10 Ways to Become a Locavore

Locavores are popping up all over the nation. They are a group of people who are focused on where their food come from and commit to eating local foods as much as possible. This may mean supporting a local farmer or are growing much of their own food in their back yard. Whatever their method, they are helping support their local agriculture and local economy!

If you are interested in this movement and want to find a way to get involved, start by contacting your local extension office.

Here in Harrison County, a group of people are calling themselves "Grassroots Locavores" and starting a movement to help change how people look at their food. Their mission is to educate their community on healthier eating habits and help support their local farms who use sustainable agriculture practices. They have started by hosting a Local Harvest Pot Luck dinner open to the public. Each season there will be a new theme and new foods available for the table. The dinner allows people to bring their favorite seasonal dish and share with others.
The next dinner will be held November 7th, at 6:00pm located at the Extension office, 247 Atwood St., Corydon, IN.
If you are interested in attending this one or want more information for future dinners and programs, contact me at the extension office! 812-738-4236

Now just a bit about becoming a locavore!

By Jennifer Maiser, PBS.org

1) Visit a farmers' market
Farmers' markets keep small farms in business through direct sales. Rather than going through a middleman, the farmer takes home nearly all of the money that you hand him or her for a delectable apple or a wonderful bunch of grapes. Need to find a market in your area? Try the USDA's farmers' market guide.

2) Lobby your supermarket
Ask your supermarket manager where your meat, produce and dairy is coming from. Remember that market managers are trained to realize that for each person actually asking the question, several others want to know the same answer. Let the market managers know what's important to you! Your show of interest is crucial to help the supermarket change its purchasing practices.

3) Choose 5 foods in your house that you can buy locally
Rather than trying to source everything locally all at once, try swapping out just 5 local foods. Fruits and vegetables that can be grown throughout the continental U.S. include apples, root vegetables, lettuce, herbs and greens. In most areas, it's also possible to find meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and cheese—all grown, harvested and produced close to your home.

4) Find a local CSA and sign-up!
Through a CSA—Community Supported Agriculture—program you invest in a local farm in exchange for a weekly box of assorted vegetables and other farm products. Most CSA programs provide a discount if you pre-pay for your share on a quarterly or yearly basis because a pre-payment allows the farm to use the cash in the springtime when money is needed for farm equipment or investment in the farm. CSA programs take the work out of buying local food, as the farmer does the worrying for you.

5) Preserve a local food for the winter
There's still time! Though we are headed into winter, many areas still have preservable fruits and vegetables available. Try your hand at making applesauce, apple butter and quince paste. To learn about safe preserving techniques, go to the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

6) Find out what restaurants in your area support local farmers
You can do this by asking the restaurants about their ingredients directly, or by asking your favorite farmers what restaurant accounts they have. Frequent the businesses that support your farmers.

7) Host a local Thanksgiving
Participate in the 100-mile Thanksgiving project by making a dish or an entire meal from local foods.

8) Buy from local vendors
Can't find locally grown? How about locally produced? Many areas have locally produced jams, jellies and breads as well as locally roasted coffee and locally created confections. While these businesses may not always use strictly local ingredients in their products, by purchasing them you are supporting the local economy.

9) Ask about origins
Not locally grown? Then where is it from? Call the producer of your favorite foods to see where the ingredients are from. You'll be amazed how many large processed food companies are unable to tell you where your food came from. By continuing to ask the questions we are sending a message to the companies that consumers want to know the origin of ingredients.

10) Visit a farm
Find a farm in your area and call to make an appointment to see the farm. When time allows, the farmers are usually happy to show a family or a group around the farm. When you visit, ask the farmers what challenges they have had and why they choose to grow what they are growing. Be sure to take the kids along on this journey! Children need to know where their food is coming from in order to feel a sense of connection to their dinner.

November Calendar

It's getting colder, but there's no lack of things to do at the extension office this winter!

Upcoming Forestry Programs

I wanted to make you aware of a couple of forestry programs coming up in November.


Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Conference, Nov. 4-5 in Jasper, IN – a two day event with field tours and several education sessions.
Agenda and registration information at: http://www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr/ifwoa/Pages/annualmeeting.aspx


Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center field day, Friday, Nov. 11 at SEPAC – field tours highlighting hardwood tree research efforts including black walnut, butternut, black cherry, red and white oak.
Program and registration information at http://www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr/Documents/HTIRCDay11_2011.pdf


Please share with any of your contacts who may be interested.
Thanks!

