Farm Indiana | November 2017

November 2017

Cyndi Kelly dries flowers to harvest their seeds.

dried tomato seeds

Jim and Cyndi Kelly

Aji Dulce pepper plant from latin america

The Kellys Raise Rattlesnake Beans

saving

the past Kellys bank on strength of their heritage seeds

By Barney Quick Photography by April Knox

Farm Indiana is a monthly publication of AIM Media Indiana.

There is so much to document about the amazing lives of Jim and Cyndi Kelly that an article three times the length of this one might scratch the surface of a full picture, but their heritage seeds activity embodies the essence of it. Fascination with nature and history, enthusiasm for food, and delight in expanding their network of acquaintances characterize all their interests and come together in the raising of tomatoes and other plants their own way.

Heritage seeds contain the genetic information of the lineage of a plant exactly preserved over the course of years, decades or even centuries, so that, say, a particular type of tomato is going to taste nearly the same today as it did in 1700s Russia.

Publisher Chuck Wells Editor Doug Showalter

Jim would insist on the “nearly” qualifier, because heritage seed plants “typically hold their same flavors wherever they’re grown initially, but after 20 cycles or so in a new location, they develop a flavor unique to it.”

He goes on to explain that “a lot of times the best-tasting tomatoes are grown under stressful conditions. My seed bank seeds will be more likely to thrive with less water and sunlight, with a different pH balance than they’re used to.”

This is the horticultural example of what he calls his “fascination with uniqueness.”

The Kellys live on five acres along the banks of the Flat Rock River in southern Shelby County, among a smattering of neighbors in an area known as Pleasure Valley. Gardens dot the area near their house, but there is ample undeveloped area, which serves as home to woodchucks, foxes, raccoons and snakes.

They run their heritage seed operation out of the kitchen of their current house, soon to be replaced by one under construction next to it. Prior to that, they kept their seed bank in, appropriately enough, a bank vault, in the former Irwin Union branch in Hope.

Types of people mainly interested in the seeds include master gardeners, new gardeners and people wanting non-GMO seeds. Their seeds don’t lend themselves to large-scale production.

“Industrial farming operations, with thousands of acres, typically go with hybrids,” says Jim. “They know they perform well in droughts and floods, hot and cold temperatures, and all ripen at the same time. If you only planted 10 acres of heirlooms, you’d have a lot to manage.”

The terms “heritage” and “heirloom” are for the most part interchangeable, but Jim feels that the latter may be more (Continues on page 2)

Comments, story ideas, events and suggestions should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 2980 N. National Road, Columbus, IN 47201, call 812-379-5625 or email dshowalter@therepublic.com.

To advertise, contact Kathy Burnett at 812-379-5655 or kburnett@aimmediaindiana.com

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Farm Indiana | November 2017

tomato varieties

Nuts, flowers and vegetable seeds

Drying Zinnia

PawPaw tree seeds

Some of the seeds gathered this year

Heritage Seeds

(Continued from page 1)

Jim and Cyndi Kelly gather, raise, harvest and store seeds for Heritage Seeds of Hope.

descriptive of the Kellys’ approach.

“It conveys more of a sense of passing something along,” he says.

“People find out about us through the Purdue Extension Bartholomew County Master Gardeners group, which I’m involved with, the Heritage Seeds of Hope Facebook page, and seed swaps,” says Cyndi. “At seed swaps, you can give seeds away or sell or trade them.”

Heirloom tomatoes tend to have

intriguing names, such as black trim, Japanese black trifele and bosque blue.

Jim says the most flavorful tomato he’s ever tasted is the spoon tomato, which is “about the size of a pea. They’re grown in the Andean foothills, right next to the blue potatoes, which also have much more flavor than the big white ones we buy around here.”

Gardening was the first of Jim’s many passions. While growing up on Indianapolis’ east side, his father put him and his seven siblings to work in the family plot. It was then that he really began pondering the methodology of it.

The first several years of adulthood saw him earn an industrial maintenance technology degree at Ivy Tech, work on heating and air conditioning systems at Butler University, complete an Army stint that included time in Panama and face-to-face interrogation by then-dictator Manuel Noriega, and earn a paralegal degree.

When he repaired someone’s refrigerator, it led to his starting an appliance repair business, which grew to include renovation and landscaping.

“I’ve never had much of an attention span,” he says.

The next milestone in his life was meeting Cyndi, who was a cardiopulmonary specialist at IU Health until her recent retirement.

They had a common love of nature, and she was interested in holistic health practices.

