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Tri-State Dairy Conference

April 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The 22nd annual Tri-State Dairy Conference, hosted by Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan State universities is going to be held tomorrow and Wednesday at the Grand Wayne Center in Ft. Wayne.

Ohio State University dairy specialist Maurice Eastridge says the conference will address a number of topics important to the dairy industry.

“Trying to focus on some of the things that are affecting the industry in terms of improving the feeding of the animals, to trying to improve profitability of farms,” said Eastridge. “We’ve got some speakers addressing some things that really have been critical lately in the dairy industry, forage quality, inventory because of the drought last year has some challenges for us, and so we have speakers addressing that.”

The complete Tri-State Dairy Conference program is available here.

Audio: Maurice Eastridge, dairy specialist, Ohio State University (2:35 mp3)

Filed Under: Dairy, Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: , ,

Voter registration deadline extended

March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Voter registration for the proposed Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Council has been extended to March 30.  In order to accommodate the state’s commercial sheep producers in the middle of lambing season, Karen Plaut, associate dean of Purdue Agriculture and director of Agricultural Research at Purdue approved the 30 day extension.

With the deadline extension, the proposed voting period is now April 15 to May 15, with intent to announce results by June 1.

In order for voting to take place, at least 20 percent of Indiana’s commercial sheep producers must register, in writing, by the March 30 deadline.  There are 1,833 sheep producers in Indiana, meaning 367 must register to vote. 

Forms can be requested by email Jerry Fankhauser, assistant director of Agricultural Research at Purdue by phone at 765-494-8368 or by email at fankhaus@purdue.edu.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Human Interest, Livestock, News Tagged With: , , ,

Seed prices going up

November 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A Purdue University agricultural economist expects seed prices in 2013 to be higher.

Alan Miller, farm business management specialist anticipates the price for seed corn to be up by 5 to 7 percent, soybean seed up 7 to 10 percent and wheat seed could see an increase of more than 10 percent.

Compared to previous years, Miller says those 2013 increases are higher.

“If you look back over the last four or five years, something in the three to five percent range, in terms of annual increase year-over-year in seed prices has been more of what we’ve been seeing,” said Miller. “Looking at 2013, before the drought, if you would have asked me what was going to happen to seed prices I would have been looking for something in that range.”

Fortunately, Miller says farmers should earn enough from their 2013 crop to make up for the costlier seed.

But with the potential for tight seed supplies, the farm business management specialist adds, “one of the things I would urge farmers to do, is to be talking to their seed dealers, making sure their seed dealers have a good idea of what they think they are going to need for this next crop in the way of seed.”

Audio: Alan Miller, Purdue University (5:25 mp3)

Filed Under: Crops, News, Top Stories Tagged With: , , , , ,

Economist sees 2-3% drop in cow numbers

October 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Purdue University ag economist Chris Hurt predicts U.S. beef cow numbers will be two to three percent lower in the January cattle inventory report.

Hurt says the drought has been particularly cruel to the beef cattle industry.  Poor pastures combined with high feed prices have caused many producers to reduce their herds.

One ray of hope, according to Hurt, is that those producers who are able to endure the hard times could see cattle prices rise for the remainder of this year and into 2013. 

Hurt expects live steer prices to be near 125 dollars for the final quarter of this year and 130 dollars in the first quarter of 2013.  He sees spring prices peaking in the high-130s, with second- quarter prices averaging in the mid-130s. 

Hurt adds that a more abundant feed supply in the second half of 2013 could result in a robust price recovery for calf and feeder cattle prices.   And he says replenished feed supplies would begin U.S. beef herd expansion in late 2013.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Livestock, News, Top Stories Tagged With: , , , , ,

Having a hand in farm policy

October 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This past summer, Cory Harris a student at Purdue University from Jay County Indiana was an intern with the National Farmers Union (NFU) in Washington, D.C.

“I did a lot of reading and summarizing and comparing legislation this summer for the Farm Bill,” said Harris. “I also sat through the 15-hour markup.”

That taste of farm policy is now something Cory is looking to pursue after graduation.

“To come back here to Washington for at least a little while to be involved in the ag policy scene,” Harris said. “I really think it’s important, I think one of the most fundamental parts of the agricultural industry is the policy side of it, supporting policy that helps farms be successful in future.”

Harris, along with other members of the Purdue Collegiate Farm Bureau was in Washington D.C. in September where they experienced the USDA crop report lockup and the Farm Bill Now rally.