Home Invaders of the Six-Legged Kind

By Tome TurpinProfessor of Entomology; Purdue University
turpin@purdue.edu

It happens every year about this time. I refer of course to the arrival of fall. It is an appropriately named season. Leaves fall from trees. Football teams fall from the ranks of the unbeaten. Nuts, apples and acorns fall from their nurturing boughs. Petals fall from the last flowers. And temperatures fall from the highs of summer. All of this falling stuff means that winter is on the way.
But there are other signs. Some birds bid our fields and gardens a fond farewell and head south. Other creatures just hunker down for the cold season, a process known as hibernation. These animals generally store up a supply of fat to use as energy during their long winter's nap. Some squirrels build a nest from leaves and twigs for protection from the howling wind and cold. Cold-blooded frogs, toads, salamanders and snakes burrow into the soil for winter insulation.
Insects are also cold blooded, and they don't do winter either. A few insects build winter protection in a squirrel-like fashion. For instance, some giant silkworm moths spin a cocoon for their winter quarters. Other moths wrap themselves in a leaf blanket. In these cases the insect whiles away the days of ice and snow as a pupa inside a winter cover.
Some species of insects are much like frogs and toads because they seek shelter as winter approaches. Insects crawl into piles of leaves, beneath the soil or under the bark of trees. And like some birds a few insects, such as the monarch, migrate to warmer climes for the winter.
Still other insects do a short migration from their summer habitats and seek shelter in our homes. These six-legged home invaders do not receive warm welcomes from the human homeowners. Quite the opposite. We humans look with disdain at any insects brazen enough to try to move into our quarters. So who are these dastardly demons of the insect world?

Asian lady beetle

First, there is the Asian lady beetle. These beetles are sometimes called Halloween beetles because of their orange coloring and propensity to show up around Halloween time. This insect was introduced to the United States because, like all lady beetles, it feeds on pest aphids. Like other species of lady beetles this one also spends the winter in sheltered sites. But it is more likely than other lady beetle species to seek winter protection in our homes, and because of the sometimes-high populations of the insect, it can become a real nuisance.

Asian Lady Beetle


Attic fly

Another home invader is the attic fly, sometimes called a cluster fly. This fly, about the size and color of the well-known housefly, is so-called because it frequently hibernates in the attics of our homes. It can also be found in winter slumber in corners of garages, wall voids and chimney flues.
Paper wasp queens hibernate and will also take up winter residence in unused portions of human dwellings. These social-insect queens spend the winter in hibernation; with the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures they will try to establish a nest under the eves of a house, barn or shed.

Attic Fly

Boxelder bug

A number of true bugs also try to share our domiciles during the months of winter. These include stink bugs, squash bugs and that notorious home invader, the boxelder bug. True bugs are called that because scientists agree that these insects classified in the order Hemiptera are the only insects that are bugs. The name is based on one of the group called the bed bug, but that is another story. The bugs in general produce an odor. That means you can generally use your nose to tell some bugs are hiding in the corner of the garage in the fall.
The marmorated stink bug is another insect that behaves as if our houses were built for the purpose of providing winter sanctuaries for six-legged creatures. This stink bug is becoming more of a pest on fruits in the Eastern part of the United States. In the fall, just like the lady beetles, the paper wasps and the attic flies, this insect tries to move into our homes. And that, my friends, means we homeowners are becoming used to seeing insects marching across the living room wall in the dead of winter.

Boxelder Bug

October Ag Outlook

October 10, 2011
REVISITING RECENT CORN STOCKS ESTIMATES

While the USDA’s estimate of the September 1, 2011 inventory of old crop corn is old news, there are ongoing questions surrounding the quarterly stocks estimates.  For corn, quarterly stocks estimates have not been well anticipated since June 2010.

The June 1, 2010 estimate of stocks was surprisingly small and implied feed and residual use during the previous quarter that was too large.  The September 1, 2010 estimate of stocks was larger than anticipated based on the level of June 1 stocks, but seemed to “correct” for the small estimate in June.  The implied feed and residual use for the 2010-11 marketing year based on that estimate was reasonable. 


The December 1, 2010 and March 1, 2011 estimates of stocks were marginally smaller than expected and implied a high rate of feed and residual use during the first half of the marketing year, 8 percent above that of the previous year.  In contrast, the June 1, 2011 estimate of stocks was much larger than expected and implied a very dramatic slowdown in the rate of feed and residual use during the third quarter of the 2010-11 marketing year.   Unlike in the previous year, the September 1, 2011 stocks estimate did not correct for the large June estimate, but instead compounded the implications of the June estimate.  Implied feed and residual use of corn during the final quarter of the marketing year was unreasonably small and implied use for the last half of the 2010-11 marketing year was a third less than in the same period a year earlier. Such a large decline seems unreasonable given that the number of livestock fed was larger, average slaughter weights were about equal, implied feed and residual use of wheat was 45 million bushels less, feeding of soybean meal was down 4 to 5 percent, and feeding of distillers grains was only about 3 percent larger. Calculated feed and residual use of corn for the 2010-11marketing year is unreasonably small.  The estimate of large September 1 stocks also appears at odds with the on-going very strong corn basis.

