Farm Bureau Starts Push to Block Property Tax Caps
With the Indiana General Assembly set to begin work, efforts are underway to address the issue of property taxes on farmland. This is the last chance the legislature has to lock property tax caps into the State Constitution. Last session, the State Senate passed the measure, but House Speaker Pat Bauer defied the Governor and refused to hold a hearing on the measure in the House. Bob Kraft, with Indiana Farm Bureau, says it is unlikely that tactic will work this year, "The speaker will be under pressure to take a vote on the issue because of the 2010 census." Kraft means that in 2010 the census will be taken and legislative districts will be redrawn. The party that controls the House will control that redistricting process. Thus, Kraft believes speaker Bauer will allow the property tax measure to come up for a vote to help Democratic house candidates.

Push to Block Property Tax Caps 

Indiana Harvest Cools with Rain, Low Temperatures
Harvest progress was hindered once again by rain showers and cool temperatures, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Moisture content in the corn and soybeans has been slow to come down requiring a great deal of the harvested crops to be dried. Many areas of the state encountered heavy frost over the weekend which will end the growing season for any crops that were not yet mature. Some intended winter wheat acreage may not be planted as farmers are being forced to wait until other crops are first harvested from these fields.  There were 2.5 days suitable for field work during the week. Corn condition is rated 63 percent good to excellent compared with 56 percent last year at this time. Seventy-seven percent of the corn crop is mature compared to 92 percent last year and 96 percent for the 5-year average. Fifteen percent of the corn crop has been harvested compared to 39 percent last year and 49 percent for the 5-year average. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 25 percent.

Indiana Harvest Cools 

Moldy Corn Means Problems when Not Stored Properly
Many corn growers in Indiana and surrounding states are facing one of their most challenging harvests this year, and their problems are being compounded by grain drying and storage issues. Richard Stroshine, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue says farmers will need to take extra steps this year because of high moisture content corn. "The thing to realize is you can't do things the way you normally do this year. You're going to have to take extra caution in watching your stored grain and getting your grain dried. Maybe dry it down to lower moisture than you're used to. That gives you a little extra insurance because it's not going to store as well as it has in previous years."
Moldy Corn means Problems