The other woman who entered his life around that time was May Ann Fox, who lived in the Shelby County community of Blue Ridge. He’d contacted her thinking she could sell him beefsteak tomato seeds. When he got to her house, she told him she didn’t have any. Moreover, her main focus was beans (although she did have some tomato seeds).

Despite the difficult start to their friendship, it lasted decades. He came into possession of her vast heritage seed collection when she passed away and lovingly packed it into a van and drove it to Decorah, Iowa, where Seed Savers Exchange, the nation’s bestknown organization dedicated to preserving heritage seeds, is located.

Jim’s passion for preserving the past takes another form that combines his renovation knowledge with his pride in his roots. He’s the board president of Rivoli Center for the Performing Arts, the organization dedicated to restoring the Rivoli Theater, an old-school movie palace on East 10th Street in Indianapolis, to its former glory. He envisions that project as the first step in revitalizing that entire area and eventually finding a way to bring fresh food, grown from heirloom seeds, to its residents.

What Jim says about the wet method of processing seeds, whereby mold is grown over the top of a pile to inoculate them from fungi and viruses, applies to his general interest in imparting resilience to old things: “It lets a seed know, ‘Here’s all the bad things you’ve had, and now that you’ve made it, you’re strong.’”

Farm Indiana | November 2017

Congressional ag committee focused on Farm Bill, regulatory issues

By Jon Shoulders

B

ryan Fischer was rather surprised – and pleasantly so – when he was asked to serve on U.S. Rep. Luke Messer’s agriculture advisory committee two years ago. Messer, who represents Indiana’s 6th District, launched the committee for feedback and advice from Hoosier farmers and agribusiness leaders on regulatory matters, trade and tax issues, and environmental policy.

“It’s not every day that a U.S. congressman asks for your input, and it was certainly unexpected,” recalls Fischer, committee co-chairman and co-owner of Fischer Seeds and Fischer Food Grade in Shelby County. “I thought it was a really nice effort on Congressman Messer’s part to ask constituents to help advise and realize that Congress has so many issues they have to watch over and there’s no way they can

stay up on everything.”

The committee is composed of more than 25 members from around the state, including Messer’s district, which was formerly represented by Vice President Mike Pence and covers eastern portions of Indiana, including Columbus, Greenfield, Muncie and Richmond.

It includes farmers, agribusiness leaders, county commissioners and members of Indiana Farm Bureau, the Indiana Corn Growers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

“Simply put, agriculture is a really big deal in Indiana, and the Hoosier farmer does all the heavy lifting,” Messer says. “That’s why our ag advisory committee is so important. My goal is to make sure we’re getting feedback from agribusiness leaders in Indiana so we can craft policies that will help them succeed.

Indiana ranks in the top

farmers against the loss of crops due to drought, flooding and other natural disasters, as well as price decreases.

“We need common sense farm policy that ensures the next generation of farmers gets their chance to run the family farm,” Messer says. “The U.S. crop insurance program is important, providing a critical safety net for farmers who assume major risks every season. As we begin work10 of all U.S. states in to“We do a confering on the bill, it is crutal agriculture sales, and ence call with (Messer’s) cial we recognize the production in Indiana Washington staff at our role this program plays supports over 245,000 quarterly meetings, and in supporting Amerijobs.” often the congressman can farmers and in proFischer says the most will be on that call to ask viding stability for our recent of the committee’s about certain issues,” food supply.” quarterly meetings have Fischer says. “I think it’s Harold Cooper, comfocused on infrastrucimportant for us to try mittee member and ture, trade and regulato represent what’s goCEO of Premier Cos., tory issues, ing on in a farmer-owned supply and more Indiana and service cooperative recently because based in Jackson County, the 2018 he’s out says the committee benFarm Bill. in Washefits not only Messer but Congress is ington so his Washington-based expected to much. The staff as well, to facilitate debate the crop inmore thoroughly inparticulars surance formed decisions on agof the bill, program is ricultural matters raised including something in Congress. the U.S. a lot of “It’s been nice to talk to crop insurindividufellow ag Hoosiers right ance proals on the here in this district about U.S. Rep. Luke Messer gram, in committhings going on here in the coming tee have our state,” Cooper says. months. The Trump ad- different feelings about, “It’s a healthy way to help ministration’s 2018 U.S. so we’re going to keep the congressman, where budget proposal would debating that and offer experts across the induscut approximately $38 our thoughts to the con- try in the state can spend million in farm subsigressman and his staff.” quality time with issues dies, including more Messer has stressed farms and farm busithan $28 million in crop his support of the crop nesses face and allow insurance, over the next insurance program, the committee to engage 10 years. which indemnifies with those issues.”