Explanations offered for the surprisingly large September 1 stocks include the possibility that the 2010 corn crop was under-estimated and/or the amount of corn used for ethanol production has been over-estimated.   If correct, either of these explanations would result in a larger calculation for feed and residual use and might make sense if the September stocks estimate was the only one available for the year.  However, neither explanation is consistent with the level of stocks on December 1, 2010 or March 1, 2011.  In addition, the size of errors implied by these explanations would have to be very large to result in a reasonable calculation of feed and residual use for the year.  Some speculate that stocks of the newly harvested crop were included in the estimate of “old crop” stocks.  Such an inclusion would require unique reporting errors by survey respondents and those errors would have to be very large to result in a reasonable calculation of feed and residual use in the last quarter of the year.  There is not an obvious problem with USDA methodology that has produced reasonable stocks estimates until recently.  

The implied low level of feed and residual use last year complicates the forecast for the current year.  Use might be expected to decline in 2011-12 due to a combination of unchanged hog numbers, declines in broiler chick placements, declining cattle feedlot inventories starting in early 2012, and a stable supply of distillers grains.  But will use really decline from the extremely low level implied for 2010-11?

Corn prices declined after the release of the September 1 stocks estimate, but were already under pressure as a result of concerns about U.S. and world economic conditions and a general decline in commodity prices (excluding livestock).  In addition, the corn market has been influenced by reports of better-than-expected yields.  It is yet to be determined if “better-than-expected’ translates into “higher-than-forecast’.  The USDA will release new corn production and consumption forecasts on October 12. 

The recent decline in corn prices has resulted in profitable margins for almost all users of corn, suggesting that prices are low enough to encourage an increase in consumption.  The USDA’s October reports will provide a new benchmark for evaluating consumption.  After that, weekly estimates of exports, ethanol production, and broiler placements will provide information to gauge the pace of consumption relative to projections and to judge the price level.

Issued by Darrel Good and Scott Irwin
Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics
University of Illinois

October Calendar

What a great start to the fall season! I'll have more things to add to the calendar as they are sent to me! Keep checking for updates!

Imprelis Herbicide Banned from Sale, Use in Indiana

Adapted from the Purdue University News Service by Keith Robinson

The Office of Indiana State Chemist has banned the sale, distribution and use of Imprelis in the state after investigating hundreds of complaints and finding that the herbicide was responsible for damage to trees and ornamental plants..
The office this week is notifying lawn care companies and other professional users of the herbicide made by DuPont that the product's registration in Indiana has been canceled, said Dave Scott, pesticide administrator with the state chemist's office, based at Purdue University.

"The only thing they are permitted to do with it is return it to DuPont for disposal," Scott said. "We have been advised by DuPont that they will be reimbursed for it whether it is in a closed container or an open container. There is no reason to hold onto it."

Indiana's action follows a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency order in August requiring DuPont to stop selling and distributing it. The step Indiana took was necessary to prohibit others from selling and using it in the state, Scott said.
"Imprelis is already out there, so this is a way to plug any holes because the EPA order technically applied only to DuPont," Scott said. "Now, Imprelis cannot be sold, distributed or used by anyone in Indiana."

The office had notified DuPont in August that it intended to cancel the registration, and the company was given until Sept. 15 to appeal. Instead, the company voluntarily asked the state chemist to cancel it, Scott said.

DuPont and the EPA are working out procedures for recall of the chemical, Scott said.
Imprelis, with the active ingredient aminocyclopyrachlor, was approved by the EPA and registered in Indiana late last year for use by lawn care companies and other professionals. It was not available through retail sale.

The herbicide was intended to control a variety of broadleaf weeds such as ground ivy (creeping Charlie) and wild violet on lawns, golf courses, parks, cemeteries, athletic fields and sod farms.

Extension services in more than 20 states from Kansas to Pennsylvania reported cases of damage to trees and ornamentals possibly associated with Imprelis.

Imprelis became the target of complaints in Indiana in the spring from lawn care providers and their customers who suspected it was damaging trees – mainly evergreens –and ornamental plants near where it was applied. The state chemist in July urged lawn care providers not to use it until experts determined whether it was causing the damage. Since then, investigations have determined that Imprelis was the cause, Scott said.

The state chemist's office has investigated nearly 400 complaints about Imprelis since June, the most complaints about any herbicide Scott has seen in his 30 years at the state chemist's office. He said the office is finalizing the investigations and that property owners and applicators will receive a copy of the investigation report for their property.

DuPont earlier this month sent notices to users of Imprelis specifying how it would handle damage claims, Scott said. Those wanting to submit a claim must do so by Nov. 30.

