2010 Legislative Proposal

Opportunities Exist for Beef, Dairy Producers to Use Damaged Corn
The moldy corn that is coming out of some Indiana fields presents challenges to growers and livestock producers, but cattlemen may be able to take advantage of this unfortunate opportunity, said Purdue University beef and dairy specialists. The rumen is an organ that allows beef and dairy cattle to detoxify anything they might eat, said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef management specialist. However, he said growers should be cautious because the rumen does have its limitations.

Opportunities Exist for Moldy Corn

Farm Bureau Tackles Tough Issues at State Meeting
The Indiana Farm Bureau state convention was held over the weekend in Ft. Wayne; and, despite the fact that much of this year's corn crop is still in the field, attendance was well above average. IFB president Don Villwock said this is because Farm Bureau members are worried about some of the critical issues facing agriculture, "A lot of them feel like their backs are against the wall on some of these issues." This concern motivated members to come to the meeting to get information on issues including animal rights, property taxes, and cap and trade. Villwock said the focus of the convention was to provide background and education on a wide variety of issues that are threatening Indiana farmers.

Farm Bureau Tackles Tough Issues

2009 Thanksgiving Dinner is More Affordable for Hoosiers
For the third year in a row, the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has decreased for Hoosiers, according to an informal statewide survey of grocery store prices coordinated by Indiana Farm Bureau. Indiana Farm Bureau's annual survey of local prices for basic food items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table showed that the average cost of this year's dinner for 10 is $43.93, down $1.64 from last year's average of $45.57 and $3.27 from 2007's average of $47.63. A nationwide survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation (Indiana's data is factored into the national survey) showed an average total cost of $42.92, a $1.70 decrease from last year.

2009 Thanksgiving Dinner

ISA Encouraging Farmer Nominations for Soybean Varieties
For the third year ISA is partnering with Purdue University in the Farmer Nominated Soybean Varieties program. Indiana soybean checkoff dollars will fund up to 100 varieties in 2010. Communications Director Megan Kuhn says the idea is to, "try to get more of the varieties that Indiana farmers are really interested in, into the annual Purdue soybean performance trial. So we encourage farmers to choose a variety. Just give us the name of the company, the variety, what county they're from, and why they want it nominated." Kuhn says the reasons farmers may want a variety tested will vary from a grower considering using it, to a variety in use for years that they would like to see stacked up next to other varieties. "It's basically so farmers have an objective source of information about plant health and yield characteristics of those varieties they're interested in," she said.

Nominations for Soybean Varieties

ISTA News Archive