Cooper says the committee consulted with Messer’s staff earlier this year on the U.S. Clean Water Rule, also known as the Waters of the United States rule, published by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2015 to define which waterways in the U.S can be regulated by the federal government.

“I have voted to stop the implementation of the Waters of the United States rule, and I am hopeful that we will finally repeal the rule this Congress,” Messer says.

“This regulation literally allows the EPA to regulate a mud puddle in the middle of a cornfield. I’d also like to see changes requiring federal regulators to demonstrate knowledge and competency in ag policy before they have the power to provide oversight to ag businesses and family farms.”

An Evansville native who grew up in Greensburg, Messer served as executive director of the Indiana Republican Party between 2001 and 2005, and was a member of the state House of Representatives from 2003 to 2006. He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. Messer recently announced his intention to challenge Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly in next year’s U.S. Senate race.

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Farm Indiana | November 2017

A trio

in the know

Educators for Purdue Extension Jackson County help people with agriculture questions

I

By Marcia Walker

nitially, their life journeys took them in different directions, but ultimately their paths converged, bringing them together in the office of Purdue Extension Jackson County, located in the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown.

“They” are Richard Beckort, extension educator, agriculture and natural resources as well as extension director; Heather VonDielingen, extension educator – 4-H youth development; and Molly Marshall, extension educator, health and human services.

Beckort, a graduate of Western Kentucky University, arrived first; he recently celebrated 30 years with Purdue, all but two of those years in Jackson County.

“I went (directly) from a family farm and college to working for Purdue,” the Spencer County native said. “4-H was part of our lives growing up on the farm; I was a 10-year 4-H member. And my mom was an Extension agent before having kids, (a) home economist.”

VonDielingen, a Jackson County native, followed the most circuitous path on her way to the Extension office. After earning a degree at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she spent several years in San Francisco, where she taught second grade. Her students were Chinese-American. From her classroom, she could view the Pacific Ocean; from her office in the Jackson County Courthouse, she has a view of the courthouse lawn.

VonDielingen’s ties to Jackson County are strong, strengthened even further because she was engaged to another Jackson County native, Grant VonDielingen, which brought her back home. She said her teaching background was a natural fit for the 4-H educator position, noting that the 4-H program reflects her own thinking.

“My whole philosophy of education — 4-H is hands-on learning — that’s what drew me to it,” she said.

Marshall, another Jackson County native, has been in her position just two months but has actually been working at the Extension office longer than that. Initially, she was the community health champion, a position funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control. When the health and human services educator position opened up, she switched hats.

A Ball State graduate, Marshall majored in nutrition and is a registered dietitian.

She worked at Columbus Regional Hospital before taking the position at the Jackson County Extension office. While at Columbus, she discovered her passion for community outreach.

“I saw things in Bartholomew County that I wanted to bring to Jackson,” she said, of her decision to move to the Extension office.

Each of Indiana’s 92 counties has an Extension office. Beckort explained that county government, state government and federal government, operating through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, work together to provide services.

“We’re funded through all three of those, (but) we receive very little federal dollars,” he said.

Extension offices are tied to land grant universities, in Indiana that is Purdue. Every state in the country has a land grant university, Beckort said, adding that some southern states even have two.

“It was the government’s way of helping provide education to citizens of the state — more of the technical skills, engineering, agriculture, that type of thing,” he said.

One of Beckort’s primary responsibilities is offering pesticide applicator training

to area farmers. He also is in charge of the master gardener class, presented in conjunction with Jennings County. It’s a 13week program.

“We cover all aspects of home agriculture, (including) plants, insects and soils,” he said.

But a big part of Beckort’s day, and probably what he likes best about the job, is helping people find answers to their questions pertaining to agriculture, gardening and natural resources.

“A lot of my time is spent on walk-ins and calls and emails,” he said. (Someone will ask) what’s wrong with my plant? (It is) questions and answers, which I enjoy.”

For Beckort, a high point of his career came last year, when he spent two weeks in Colombia helping farmers learn about vegetable production as an alternative to past practices that involved raising coca plants. It was challenging on several levels; he was traveling by himself, and he doesn’t speak Spanish.

“It was a neat experience to feel I was helping someone out that way,” he said. “I don’t know if I helped them a lot, but they helped me a lot.”

Perhaps the most familiar program offered through Extension is 4-H. Both Beckort and VonDielingen are 10-year members.

Marshall, who did not participate in the program, said she grew up with the perception that one needed to live on a farm to be involved in 4-H. She knows better now, and she and her husband, Chris, have two children in the program.

For years, 4-H has been associated with projects that end up on display at county fairs, and that is still part of the picture.