"For anybody who calls in now with a complaint about Imprelis, we're encouraging them to contact DuPont to make sure they get their claims processed by the cutoff date," Scott said.

More information about Imprelis, including how to submit a claim to DuPont, is available on the state chemist's website at http://www.isco.purdue.edu.

September Calendar

I know September is already half over, but the fall workshops have just begun!
Keep checking back and I'll try to update this calendar once a week!

Bovine TB Investigation Ends, Wild Surveillance Continues

CONTACT: Denise Derrer, BOAH Public Information Director, 317-544-2414; dderrer@boah.in.gov
Phil Bloom, DNR Communications Director, 317-232-4003; pbloom@dnr.in.gov

INDIANAPOLIS (15 September 2011)— The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) staff has completed testing for bovine tuberculosis of all livestock herds linked to animals associated with the infected (or “index”) herd. Quarantines on the index site, located in Dearborn County, were officially released in August, after the site and facilities were depopulated, cleaned and disinfected, then left empty for 60 days.

The investigation began in late December, when a Mycobacterium bovis-positive beef cow that tested positive at slaughter was traced to Southeastern Indiana. Since then, BOAH staff tested more than 1000 head of cattle and 3 goats that had contact with high-risk animals associated with the index herd. Another 174 animals in 10 states were also traced to or from the herd.

Throughout the investigation, only 15 beef animals, all part of the index herd, tested positive on culture for the disease. All were euthanized for confirmatory testing.

As part of the investigation, 47 free-ranging white-tailed deer on or near the index site were collected by Indiana Department of Natural Resource (DNR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services for testing. None tested positive for TB. Wildlife surveillance efforts will continue during this fall’s deer hunting season.

Since 2009, more than 690 deer from Franklin, Fayette, Harrison and Wayne counties have been sampled for TB when hunters check their animals at DNR stations. With the latest cattle case, that surveillance will be expanded to include Dearborn County.

Indiana has held a bovine tuberculosis-free status since 1984 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under federal guidelines, that status remains. The last time a Hoosier cattle herd tested positive for the disease was in the 1970s.

About Bovine TB

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease that affects primarily cattle, but can be transmitted to any warm-blooded animal. TB is difficult to diagnose through clinical signs alone. In the early stages of the disease, clinical signs are not visible. Later, signs may include: emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Lymph node enlargement may also be present. Cattle owners who notice these signs in their livestock should contact their private veterinarian.

More information about the disease and details for this fall’s hunting season will be available online at: www.in.gov/dnr and www.in.gov/boah .

Weekly Outlook - "Early Price Peak for Corn and Soybeans?"

Darrel Good, Ag Economist; University of Illinois

The 2011-12 corn and soybean marketing years will be characterized by the need to reduce consumption of both crops. The magnitude of those needed reductions are not yet known and the prices needed to make those cuts will depend on the strength of underlying demand.
Based on the most recent USDA projections and the assumption that year ending stocks need to be maintained at or above 5 percent of consumption, corn use would need to be reduced by only about 30 million bushels, or 0.2 percent, during the year ahead. Soybean consumption would need to be reduced by 122 million bushels, or 3.7 percent. The actual reductions needed will depend on the final consumption estimates for the 2010-11 marketing year, the magnitude of old crop inventories on September 1, and the size of the 2011 harvest.
Unfolding evidence suggests that the 2011 U.S. corn crop could be smaller than the initial projection of 12.914 billion bushels. Preliminary certified acreage data released by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) suggests that planted acreage fell short of the NASS estimate of 92.282 million acres. In addition, weather conditions since late July in conjunction with early harvest results and yield survey results suggest that the U.S. average yield may be below the initial USDA forecast of 153 bushels. The USDA will release new production forecasts on September 12 and October 12. The final FSA acreage data, along with any additional information from the monthly NASS surveys, will be incorporated in the October production forecast. History also suggests that the October yield forecast will be reasonably close to the final estimate. The corn market is clearly expecting a substantial reduction in the forecast of 2011-12 marketing year corn supplies.
For soybeans, there is less as well as conflicting evidence about potential crop size. The USDA’s initial forecast of the U.S. average yield of 41.4 bushels was surprisingly small. At the same time, August weather has not been uniformly favorable for soybean crop development and FSA acreage data suggests that planted acreage may have been even less than the 74.958 million estimated by NASS. Recent price behavior suggests that the market is expecting a smaller crop than the current USDA forecast of 3.056 billion bushels.
Some of the needed reduction in corn and soybean consumption during the 2011-12 marketing year may occur as a result of weaker demand. There are multiple sources of a potentially weaker demand scenario for U.S. corn and soybean crops. These include the generally weak economic environment and continued high unemployment rate that could weaken demand for meat and livestock products; the current abundance of competitively priced wheat that could be substituted for corn and soybean meal in livestock feed rations; lower energy prices that would weaken the demand for biofuels; and larger South American crops in response to the current high prices.
Depending on the size of the 2011 harvest and the size of the old crop inventories at the beginning of the 2011-12 marketing year, weaker demand may not be sufficient to ration supplies. The market is currently reflecting expectations that higher corn and soybean prices will also be required to limit consumption. The market response to prospects for smaller supplies suggests that a “short crop” price pattern for corn and soybeans may unfold during the year ahead. Such a pattern would point to a price peak very early in the marketing year and then declining prices as the year progresses as evidence of slowing consumption unfolded. Elements for a decline in the rate of consumption may already be in place. The number of cattle in feedlots, for example, is currently high due to drought conditions in the southwest. Feedlot numbers will likely decline over the coming year. The profitability of poultry, milk, and hog production is being reduced by current price relationships. The ethanol blender tax credit is due to expire at the end of 2011 so that ethanol production above the mandated level will require favorable blending margins. Still, there is a lot of uncertainty about demand for U.S. corn and soybeans. These uncertainties include corn demand from China and the size of the upcoming South American crops.
While a lot of unknowns persist, it now appears that smaller supplies will push corn and soybean prices even higher in the short run, with prices peaking early in the marketing year and moving erratically lower into the winter.

