Indiana Soybeans Turning Colors
Many soybean acres across the state have turned color and begun shedding leaves, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Diseases in soybeans continue to be a growing concern as white mold and aphids seem to be spreading. Silage, seed corn, and tomato harvest continued during the week. A very limited amount of corn and soybeans have been harvested at this time. Rains have been spotty in several counties causing drought stress to crops in these areas. Farmers have been busy cleaning out grain bins and preparing equipment for the upcoming harvest. There were 6.0 days suitable for field work during the week.

Indiana Soybeans 

2008 Report Starts Farm Safety and Health Week on Sober Note
This is National Farm Safety and Health Week and it begins with sobering news from the 2008 Indiana farm fatality report released over the weekend. In 2006 there were just eight farm-work-related fatalities, the lowest number ever recorded. But the number jumped to 24 in 2007 and jumped again last year to 28.  Dr. Bill Field, Professor in Agriculture and Biological Engineering at Purdue, said tractors and machinery were the leading fatality causes last year. That's been the norm the last thirty years. "It's the single biggest problem out there," said Field. "Tractor overturns accounts for about 25% percent on average of all the fatalities. So if we're going to focus our energies on any one particular area, it would be tractor overturns, because we know that's the single biggest killer."

Farm Safety and Health Week 

Crop Adviser Award Nominations Sought
Indiana Farm Bureau and the Indiana Certification Crop Adviser Board are seeking nominations for the Indiana Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award.  "As farm management and regulations become increasingly complex, it's important to have a knowledgeable crop adviser," said Bob Cherry, who directs IFB's industry relations effort. "It's also important to recognize those advisers who go above and beyond to help farmers make decisions that affect their businesses."  To be considered for the Indiana Certified Crop Adviser Award, a CCA must be certified in Indiana and nominated by a county Farm Bureau, by an active Farm Bureau member or by the employer of the CCA. Other agricultural groups may suggest nominations. However, the nomination form must be signed by the county Farm Bureau president.

Nominations Sought 

Ag Chair says too Much on Senate Plate for Cap and Trade
Newly named Senate Ag Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln says she was pleased to hear Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid acknowledge it would be tough to finish climate change, or cap and trade, legislation this year. Lincoln says she's been saying that for a couple of months now. In fact she takes it one step further, stating she doesn't think we'll see the measure in the Senate this year. Lincoln says Senators already have a full plate in front of them. "I'm in the middle of a hearing right now on health care in the finance committee, which will be doing an awful lot of work over the next two weeks in health care. You still have financial reg reform and all the appropriations bills. There's just a host of different things on our plate right now. And there are just too many unanswered questions, in my opinion, on cap and trade. Over in the Ag committee we'll also be dealing with CFTC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. We've seen after all of what occurred about this time last year still we haven't done what's necessary to ensure it doesn't happen again."
Cap and Trade