But 4-H has adapted to changes society has brought over the years.

There is now mini-4-H, for children in first and second grades, and VonDielingen cannot hide her enthusiasm for a new endeavor called Spark Clubs. They provide short-term experiences for participants.

The first Spark Club for Jackson County youths involved a visit to an animal care clinic. There was a bicentennial Spark Club, where participants visited six historic places in Jackson County, while another club focused on fire safety. Youths even experienced putting out a fire using a fire extinguisher.

“The focus is more on life skills and connecting kids to possible career opportunities,” VonDielingen said. “In January, we are going to have a yoga Spark Club.”

A high point for VonDielingen came last year, when she drove 30 kids and parents to Purdue, where they filmed Spanish promotional videos.

“It was inspiring to me to hear how 4-H impacted their lives and seeing kids master new skills,” she said. “Another favorite part is working with Junior Leaders. It’s awesome to see how much pride and ownership they take on with the program.”

Last year, 761 young people were enrolled in the Jackson County 4-H program, while 156 first- and second-graders participated in mini-4-H, a modified program for the younger set. The program relies heavily on volunteers. Last year 171 adults lent a hand.

Marshall’s role includes offering a variety of classes and programs related to families, on topics such as food, family, money and health.

“We have food and nutrition classes, (such as) Dining with Diabetes and Be Heart Smart,” she said. She teaches a safe food handling course for people in the food industry.

She also promotes healthy eating habits, including working with the Seymour Farmers Market to promote its “Double

From top: Richard Beckort, Heather VonDielingen and Molly Marshall

Bucks” program. Customers who use their SNAP EBT card at the market to purchase SNAP eligible foods may have those dollars matched by the market.

“So if the customer spends $10 on foods, he or she will receive $20 worth of foods,” Marshall said.

She also works to promote healthy food donations to food pantries. “The goal being, when foods are donated, to please give consideration to the nutritional content of the donated items,” she said.

While these three are probably the most visible players, there are three other people who play a vital role in keeping the Extension office functioning.

One is Kris Meyer, a community health champion, funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control. The purpose of that program is to improve Jackson County’s health rankings.

Another is Madge Warren, who for 20 years has served as office manager. Amber Miller has been the office secretary for five years.

“They are the ones who keep us going and get us where we need to be with what we need to have,” Beckort said. He also praised the Jackson County Extension Board, which serves in an advisory capacity.

“Every county has an Extension Board that oversees programs, making sure it’s a county program and not our program,” he said. “That is our advisory committee. We’re real grateful for them giving their time to help us, being sure we have programs going in the right direction.”

Beckort urges people not to be shy when they need help finding answers to issues related to the home and garden.

“Extension is here because of tax dollars,” he said. “You’re paying for this. Use us. We may not have the answer, but we will put you in the right direction to find that answer.”

Farm Indiana | November 2017

BRIEFS

Strategic plan

to grow Indiana agriculture over next decade INDIANAPOLIS — Food and agriculture have been a driving force in Indiana’s economy since it became a state 200 years ago, and they remain one of the leading industries today. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, there are 57,500 farming operations across the state, and Indiana ranks 11th in the nation in agricultural sales. In order to move the industry forward, many leaders of Indiana’s agricultural community joined together over the past 18 months and developed a 10-year Indiana Agriculture Strategic Plan.

“Agriculture is a fundamental part of Indiana’s heritage, our present economy and most important, our future,” said Randy Kron, Indiana Farm Bureau president. “This plan ensures that Indiana agriculture not only remains competitive, but also a leader both nationally and internationally over the next decade. This is an exciting time to be a part of the industry.”

IU, Purdue launch agriculture law program

Indiana University McKinney School of Law and Purdue University have announced a new cooperative program in agriculture law.

Amy Cornell, a 2006 graduate of IU McKinney and also a graduate of Purdue University, has been hired as a consultant to assemble a steering committee to build the program. The steering committee will meet over the next two years to determine the needs of the agriculture market and what employers and students are asking for, Cornell said. The program will be designed based on those factors.

Cornell has an extensive background in agriculture law and earned a master of law in agricultural and food law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. She is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association and served as policy adviser and counsel for Indiana Farm Bureau before joining the government relations and strategic communications firm Bose Public Affairs Group in 2016.

Cornell is of counsel in Bose’s agribusiness group and was named vice president in September.

A farmer’s daughter, Cornell said she’s passionate about ensuring farmers and agribusinesses have trained counsel to grow and expand their family businesses.

“I’m a person who delights in the diversity and complexity of agriculture law, and I look forward to working with the steering committee to design a program that will draw talent to Indiana,” she said.