2011 American Forage & Grassland Conference

AFGC and the Indiana Forage Council invite you to join us for the 2011 AFGC Annual Conference June 12-15 at French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick, IN. Part of the conference includes onsite tours of local farm and ag center operations. Below are the tour descriptions for 2011:
• 2011 AFGC Professional Tour Highlights

Hay Tour
The hay tour events will take place at the Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center (SIPAC). This tour will combine educational workshops with new equipment field demonstrations. Presentations will cover various topics including “the past, present and future hay harvesting equipment” and matching equipment to harvesting conditions to make the highest quality end product. Mowers, tedders and rakes, balers, wrappers and other equipment will be demonstrated until designated fields are harvested and baled. These side-by-side equipment demonstrations are intended to show producers how the machines run when put in a field under sometimes not-so-ideal conditions. The demonstrations should be especially helpful to producers who are considering purchasing new or used equipment.
At SIPAC in Dubois County, researchers serve needs of farmers who work the sandstone-shale soils of the area. On the 1100 acre property researchers have a history of intense research in production and utilization of forages and agronomic crops, management of beef and dairy cattle, and catfish production. Current research concentrates on beef cattle management, grazing trials, forage and crop production, and forest management.
Beef Tour
Kaiser Farms
Jim and Doris operate a fourth-generation (since 1902) family farm in Crawford County, Indiana, with and their son, Jim Ed. They own 418 contiguous acres saddled across Williams Ridge between the Fleming Creek and the Allen Creek tributaries on the south side of Patoka Lake. Rotationally grazed permanent pastures (since 1946) of tall fescue, red clover, and ladino clover are maintained on 250 acres. An additional 150 acres of hay and pasture are leased from nearby owners. Eight farm ponds and three spring developments supply water year around through permanently located watering tanks to the cow herds. Intense soil and water conservation practices (grassed water ways, terraces, water and sediment control basins, and rock chute) control run-off into five intermittent streams originating on the farm which flow directly into Patoka Lake. Farm management focuses on sustainability and profitably of forage-livestock enterprise. Farm is a member of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, Indiana Charolais Association, American-International Charolais Association, and Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association
Cow Herd: A registered herd of Charolais cattle (established in 1959) consists of approximately 100 cows and replacement heifers is managed as a commercial herd. Herd bulls are leased from a local Charolais breeder. Four spring calving herds of approximately 25 cows are managed separately in rotationally grazed grass-legume pastures supplemented with hay during winter.
Marketing Breeding Cattle: Their breeding cattle marketing program consists of: (1) registered male and females for breeding are sold annually at the South Central Indiana Spring Charolais Sale at Milltown, Indiana; (2) annually entering 1-4 bulls into the Indiana Beef Evaluation Program (IBEP) bull test station; and (3) private treaty at the farm.
Marketing Feeder Cattle: Their finishing program focuses on retained ownership in feeders (1) finished in the Indiana Beef Evaluation Economics Feeding Program (IBEEF) custom feed lots in Indiana, (2) finished in custom feed lots of Laura’s Lean Beef, a program that promotes lean, muscular breeds of cattle raised without antibiotics and growth hormones, or (3) in similar local finishing programs. Carcass data collected at harvest from finishing programs is entered into the breed associations expected progeny difference (EPD) calculations and used in the selection of herd bull and heifer replacements.
Native hardwood forest growing on 118 acres is enrolled in the management plan of the Indiana Classified Forest & Wildlands program. Farmstead, ponds, roads and additional forested lands account for the remaining 50 owned acres. Intermediate timber harvests are taken every 15 to 20 years (last in 2010). Timber harvested from these acres is marketed as “Green Certified”. Membership is maintained in.

