Indiana Seed Weblog

Presidential Candidates Pledge Support to Agriculture
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Council of Presidents has been meeting this week in Washington D.C. and on Wednesday were addressed via teleconference by presumptive presidential candidates Barrack Obama and John McCain. Both pledged their support of American agriculture.
http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/wire/news/01175_candidatesatAFB_103345.php
USDA Makes Additional Funds Available for Farmers
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced an additional $200 million will be made available through the 2008 Farm Bill to help farmers nationwide to solve natural resource problems through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers EQIP, which provides financial and technical assistance to producers. “These additional funds will help our Indiana farmers in addressing critical natural resource issues,” said Indiana NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty. “With this announcement, Indiana will receive $9 million through EQIP that will help us fund a large number of the 402 EQIP applications in backlog.”
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=531&yr=2008
Help available for agricultural land damage
The Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Indiana State Soil and Conservation Board and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, is assessing the Shelby County landowners’ needs for disaster recovery assistance, a Shelby County SWCD spokeswoman said Monday. Potential funding will be based on the amount of damage and destruction that agricultural lands received and will be administered only through the Shelby County SWCD.
http://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=93&ArticleID=56515&TM=23510.52

Young Farmer Award Deadline Nears
Young farmers who are members of Indiana Farm Bureau have a few more days to apply for the IFB Young Farmer Achievement Award or Excellence in Agriculture Award. “Indiana has had three national young farmer winners in the last four years — our young farmers can compete with the best in the nation,” said Chris Fenner, IFB Young Farmer program coordinator. “We have so many young members making a difference in their communities and I consider these applications a great opportunity for them to review their operations and get recognition for their management skills or their contributions to the agriculture industry.”
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=521&yr=2008

Agenda set for Top Farmer workshop at Purdue
Information that goes beyond crop production and prices will be presented to several dozen farmers during four days next week at Purdue University. The 41st annual Top Farmer Crop Workshop, which begins Sunday, will feature more than 40 sessions on topics that range from land prices and no-till farming to cellulosic energy and robotic agriculture. “Top Farmer is designed to help commercial producers achieve their goals through improved management,” said Bruce Erickson, workshop coordinator and Purdue Extension cropping systems director. “We cover everything from the newest information on crop technology and management practices to helping farmers decide if a technology or management practice fits their operation.”
http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080715/NEWS0501/807150331/1001/NEWS

Who can afford corn? Almost no one, Purdue economist said
Inexpensive and abundant corn helped move the ethanol industry onto the alternative fuels fast lane. With corn prices now at record highs, demand outpacing supply and crop losses inevitable with the Midwest floods, ethanol production could soon be stalled, a Purdue University Extension agricultural economist said. As corn prices continue climbing, fewer ethanol producers can afford the feedstock, Chris Hurt said. In turn, domestic livestock producers and foreign buyers are finding it more difficult either to pay the high prices or obtain the grain they need, he said.
http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/agnews/local_story_185114054.html

Farm profits swept away
As the June floodwaters recede and saturated fields dry out in Central and Southern Indiana, farmers and conservation experts are getting an up-close look at farmland erosion that ranks among the worst in state history. Officials estimate it will take millions of dollars to clean up and restore damaged cropland, some of which is so badly scarred it might be beyond repair.  “It took our most valuable resource we have in the state of Indiana, and that is our soil,” said state conservationist Jane Hardisty. “We’re talking millions of tons of soil that have been lost. There are going to be some places that will never produce a good crop again.”
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/LOCAL/807140374/1001/NEWS

Governors look at moving to next phase of ethanol
The debate over using corn for fuel — and whether it’s driving up food prices — has been one focus of the nation’s governors meeting in Philadelphia. At their summer meeting yesterday, they talked about moving beyond ethanol that is made just from food sources. They’re not talking about doing away with the corn-based fuel, but instead about supplementing it with products made from materials such as switchgrass or wood waste.  The ethanol industry says there are already 134 ethanol plants in 26 states, with dozens more under construction or expanding.
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8668897

Corn Stocks in USDA Report Higher Than Expected
Crop numbers in July’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report released Friday by the Agriculture Department are generally in line with what the industry was expecting, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Corn stocks came in higher than expected and wheat and soybean stocks generally met expectations, said Terry Francl, AFBF senior economist.
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=1635&yr=2008

Immigration under study
Lawmakers are taking a look at possible immigration laws this summer in preparation for the 2009 legislative session. State Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, has been selected by Indiana’s legislative leaders to serve this summer on the Interim Study Committee on Immigration. The primary goal is studying the economic impact of illegal immigration in Indiana, Koch said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. The committee will consist of 12 legislators, six from the House of Representatives and six from the Senate, and will meet and hold hearings during the summer. The committee will submit its findings and recommendations to legislative leaders by Nov. 1, before the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
http://www.tribtown.com/news/immigration_8830___article.html/session_koch.html