Birdwatching site encompasses 9,000 acres

The plan’s vision is for Indiana agriculture to “enrich lives through innovation, education and collaboration.” This can be realized by focusing on the plan’s seven priorities:

1 Economic and community development.

2 Education and career development.

3 Food and agricultural innovation.

4 Infrastructure.

5 Leadership development.

6 Natural resources, stewardship and environment.

7 Public relations and outreach.

Each priority includes several key initiatives that list specific action items. To create a clear path forward, each action item includes a champion(s), designated timeframe and resources required to complete the action.

The plan was developed by a diverse committee of leaders and representatives from Indiana’s agricultural organizations, encompassing agricultural boards, universities, non-government and governmental organizations. As a way to create additional buy-in from all sectors of agriculture, the strategic planning committee conducted nearly two dozen listening sessions and gathered feedback from more than 100 online surveys, which went to farmers, agribusinesses and other industry organizations.

“This plan is a testament to the strong collaboration we have in Indiana and will help drive success for farmers, the industry and our state’s economy,” said Ted McKinney, former Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. “There are many crucial components to this plan, which span a variety of sectors of agriculture, but the bottom line is that we are working together to move the industry forward.”

A copy of the strategic plan and other materials can be found at www.in.gov/isda/3547.htm. — ISDA

LINTON — A popular southwestern Indiana birdwatching site has grown to more than 9,000 acres thanks to a conservation group’s acquisition of a key piece of land. The Sycamore Land Trust bought the 85-acre tract that’s now part of the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area near Linton after raising about $400,000 for the purchase.

Sycamore Land Trust spokeswoman Abby Perfetti Henkel says the nonprofit sold the property in August to the state Department of Natural Resources. The 85-acre tract includes the confluence of two streams that are the wetlandfilled Goose Pond site’s main water sources.

The (Bloomington) Herald-Times reports the acquisition boosts the wildlife area’s holdings to 9,018 acres in an area about 40 miles southwest of Bloomington. Goose Pond opened in 2005 and draws about 12,000 wildlife watchers each year.

Scientists work to improve soybean harvest

URBANA, Ill. — Researchers from the University of Illinois and Kyoto University say they have developed a process to speed soybean harvesting without sacrificing quality. The development means a combine operator can monitor soybean quality and make machinery adjustments on the fly.

The project’s lead scientist is Abdul Momin. He says current technology requires operators to stop periodically and manually check bean quality. This eats up crucial time during soybean harvest. If threshing speed is too high, beans can split. Whole beans are considered to be of higher quality and bring a higher price.

But an operator has to stop and periodically check harvested beans in the tank for quality, then make adjustments. The machine has a high-speed camera that is mounted inside the tank. It photographs beans and a computer analyzes quality.

Cranberry farmers hope for cool weather

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Cranberry farmers in New Jersey are keeping an eye on unseasonably warm fall temperatures as they prepare their harvests.

WHYY-FM reports farmers across the southern half of the state are waiting for temperatures to drop. They note cranberries start with a pale green color, transition to white and eventually turn deep red from cool weather.

Washington Township farmer Bill Haines says farmers lose money if they have too much white fruit. He says color is important because most of the cranberries are used in juice or for Craisins.

New Jersey is among the country’s biggest producers of cranberries. The makeup of the state’s cranberry farming industry has shifted from small farms to a few large-scale operations. Last year, the state harvested about $28 million worth of cranberries, which can be used for Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

—Wire Reports

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Farm Indiana | November 2017

Global survey underscores consumer confusion on food labels, farming practices

By Jon Shoulders As the farm-to-table movement continues to gain traction nationwide, an increasing number of consumers desire comprehensive information about where their food comes from. Findings from a recent survey sponsored by the Enough Movement point to what researchers say is a widespread lack of understanding regarding food labels like organic and hormone-free, as well as modern agriculture production methods.

This spring the Enough Movement, which consists of farmers, businesses and consumers worldwide dedicated to finding solutions to global hunger through education and outreach, released findings from the 2016 Truth About Food survey, which was conducted by animal health and agriculture research company Kynetec and included 3,337 respondents in 11 countries. Greenfield-based Elanco, a global animal health and pharmaceutical company that is a division of Eli Lilly and Co., launched the Enough Movement in 2014.

According to the survey report, one of the most salient misconceptions among consumer respondents regarding food labeling stemmed from products designated as organic or all-natural; two-thirds said they believed such products to be healthier, while survey researchers cited a 2012 Stanford University analysis that compiled information from 237 studies and found no differences in nutrition levels between organic and conventionally grown foods.