James Farm
Established in 1976, James Farms has strived to improve both the productivity of their land and cattle. Larry and Marlene James started with 5 heifers and quickly learned the value of a good fence between them and their neighbor as the bull came to visit. Since that time the herd has grown to 100 head of Simmental Angus commercial cows grazing on 220 acres in Perry county Indiana.
The herd is split into a spring and fall calving herds. The James’ utilizes artificial breeding on the heifers and 2nd calf cows and clean up with herd bulls. By utilizing the split herd they are better able to utilize their herd bull power. Another goal with the split herd is to have finished cattle available year around for their growing freezer beef business. With the recent addition of a small old dairy facility they now have a place to wean calves and feed them out away from the southern Indiana mud.
Larry and Marlene’s pasture base has grown over the years to accommodate the growing cow herd. The majority of the pastures are cool season grasses and clovers. Some area is used each year for summer annual forages for both high quality winter feed and grazing. Both the summer annuals and extra spring forage growth are made into baleage for better winter forage. They began into rotation grazing in 1997 with the installation of a water system that allowed for water to be in more locations in the pastures. Since that time efforts have been made to improve forages and forage management though the help of NRCS and Purdue Extension specialists.
Sheep and Goat Tour
Embree Farms
Embree Farms, producing registered and commercial hair sheep breeding stock, is located in Washington County, Indiana at the west edge of Livonia, a small community of 110 people. Embree Farms has been put together over the past eleven years. The farm originally consisted of 28 rolling acres of Karst topography full of sink holes and deep ditches plus a large pond. Two years later, another 25 adjoining acres were added. This past fall, another 10 acres with a 70 X 200 ft. riding arena and an old barn with 12 horse stalls were added for a total of 63 acres. An additional 100 acres in Lawrence County (a farm that has been in the Embree family for over 120 years) is currently being rented. The Hoosier Homestead farm is owned jointly by my brother and me.
Beginning with a herd of 12 Dorsett ewes, the livestock operation has progressed to an enterprise containing 300 sheep consisting of registered Katahdin and Dorper ewes and crossbred hair sheep. At one time, almost 400 ewes were making their home at Embree Farms. With the addition of the last 10 acres and the barns, I am changing my operation, The plan is to maintain a herd of 240 hair sheep ewes and employ the Cornell Star System for sheep which will consist of lambing three groups of 80 ewes five times a year inside the converted indoor riding area, selling registered and commercial breeding stock plus market lambs. In the past, ewes have lambed on grass in March and April with another group lambing in October. With the converted barn, ewes will lamb year around with each group of 80 ewes producing three lamb crops in two years.
The goal for Embree Farms is to provide year around grazing for the 160 ewes in the breeding and early gestation groups plus the ewe lambs and yearling ewes saved for breeding stock sales. Hay will be purchased for feeding the 80 ewes housed in the converted barn (riding arena). Commercial market lambs will be housed in the old stable, and lambs will be fattened for market utilizing alternative feed – currently soy hull pellets and corn gluten pellets.
To maintain year around grazing for the sheep, a rotational grazing program has been established using eight 3-acre paddocks of cool season grasses (tall fescue and orchard grass) plus legumes (red and ladino clovers) Approximately twelve acres of orchard grass, meadow brome and lespedeza divided into four paddocks are utilized for summer grazing. Twelve acres of winter annuals, oats, turnips, and cereal rye, are strip grazed in November and December. Stockpiled tall fescue is utilized for grazing in January, February, and March. The cereal rye is again strip grazed in April and early May. For the first time this year, I will be using a mini round baler to bale excess forage production from the cool season grasses which will be left in the paddocks to provide supplemental summer and/or winter forage.
The approximately 8 acres of pasture with the new barns is a work in progress; it has been allowed to deteriorate in the past (lots of dock and horse weeds). The goal is to convert this acreage into productive forage and eventually be able to provide at least half of the currently purchased hay.
SIPAC
The second stop on the sheep and goat tour will be at the Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center (SIPAC). Since 2004 SIPAC has been home to a commercial meat goat operation. The herd consists of 100 crossbred females. Breed type is predominantly Boer X Kiko cross with young does being sired by a savannah buck. The herd is managed for commercial production with as little off the farm feed as possible and the end goal being profitable with local market sales of the finished animals. On this stop participants will have the opportunity to tour the goat facilities and hear from researchers from Purdue, University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University who have collaborated on the goat projects at SIPAC. Research projects that will be highlighted are finishing meat goats on summer annuals such as sorghum sudangrass, evaluation of treatment programs to improve internal parasite control, utilizing cross breeding to improve performance and parasite resistance, and utilizing goats for weed and brush control.