School lunch programs hit hard by food prices
Add schools to the list of places hit hard by rising food prices.The school lunch program _ long a reliable source of food for kids _ is having serious trouble making cheap, healthy meals. The culprit is food prices that have rocketed higher as fuel prices rise. It’s not just the zooming cost of oil and gas; food prices are also driven by demand for corn-based ethanol, worldwide demand for food and the weak dollar, among other things.  These far-flung factors have combined to put the squeeze on school kitchens, which provide free and reduced-price lunches, as well as full-price lunches, for more than half of the nation’s 60 million school children. “We are struggling to make ends meet,” Katie Wilson, president-elect of the School Nutrition Association, told members of the House Education and Labor Committee on Wednesday. “We simply don’t have the funds to continue on with this.”
http://wibc.com/news/article.aspx?id=1459133

State Treasurer Richard Mourdock announced the establishment of the Treasurer’s Conservation Assistance Program (T-CAP) to provide assistance to Hoosier farmers who have suffered damages to their farmlands due to recent flooding throughout the state.

“Within hours of Hoosier farmlands being flooded in Central and Southern Indiana, Governor Daniels contacted me asking what assistance our office could provide to the farmers affected,” explained Treasurer Mourdock. “To assist in the process of restoring Hoosier farmlands, I am providing $50,000,000 of state deposits that will be a source of low cost loans to Indiana farmers. Under the United States Department of Agriculture programs these funds will be considered ‘local’ monies and thus result in federal matching grants of more than $200,000,000. The leveraging of state dollars to help acquire federal monies is a win-win for Indiana farmers.”

“Governor Daniels and I want to make sure our Hoosier farmers have all the resources they need to get back to work,” stated Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “The restoration aid will help farmers recover from damages and keep our agricultural industry strong.”

The USDA provides federal matching funds through a number of programs. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)’s Division of Soil Conservation works with the USDA to ensure that conservation projects benefiting Hoosier farmers get completed. Specifically, the T-CAP program will provide funding for repair or reconstruction of conservation structures and conservation practices that were destroyed by the flooding.

The $50,000,000 in funding from the Treasurer of State’s Office will be a “linked-deposit” program in partnership with local financial institutions. The Treasurer of State’s Office will purchase certificates of deposit (CD) from local banks at a reduced rate of interest, and in turn the bank will provide a loan to the farmer at a reduced rate of interest. (CDs purchased by the Treasurer of State’s Office will be the Federal Fund Rate - 1.5% with a floor at .50%. Local financial institutions will provide loans to the farmers at 2.25% above the Treasurer’s CD rate.) Rates will be fixed for the one year term of the loan. A loan made today under this formula would result in a cost of 2.75% to the farmer.

“I am pleased the Treasurer’s Office will play a part in helping Hoosiers farmers restore their flood damaged farmlands,” stated Treasurer Mourdock. “I would like to thank ISDA’s Director Andy Miller and his staff, the USDA, and local financial institutions for their willingness to address the flooding emergency in our State.”

Indiana committee to study contentious immigration issue
State lawmakers couldn’t agree on a contentious illegal immigration bill during this year’s legislative session. But some hope legislators on a summer study committee can at least reach common ground on the facts surrounding the complex topic. “We want to better understand the problem and the ramifications of the issue,” said Sen. Mike Delph, a Republican from Carmel who sponsored a proposal to crack down on businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Interim study committees are formed to inform lawmakers about issues between legislative sessions, and can lead to recommendations for future bills.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jul/08/indiana-committee-study-contentious-immigration-is/

Frequent rains slow corn, soybean growth
Tuesday’s thunderstorms that swept through much of northeast Indiana did farmers no favors, but the moist spring, too-frequent rains and mild temperatures haven’t conditioned farmers to expect them, either. “We could still have normal yields,” said Brad Kohlhagen, extension educator in the Adams County Cooperative Extension Office. “It’s kind of hard at this point to say ‘record’ or ‘above average’ yields with (crops) being behind.”
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080709/NEWS/807090302

G8 Leaders Release Statement on Global Food Security
The White House press office released the following joint statement by the leaders of the G8 from their summit here: 1. We are deeply concerned that the steep rise in global food prices coupled with availability problems in a number of developing countries is threatening global food security. The negative impacts of this recent trend could push millions more back into poverty, rolling back progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We have taken additional steps to assist those suffering from food insecurity or hunger, and today renew our commitment to address this multifaceted and structural crisis.
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=1599&yr=2008