The most common reason cited in the survey for the purchase of organic food was the belief that organic, by definition, means pesticide and chemical free, which the report says is a misunderstanding. “Organic farmers may use a variety of chemical sprays and powders derived from natural sources, including substances like boron, copper sulfate and pyrethrin-1 similar to the synthetic versions used in modern farming,” the report states.

While nearly 70 percent of survey participants stated they purchase organic foods because they believe such products are better for the environment, the survey report indicated conventional farming approaches tend to use less land and fewer resources. “Modern farming practices are often the most environmentally sustainable, using innovation to decrease the amount of land, feed and water needed to raise meat, milk and eggs today,” the report states. “Organic food requires more land because organic farming produces lower yields – about 25 percent less on average.”

More than 60 percent of respondents believed the label “No Added Hormones” meant there are no hormones in products labeled as such. The report went on to state that all living things – animals and vegetables – contain hormones, and that “in beef and dairy production, hormone levels in food from animals supplemented with hormones are nearly identical to those that aren’t. And hormones in naturally hormone-rich foods like cabbage and soy contain far higher levels than meat and milk.”

Colleen Dekker, director of global communications at Elanco, says education on labeling can help consumers penetrate what she says are often false distinctions among products in groceries and big-box stores.

“The confusion out there is quite substantial,” she says. “Even when you’re talking about something like cage-free versus conventional eggs, there’s no nutritional, health or quality difference between them, but a lot of people think there is. Consumers shouldn’t feel like they’re making a lesser choice when they’re

choosing the conventional option if, for example, it’s all they can afford.”

Following the release of the survey findings, Enough Movement representatives have launched the Truth About Food initiative, which is aimed at correcting misunderstandings and equipping consumers with accurate details about nutritional content and agriculture production practices.

“For the most part we’re focused on providing more transparent information about food production to consumers,” Dekker says. “We’re using Twitter and Facebook to share content about the misperceptions that consumers have and directing them to sources where they can go for more information. We’ve also been working with farm bloggers and registered dietitian bloggers who have a lot of knowledge on these topics, and sharing posts that they have developed addressing a lot of these misconceptions.”

For additional information on the Enough Movement and details on the Truth About Food initiative, go to enoughmovement.com. Visit the Enough Movement Facebook page at facebook. com/enoughmovement.

To view the Truth About Food survey report, visit: enoughmovement.com/Assets/pdf/truth/ TAF_Report_03-21-17.pdf.

European court sides with Italian farmer pushing GM crops Associated Press

BRUSSELS — The European Union court recently ruled in favor of an Italian activist farmer who has defied his nation’s laws by planting genetically modified corn.

Italy has prosecuted Giorgio Fidenato for cultivating the corn on his land, citing concerns the crops could endanger human health.

But the European Court of Justice ruled that a member state such as Italy does not have the right to ban GM crops given that there is no scientific reason for doing so. It noted the European Commission in 1998 authorized the use of the specific maize seeds Fidenato planted, finding “no reason to believe that that product would have any adverse effects on human health or the environment.”

Fidenato, whose fields lie in Pordenone, northeastern Italy, became persuaded of the benefits of genetically altered crops during a visit to the United States in the 1990s, seeing that they require fewer chemicals than traditional crops and produce higher yields and profits.

But he has faced huge opposition in Italy, where many are fearful that

genetically altered foods are less natural than traditional crops and could be dangerous. He has faced both fines from the government and the wrath of anti-GM activists who have destroyed his crops.

The current case dates to 2013, when Italy asked the European Commission to adopt emergency measures prohibiting the planting of the seeds, which are produced by U.S. company Monsanto, on the basis of Italian scientific studies.

But the commission disputed the Italian studies, citing a scientific opinion by the European Food Safety Authority that there was “no new science-based evidence” that the seeds could be dangerous.

The Italian government nonetheless went ahead with a decree prohibiting the cultivation of the corn and prosecuted Fidenato and other farmers who planted their fields with the corn in defiance.

After the ruling Fidenato expressed satisfaction with the decision, saying he and the other farmers involved in the suit finally feel as if “justice is on our side.”

Farm Indiana | November 2017

calendar Oct. 25-28 — 90th annual FFA Convention and Expo. Indiana Convention Center and other locations, Indianapolis. Information: www.ffa.org/events/ conventionandexpo.

Oct. 30 — Bartholomew County Small/Beginning Farmer session. Tree farm visit. Registration: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/tree-farm-visittickets-38551000079.

Nov. 4 — Beginning of the seven-week Market Basket 360 Training for farmers market vendors.

Information: 812-379-1665.