To register for the conference please go www.afgc.org and follow the links from the home page. Attendees may register online or by downloading a registration form. If you have any questions regarding details or registration for the 2011 AFGC Annual Conference please contact the AFGC National Office at 800.944.2342 or by email at info@afgc.org.

Once again, we appreciate your ongoing support for AFGC and look forward to seeing everyone in the Crossroad of America, June 12-15.

May Calendar

Does it seem like we just past Spring and went right into Summer! Whew!
Be prepared for what seems like a very warm spring and an even warmer summer!

Farming With Cowpower???

With fuel prices rising daily, as it seems, some small farm producers are using an on standby to plow and plant their fields.
Check it out!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/dining/04oxen.html?pagewanted=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha210

2011 Farm Management Tour

Purdue University and Indiana Prairie Farmer are accepting registrations to the annual farm management tour. You will be able to see several different farm and co-ops around the state.
The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, June 27th
Noon - 2:30 pm, EDT
The tour kicks off with a lunch, sponsored by Ceres Solutions at Unger Farmers in Carlisle, IN

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm, EDT
Melon Acres, Oaktown, IN

5:00 pm, EDT
Master Farmer pre-dinner reception with dinner program to follow



Wednesday, June 28th
8:00 am - 9:15 am, EDT
T.S. Boyd Grain, Inc., Washington, IN

10:00 am - 11:15 am, EDT
Carnaham & Sons Farm in Vincennes, IN

Noon - 1:45 pm, EDT
Tour closes with lunch, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau at Villwock Farms, Edwardsport, IN

Immediately following the Villwock Farm tour, Dr. Chris Hurt from Purdue will offer the agricultural outlook.

Registration for the tour is available at http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/commercialag/progevents/tour.html

Registration for the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Banquest is available by calling (765)-494-8593

If you would like to carpool, let me know at the office, and I'll try and connect interested people to share a ride to the farms. 812-738-4236
Thanks!

Scott Dee to Speak at Biosecurity Meeting for Pork Producers

INDIANAPOLIS (11 April 2011)—Pork producers are invited to attend a seminar on swine industry biosecurity practices and an update on the latest research on Thursday, April 21, hosted by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. The featured speaker will be veterinarian Scott Dee of the University of Minnesota.

The meeting will be held at 1 pm at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Indiana Farm Bureau building banquet hall, located in Indianapolis. The seminar is free.

Dr. Dee is a leading industry researcher in virus transmission and biosecurity related to PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome). First identified in the mid-1980s, PRRS is a viral disease of swine that causes lower fertility, abortions and still-born pigs, as well as respiratory problems such as pneumonia. Estimates place industry economic losses related to the disease at $560 million annually, making PRRS an economically significant issue to the swine industry. Dr. Dee will share the latest information about tactics producers can use to prevent herd infection.

For more information about the seminar, contact BOAH at 317-544-2414 or animalhealth@boah.in.gov.

Spring Has Sprung!

The Harrison County Farmer's Market will start on Saturday June 18th at 8:00 am. They will be located at the Grace Hall Baptist Church on Old Hwy 135.
Come check out what is available in Harrison County. Let's support our local agriculture and get some great, locally grown foods as well!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/harrisoncountyfarmersmarket

Harrison County Farmer's Market in the Spot Light!

This week, the Harrison County Farmer's Market is being featured on the Going Local Indiana Website.
Check out their other posts.
I've added the link to my Blogs to Follow so you can check it out later in the season for other information!
http://www.goinglocal-info.com/

It's a New Month!

I see warmer days coming up. It's time to be outside in the evenings and on the weekends preparing the ground for planting. Keep checking back for more information about the Farmer's Market and the Community Gardens!
Let me know if you are interested in either one of these!

Some Good News About Food

This article was brought to my attention today. It's a opinions page from the New York Times, but it does make you think about ways to help out in your own community!
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/food-six-things-to-feel-good-about/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Today is National Ag Day!

Today, March 15th has been declared National Ag Day in D.C.
Check out the website:
http://www.agday.org/

What will you do today to support or promot agriculture in your community?
Thank a Farmer! You would not be here without them!

See what else is going on at the Ag Day Blog!:
http://agdayblog.blogspot.com/

Spring Time Brings New Life!

As we approach spring and warmer weather, insects are making themselves present in and out of our houses and barns. Please note the new links to the right of the page that may have some information on insects in all areas.
If you have any questions about an insect problem, let me know! Take a picture, or better yet, bring me one of the bugs you are dealing with so I can correctly identify!