US agriculture secretary confident meat is safe
The U.S. agriculture secretary expressed confidence in the nation’s food safety system, but said the meat processing industry will always face challenges because the bacteria that animals carry evolves. “I don’t think we’ll ever see a totally bacteria-free environment in the United States,” Ed Schafer said Tuesday during a visit of several Nebraska meat processing plants.  His tour didn’t include the Nebraska Beef Ltd. plant in Omaha, which recalled 5.3 million pounds of meat last week that has been linked to 41 E. coli infections in Michigan and Ohio.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FOOD_SAFETY?SITE=INLAF&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Governor Taps Miller for New Assignment
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has created the Office of Disaster Recovery to lead the state’s efforts to repair and rebuild following the series of storms that struck much of Indiana in late May and early June. Andy Miller, the director of the state Department of Agriculture, will be assigned to manage the activities of the office. “We have to do as competent a job of helping victims and communities recover as Hoosiers did responding to the immediate dangers of the disaster,” said Daniels. “We don’t want a single person or town to miss a deadline or an opportunity to receive assistance for which they’re eligible.” Miller has been directing ISDA efforts to work with farmers to qualify for Federal assistance. He will now expand that approach to individuals, businesses, and local governments in the counties designated as disaster areas. Miller has been allowed to hand pick a number of state employees from a variety of departments to staff the new office.
http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/wire/news/01130_miller_tap_181448.php

Everything Crops Covered at Top Farmer Crop Workshop
The 41st annual Top Farmer Crop Workshop will be held July 20-23 in Pfendler Hall on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. “Top farmer is designed to help commercial producers achieve their goals through improved management,” said Bruce Erickson, Purdue Extension cropping systems director and workshop coordinator. “We cover everything from the newest information on crop technology and management practices to helping farmers decide if a technology or management practice fits their operation.”
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=495&yr=2008

Summertime down on the farm Camp designed to teach about agricultural career
Each camper has a hoe equipped with a sharp, double-edge blade for weeding and they get to take it home at the end of the camp, director Leslie Weatherford said. It’s a program that Weatherford began two years ago. “I offer it to our kids who are our future (for farming),” she said. “There is nothing offered like it at all around here.” The youth learn about tractors, planting seeds, working in the fields along with general farm safety, and farm equipment safety.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080708/News01/807080372/1052/News01

Drier Weather for Midwest at Last
After one the wettest Junes on record in the Midwest, July is starting out with some more favorable conditions for farmers desperately trying to get crops in the ground. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says many of the flooded areas and other areas that have been buffeted by rain are getting a break from the wet weather. “How long is it going to last; at least a few days before a wet weather pattern comes through,” Rippey says.
http://www.indianaprairiefarmer.com/index.aspx?ascxid=fpStory&fpsid=34606&fpstid=1

Large portion of 2008 Farm Bill goes into law
Despite a lot of last minute confusion over missing pages, all of the 2008 Farm Bill is now law minus the 34 pages containing the trade and foreign food subsidy title, which was omitted from the copy sent to President Bush for his signature. On Thursday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., issued the following statement: “Following veto override votes of 316-108 in the House and 82-13 in the Senate, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 has been enacted into law, with the exception of the bill’s trade title.
http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/articles/2008/06/30/ag_news/updates/update41.txt

Corn prices down due to extra planting
Corn and other grain prices retreated from record levels Monday after the government said Midwest farmers planted more corn than expected to make up for crops lost to flooding.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers expect to harvest 78.9 million acres of corn, down 8.7 percent from the 86.5 million harvested last year. But the number of acres planted with corn — 87.3 million — was higher than the 86 million acres that farmers forecast back in March.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jul/01/corn-prices-down-due-to-extra-planting/

TOP USDA OFFICIALS DISCUSS FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION
Good afternoon from Washington. I’m Larry Quinn speaking to you from the Broadcast Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Welcome to today’s news conference with Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer to discuss implementation of the 2008 farm bill. Joining the Secretary in the studio are Chuck Conner, deputy secretary of Agriculture; and Floyd Gaibler, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.changenav/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentidonly=true&PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2008%2F06%2F0168.xml 

USDA Includes Indiana in Grants for Conservation Initiatives
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced $14 million in Conservation Initiative Grants (CIG) to fund 45 projects in 40 states to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that will help farmers conserve and sustain natural resources on their operations. One of the grants for $255,014 goes to the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which is headquartered in Indiana.
http://www.indianaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=467&yr=2008

Corn farmers’ hopes are dashed by the flood
This year’s corn crop was Bill Talsma’s lottery ticket — a potentially record-setting haul worth millions. Then came the flood. The raging rivers and streams destroyed nearly a quarter of the crop Talsma and his brother were growing on about 75 percent of their 9,000 acres in Iowa, and drenching rains damaged the rest. Had all his corn come in, Talsma could have seen a profit of as much as $6 million.
http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/292007222872926.bsp