Let’s talk turkey

T

By Liz Brownlee

Turkeys can get a bad rap.

The logic is that if you go to When I tell people that we a given grocery store for your raise turkeys on pasture, they Thanksgiving turkey, you’ll typically ask a few things. First, stay in that store long enough how many do we raise? I anto buy all of the other (reguswer their curiosity (about 100 larly priced) things you need or so). Next, they want to know for your family get-together, how we sell all of those turkeys from cranberry sauce to dessert (we sell them all directly to cusingredients. From the grocery tomers in southeast Indiana, store’s perspective, that’s a big for Thanksgiving). And then I enough purchase to justify losawait the inevitable question: ing money on the turkey.

Aren’t turkeys really … well, I sometimes get frustrated at kind of stupid? this fake low price. I think it’s I always enjoy sticking up important for us all to know for my favorite feathered farm the true cost of food. But each animal. Just because they have year, our first-time turkey cus“bird brains” doesn’t mean they tomers remind us that “you get aren’t intelligent; it just means what you pay for,” including in that their skills are a the turkey aisle at the little different. Turkeys grocery. are incredibly curious, These first-time cusand they are more actomers are a treat. They tive than chickens. This are typically thrilled to translates into some have found a local turfantastic foraging. Our key, and they are the meat chickens “hunt first to follow up with and peck” for grassus after Thanksgiving, hoppers, crickets, clotelling us about their ver and the seed heads recipes and the reacon short grasses. But Liz and Nate tion from their family.

Brownlee operate our turkeys take this Our first-time cusNightfall Farm in work to a whole differtomers tell us that our Crothersville. ent level. turkeys have more flaThey will find a vor (that’s because of 4-foot-tall clump of grasses their diverse diet, we explain). and use their feet and bodies to They say that our turkeys give push the grasses to the ground, them more flexibility. They get just to eat the seeds. to decide exactly how to seaThe turkeys spend hours son the turkeys, and they don’t roaming around their fencedhave to worry about relatives in paddock, checking and douwho have to watch their salt inble-checking for insects. I don’t take (that’s because our turkeys know their success rate, exactly, aren’t packaged in a salty brine but I can say that if I were a like grocery store turkeys). grasshopper, I wouldn’t want to Most importantly, our new meet a turkey in a dark alley. customers tell us our turkeys But sometimes, even I can get give them pride. They can caught up in talking bad about carve into a centerpiece that turkeys. Turkey at the grocery supports a family farm and store is impossibly cheap. In brings together their own famfact, a little research about groily with stories, recipes and satceries shows that they often isfied bellies. sell whole turkeys at a loss, as a Thank goodness for those marketing tool. They advertise happy customers who remind the low price of their turkeys, me that my favorite feathered and that brings more customers livestock don’t deserve such a in the door. bad rap.

Nov. 7 — Beginning Farmer Regional Workshop with Nathan Boone, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Family Arts Building, Bartholomew County Fairgrounds. Boone, an organic grower with experience in commercial vegetable, herb and flower production, will present a wide range of issues facing Indiana’s small farmers, from the personal dimensions of farm life to market development and planning.

Purdue Extension experts will be available to discuss and answer questions. Cost is $10, and lunch will be provided. To register or to find more information about other regional workshops, go to www.conf.purdue. edu/BegFarmerTours.

Registration: tinyurl.com/ y8sbyf79.

Nov. 28 — Pesticide Applicator Training, crops edition, plus farm succession bonus topic, Hauser Junior/Senior High School, 3:30 p.m. To register: 812-379-1665.

Nov. 28-Feb. 20 — Indiana Master Cattleman Program. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Southeast Purdue, Ag Center, 4425 E. Road 350N, Butlerville.

Registration fee $200 per person. Additional attendees from a farm are $100 per person.

Registration deadline Nov. 14. Class size limited to 25 producers. Information: Jill Andrew-Richards, jmrichards@purdue.edu, 812-438-3656.

Dec. 7-9 — Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention, French Lick.

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Farm Indiana | November 2017

U.S. agency withdraws rule aimed at protecting animal farmers

By DAVID PITT Associated Press

Farm Succession Success

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By Kris Medic

A farmer calls the Extension office. His grown children will never farm for a living, and he wants his land to always be used for agriculture. He wants to know if there are any tools that would help him to accomplish this.

A farm family has a successful multigenerational enterprise, and members work and communicate well together. They have worked out how the farm operation and ownership will transfer to the next generation, have drawn up the appropriate documents and regularly attend farm succession programming to learn new tools and to stay up-to-date on practices.