Animal Health Advisory

Wisconsin Imposes TB-Testing Requirements on Indiana Cattle
(3 March 2011)

Wisconsin’s State Veterinarian has notified the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) that all cattle entering Wisconsin from Indiana must test negative for bovine tuberculosis (TB) within the 60 days prior to entry. This is a direct result of the recent discovery of bovine tuberculosis in Southeastern Indiana. These restrictions apply to all Indiana cattle, regardless of where they originate in the state.

Wisconsin does not have an age exemption for any cattle. The only exemptions are for cattle moving directly to slaughter or to one of Wisconsin’s approved feedlots. Veal calves younger than 30 days of age at import, imported solely for feeding prior to slaughter, may enter if they are accompanied by a permit and are confined the their original point of destination until slaughter.

Animals originating from an accredited tuberculosis-free herd may enter, if they are accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection that includes the herd certification number and the date of the herd’s last TB test.

Wisconsin’s State Veterinarian indicates the requirement shall remain in place until the index herd is depopulated and herds linked to the case by epidemiology test negative. BOAH’s investigation is still in the very early stages, and an expected date of completion is not yet known.

More information about Wisconsin’s livestock entry requirements, as well as the full text of the rule, is available online at:
http://datcp.wi.gov/Animals/Animal_Movement/index.aspx

March Calendar

We're in to the 3rd month of 2011!
Check out what's happening in extension!
Also, I've added other blogs to check out to the right side of the page under Blogs to Follow!
Click away!

More Webinars available from Extension.org

Along with tomorrow's webinar, there are several more available on the extension.org website.
Topics include GMO contaminations, Local food systems, and organic no-till.
Vist http://www.extension.org/article/25242
for more information.
For previously recorded sessions, please visit http://www.extension.org/article/24989
and http://www.extension.org/organic_production

Food Systems Webinar

There will be a webinar available on Tuesday, March 1st at 2:00 pm. The topic is: "North Carolina's Statewide Initiative for Building a Local Food Economy" by Dr. Nancy Creamer and Teisha Wymore, NCSU.
Please register at www.extension.org/article/31868


The Webinar will describe the Center for Environmental Farming Systems statewide Local Foods Initiative in North Carolina, and highlight some of the accomplishments, partnerships, and priorities for action. A key initiative, The 10% Campaign, will be described in detail.

Equine Business Management

Purdue has requested horse owners/enthusiasts to provide information on the economic impact of the horse industry in Indiana.
Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.
It can be found at http://som.purduecal.edu/survey/

Thank you!

February Calendar

Hello all!
I have been reposting the google calendar every month. Notice you can go back to a previous month, or look ahead to a new month!
Also, if you have a google calendar of your own, you can add my scheduled events to your own so you won't miss it!
Thanks!

Oprah's Challenge

I thought this was a very interesting article!
I watched the episode last night and was very proud of Cargill's presentation of their processing plant! I thought they answered every question and concern very well!
Here was someone else's opinion:
http://haley-farms.com/blog/2011/02/01/oprah’s-one-week-challenge

Growing for Market session

Some of you may have already heard the Growing for Market session scheduled for tonight has been cancelled. Unfortunately the speakers are unable to make it to the meeting site in Hancock county, as there is pretty severe weather up North! I suppose the internet can't always solve this problem! :) The program will continue as scheduled next week, Wednesday at 6:30 in the Dryden room at the new extension office. AS for this week, I am still waiting to hear from the speakers as to when they will reschedule! Stay tuned for that update.

A little heads up for upcoming weather!

Greetings!
Rosie Lerner, the Master Gardener State Coordinator just sent this through my email.

"Many area homeowners are concerned about the potential damage to landscape plants if the predicted heavy snow and ice comes to pass.
In typical ice storms, the trees hardest hit are weak wooded species such as silver maples, Siberian elms, river birch, and willows. Trees that have been previously topped generally respond by re-growing numerous weak branches that are even more susceptible to breakage. These are among the first of the branches that fall during an ice storm.
Evergreens, both trees and shrubs, are also particularly vulnerable because they still have foliage and so tend to collect more snow and ice loads. Evergreen trees, such as pine and spruce, are not capable of filling in new top growth where the damage has occurred, so the natural shape of the tree will be permanently affected.
There’s not much that can be practically done to protect large trees from such damage. For multi-stemmed shrubs that can be reached safely, you can help prevent or at least minimize damage from heavy snow and ice loads by bundling stems together using burlap or canvas or simply with cord or twine.
Once the storm subsides, carefully remove heavy snow as soon as possible using a soft broom or rubber rake, but don't try to remove ice. Damage to the bark is more likely in trying to remove ice than simply allowing it to melt on its own."

Hope this helps!