Audio: Cory Harris, student, Purdue University (2:55 mp3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Host of NPR’s “Morning Edition” to speak at Purdue Ag Fish Fry

October 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

National Public Radio “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Fish Fry.  Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Purdue Agriculture says they are thrilled to have Inskeep as the featured speaker; “He will bring a valuable perspective to our patrons, stemming from his Indiana roots and enhanced by his years of journalism on the national and international scale.”

The Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry is scheduled for February 2, 2013 on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.  The event will be held in the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion and begins at 11:30 a.m.  Tickets are $25 per person and need to be purchased in advance. 

More information and an order form to purchase tickets can be found HERE.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Human Interest, News Tagged With: , ,

Soybeans as a forage option

September 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

With the possibility that some soybeans won’t reach maturity before the first killing freeze, they could be a forage option for livestock producers needing feed.

Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist says to get the most out of the crop it should be harvested before green leaves begin to yellow and he recommends ensiling rather than harvesting it as hay.

“If chopped and ensiled, livestock will be less likely to sort out the lower quality stem, as compared to when soybeans are made and fed as long-stemmed hay,” Johnson said.

The Purdue specialist also says it’s important to be aware of any pesticides that were applied to the soybean crop.

“It’s very critical before the soybean is harvested as a forage source that we check the label, of the difference products,” said Johnson. “Herbicides, miticides, fungicides, certainly there were some spider mite issues that did occur this year and we need to real cautious about harvesting the crop, so we need to check these labels.”

For those with crop insurance, Keith Johnson says it’s important to check with your insurance agent to get clearance before cutting the crop for forage.

Filed Under: Crops, Dairy, Livestock, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Indiana farmland values up, way up

September 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

According to the latest Purdue Farmland Value survey, since 2011, farmland values were up from 14.3 to 18.1 percent, depending on land quality. Cash rents increased between 12.8 and 15.2 percent.

“This is another year in a string of years where we have had increases of close to 20 percent and so over the last three years we’ve seen a quite significant rise in farmland values in the state,” said Craig Dobbins, Purdue Extension ag economist. “This is the second year in a row that cash rents, that there’s been a pretty strong upward movement, so the farmland market in terms of values and rents continues to just steam right along.”

According to the latest survey, statewide the average value of bare cropland in Indiana ranged from $5,013 for poor quality land to $7,704 per acre for top-quality land.

Dobbins credits robust net farm incomes, favorable interest rates, strong farmland demand and a limited supply of farmland for sale as reasons for farmland values and cash rents being higher.

A full assessment of the survey results and more information about respondents and data gathering methods are available in the August 2012 edition of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Report.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,

Potomac Horse Fever found in Indiana

July 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The bacterial disease, Potomac Horse Fever, which normally doesn’t show up until July or August, was diagnosed in a horse in Indiana in mid-June, which could mean more cases of the disease this summer.

Janice Kritchevsky, professor of large animal internal medicine at Purdue says horses need to be diagnosed quickly, adding that early treatment increases the likelihood of survival.

Insects such as freshwater snails, caddisflies, mayflies and dragonflies are common carries of the bacterium which causes the disease. When they die and litter the ground or fall into feed or water, horses contract the disease by eating the contaminated hay, grain or pasture, or by drinking contaminated water.

Symptoms include, colitis, dehydration and diarrhea, left untreated can, it can lead to shock, permanent lameness or death.

Potomac Horse Fever is not contagious.

The veterinarians in Purdue’s Large Animal Internal Medicine Department are specialists in Potomac Horse Fever and other equine infectious diseases. Horse owners or veterinarians who have questions can call the hospital at 765-494-8548.

Filed Under: Livestock, News Tagged With: , , ,

Estimating yields at this point

July 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

With Indiana’s crop conditions the worst on record since 1988 – a lot of folks are wondering what the crop’s potential actually has for this year.  Purdue University agronomist Bob Nielsen says at this point it is difficult to tell. 

“What I can say is that in individual fields – it is certainly going to run the gamut,” he says.  “We know that there are fields out there where farmers have had the crop insurance adjusters out and have basically abandoned the fields and moving on from there.”  Nielsen notes there are areas of the state that have caught a few showers and actually, he says, “the crop actually looks amazingly good” for the weather Indiana has seen this summer.

Nielsen tells Brownfield he anticipates yields being all over the board this fall – which will make it challenging to make estimations.  He says if farmers can catch rains throughout the remainder of the growing season – they may end up with less yield damage than currently expected.

Filed Under: Crops, Human Interest, News Tagged With: , , , ,
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