A bachelor farmer dies without children or a will. His heirs are identified according to state law: 12 individuals scattered over four countries on three continents. They don’t all speak the same language. Meanwhile, the local government wants to build roads across certain parcels of land, and neighbors begin to lay claim on other parcels based on some previous agreement with the farmer.

A widowed aging farmer continues happily with his grain operation. A grown daughter comes from some distance when extra hands are needed. The dad sees no need to change anything and has no succession plan or power of attorney.

A farmer dies with a will, naming heirs and providing life estate to a developmentally disabled family member. Relationships and communication are uneasy, the family member on the farm is unsupported, and the heirs watch helplessly as the farm fails and assets erode.

In addition to an experienced attorney, what would these people need?Sometimes family dynamics prevent this, but effective communication and good relationships go a long way toward fostering understanding and wise steps.

Farm succession resources from Purdue Extension and from other reliable sources can help to fill the knowledge gap.

Code Red good first step The Code Red tool was developed by Purdue Extension’s Women in Agriculture Team, providing a spreadsheet framework for capturing essential farm information so the business can continue in case something happens to a key operator. Families using this tool work together, sometimes with our help, to get the conversation started.

More Stephen Small’s excellent book series, “Preserving Family Lands,” is worth a look for those considering conservation easements and to understand tax benefits for preserving ag land. In the case of the farmer wanting to keep his land in agriculture, he may also find that his local land trust can work with him on an agricultural conservation easement. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program is offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service mostly for setting aside wetland. We can help you understand current options and send you in the direction of expert help because we want yours to be one of the success stories.

Extension resources The Purdue Extension Farm Succession Team offers programs and workshops through the year for farmers or families who want to work on succession of the business. Sometimes those team members come to us, as will agricultural economist Maria Marshall on the evening of Nov. 28 when she presents at Hauser Jr./Sr. High School.

Contact our office for more information.

Kris Medic is Purdue Extension Bartholomew County’s educator for agriculture, natural resources and community development. She can be reached at 812-379-1665 or kmedic@purdue.edu.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Trump administration’s decision to kill a rule designed to protect the rights of farmers who raise chickens, cows and hogs for the United States’ largest meat processors has infuriated farmer advocates, including a Republican senator from Iowa who said he has “violent opposition” to the move.

The rule would have made it easier for farmers to sue companies they contract with over unfair, discriminatory or deceptive practices.

Called the Farmer Fair Practice Rule, it was rolled out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture during President Barack Obama’s final days in office but never took effect. The agency under President Donald Trump delayed its April 22 start date for six months, then announced that it wouldn’t implement the regulation at all.

“They’re just pandering to big corporations.

They aren’t interested in the family farmer,” Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa farmer, said in an uncharacteristic criticism of the Trump administration. “The USDA is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not the U.S. Department of Big Agribusiness.”

The rule was first proposed by the USDA in 2010 but faced delays after meeting resistance in Congress and by the meat processing industry. The USDA finally released it last December.

Currently, several court rulings have interpreted federal law as saying a farmer must prove a company’s actions harm competition in the entire industry before a lawsuit can move forward. The rule would have eased that high burden of proof.

Chicken and pork producers, for example, must often enter longterm contracts with companies like Tyson Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride that farmers allege lock them into deals that fix their compensation at unprofitably low levels and forces them deeply into debt.

But the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration within the USDA, known as GIPSA, concluded the rule is

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inconsistent with several court decisions and would lead to further lawsuits.

“Protracted litigation to both interpret this regulation and defend it serves neither the interests of the livestock and poultry industries nor GIPSA,” the agency said.

National Chicken Council President Mike Brown said the rule would have “opened the floodgates to frivolous and costly litigation” and National Pork Producers Council President Ken Maschhoff said the regulation “would have reduced competition, stifled innovation and provided no benefits to anyone other than trial lawyers and activist groups that no doubt would have used the rule to attack the livestock industry.”

Kansas Republican Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, commended the USDA action, saying it demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to promoting economic prosperity and reducing regulatory burdens in rural America.

“The Obama administration spent the better part of a decade ignoring the calls from farmers, ranchers and agriculture economists warning of the billion dollar blow this rule would have levied against American agriculture,” he said.

But others said the rule would have protected farmers.

“Farmers have made clear that they need protection from harmful and abusive practices that are standard in their industry,” said Sally Lee, program director for the nonprofit Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, a North Carolina family farm advocacy group.

Mike Weaver, a Fort Seybert, West Virginia, poultry farmer called on Trump to issue an executive order to implement the rule.

“The administration is allowing multinational corporations led by foreign interests to hold America’s farmers and ranchers hostage with their monopolistic, retaliatory and predatory practices,” he said.