
rooting depths.
Registration for the workshop is free, but participants are asked to RSVP to
get an accurate count for lunch and resource materials. Please call Porter Co.
SWCD at 219-462-7515 or Porter Co. Extension at 219-465-3555.
Credits for private and commercial applicators and Certified Crop Adviser
CEUs will be available. Private applicators are asked to bring their license and
$10 for the PARP fee.
10
Apple Pruning & Grafting Workshop, March 8
Purdue Extension-Lake County is hosting an Apple Pruning and Grafting Work-
shop on Tuesday, March 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. CST at Buckley Homestead locat-
ed at 3606 Belshaw Road, Lowell.
Dr. Peter Hirst, Purdue Horticulture Specialist, will first discuss the science be-
hind the pruning of fruit trees. He will then demonstrate pruning using the ap-
ple trees at the Buckley Homestead.
Dr. Hirst will also demonstrate the art of grafting. Participants can practice how
to graft their own trees. The entire program is free of charge to anyone that
wants to come and learn. However, if you would like to graft your own trees,
there is a $10 fee in order for you to take home up to 5 apple trees. Please
bring your own gloves! You can even bring sticks (scions) from your own favor-
ite apple trees to graft. You can check out the flyer on our website: exten-
sion.purdue.edu/porter
Pruning and grafting are very important for any fruit tree. Pruning the tree
makes sure the tree forms and grows in a way that it can hold up the fruit
without breaking. Proper pruning also helps the tree stay healthier by pre-
venting diseases. Healthy trees have good light getting to all portions of the
tree as well as better air circulation.
Grafting trees is where you take a portion of one tree and put it onto another
tree. This is especially useful for apple trees as it helps to control the height of
the tree. Otherwise all apple trees would be 20-30 feet tall. Grafting can also
help with certain plants to prevent disease problems.
To register for the program or questions, contact Nikky Witkowski, Purdue Ex-
tension-Lake County, by email nikky@purdue.edu, or phone 219-755-3240.
You can also register online at: https://purdue.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/
SV_3mlnnrjhSl3nLfL. Information can also be found on the Purdue Extension-
Lake County website: www.extension.purdue.edu/Lake; click on “Garden.”
11
Michiana Vegetable and Fruit Growers Meeting,
March 9
A Michiana Vegetable and Fruit Growers Meeting sponsored by Purdue
Extension will be held on Wednesday, March 9 at the Elkhart County Com-
munity Center located at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, 17746 Coun-
ty Road 34, Goshen, IN. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. EST with registra-
tion and an industry trade show.
The day-long program will include topics on using fungicides on vegetable
crops, new menacing insect pests and raising strawberries in high tunnels.
There will also be information on the Food Safety Modernization Act and
its impact on local growers; Drifwatch, a registry to help growers avoid
herbicide drift; and Foodlink, a new tool to help market produce. There
will also be discussions on managing fertility, the winter environment and
tomato support systems all in high tunnels. The meeting will conclude with
a panel discussion on important issues that producers are facing.
Registration is $30 and includes handouts and lunch. Discounts apply for
additional participants from the same operation. Registration deadline is
March 2. A registration flyer can be downloaded from
www.extension.purdue.edu/Porter.
Private and commercial applicators can get pesticide applicator recertifica-
tion credits. Indiana private applicators need to bring their license and $10
for a PARP fee. Also, Certified Crop Advisers can get credits toward their
certifications.
12
Avian Influenza Update
On January 15, 2016, it was announced that confirmed cases of Highly Patho-
genic Avian Influenza H7N8 were found in Dubois County, Indiana. State, local
and federal agencies have been working together on containment and depop-
ulation operations. On January 16, nine additional avian influenza detections
were announced, with the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirming on January 17
that eight flocks had been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza. There
have been no new positive tests since January 16.
Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe
to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus.
Human infection from an H7 virus is uncommon, but can cause some conjunc-
tivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Human health agencies will be
monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for illness.
Backyard poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian in-
fluenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866
-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana
for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated
for possible testing.
Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite;
decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple
discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneez-
ing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird
health information is online at: http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/.
Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities,
along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at:
www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm.
There have been no announcements from the Indiana Board of Animal Health
(BOAH) about the cancellation of any poultry exhibitions, including showing 4-
H poultry projects at county fairs in 2016. Information updates on poultry exhi-
bitions will be made available from BOAH and from local County Extension
offices.
Forbes.com
13
USDA News
Enrollment Underway for 2016 USDA Safety Net Coverage – Producers
who chose coverage from the safety net programs established by the 2014
Farm Bill, known as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss
Coverage (PLC) programs can now begin visiting FSA county offices to sign
contracts to enroll in coverage for 2016. The enrollment period will end on
Aug. 1, 2016.
Although the choices between ARC and PLC is completed and remains in
effect through 2018, producers must still enroll their farm by signing a con-
tract each year to receive the coverage. For more details regarding these
programs, go to www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.
USDA Begins 49th Enrollment Period for the Conservation Reserve Pro-
gram (CRP) – The general enrollment period for CRP is now underway and
ends on Feb. 26, 2016.
December 2015 also marked the 30th anniversary of CRP, a federally fund-
ed program that assists agricultural producers with the cos of restoring,
enhancing and protecting certain grasses shrubs and trees to improve wa-
ter quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. A com-
memorative website to mark this milestone for CRP is www.fsa.usda.gov/
CRPis30.
Purdue Extension Porter County
155 Indiana Ave.
Suite 301
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-465-3555
Fax: 219-464-8976
E-mail: lploehn@purdue.edu
It is the policy of the Purdue University
Cooperative Extension Service that all
persons have equal opportunity and access
to its educational programs, services,
activities, and facilities without regard to
race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin
or ancestry, marital status, parental status,
sexual orientation, disability or status as a
veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative
Action institution. This material may be
available in alternative formats.
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Important Dates to Remember
Feb 16 Pesticide App Train/Exam
Feb 17-18 Women in Ag Conference
Feb 25 Corn Production Workshop
Feb 25-26 Midwest Mint Growers
Feb 29 Irrigated Soybean Meeting
Mar 1-2 Farm Succession Planning
Mar 3-5 Small Farm Conference
Mar 8 Women in Ag Regional Meet
Mar 8 Apple Pruning and Grafting
Mar 9 Michiana Vegt. & Fruit Meeting
Mar 29 Cover Crops Workshop