Farm Indiana | February 2017 by AIM Media Indiana

Daily devotion

February 2017

Five-generation farm family finds satisfaction in working together

Jim and Evan Daily at the feed lot near Garden City.

By Barney Quick | Photos by marcia walker

Carol Daily displays some of the baked goods available at Daily’s Farm Market.

When your best friends are your family members, and they also happen to be co-workers with whom you share the vision and excitement of your enterprise, life is good. Such is the case with the Dailys, a Bartholomew County family that has been farming for five generations. The term “farming” applies to their operation in the most comprehensive sense. It encompasses the raising of vegetables, soybeans, wheat, red and black popcorn (for Black Jewell), seed wheat (for Beck’s and Pioneer), sweet corn, hay, beef and chickens, as well as an ear corn packaging business, a store on Jonathan Moore Pike, and booths at the Columbus and Carmel farmers markets. Jim and Carol are the current patriarch and matriarch. Sons Ben and Evan and Ben’s wife, Kristen, round out the team. Two other daughters are in other occupations. The base of operations is where Jim and Carol live, on North Road 1050E near Anderson Falls. They farm a few hundred acres there, and that’s where the high tunnels for the vegetables are. The rest of the land involved is pretty far-flung, totaling around 2,800 acres. “It goes pretty much from Interstate 65 to the BartholomewDecatur line,” says Ben, “with some fields in Jennings County and some around Columbus Municipal Airport.” The high tunnels, structures made of polyethylene that provide for extended growing seasons, are the source of the Dailys’ cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and green beans. These crops are the core of what they sell at farmers markets. Ear corn packaging is done at the facility where Jim and Carol live. They shuck, sort and pack the corn for bird and squirrel feed. Marketing is done through distributors who sell it wholesale to various companies. “That corn can wind up anywhere in the United States and even parts of Canada,” says Ben. The Dailys raise about 80 head of cattle a year at a location near Garden City. The beef is packaged and

Fresh food, free education Winter farmers market connects shoppers with local growers

By Jennifer Willhite

When Sande Hummel launched the Columbus City Winter Farmers Market in Fair Oaks Mall last year, she didn’t anticipate how well it would be received by the public. Offering Columbus-area residents the opportunity to buy local meat and produce during the winter months is just one aspect. Educating the public about healthy eating and the importance of buying local is another essential element, she says. “I just wanted to carry over healthy eating into the winter season,” Hummel says. “I knew farmers with greenhouses and high tunnels from who I knew we could get cold crops.” The winter farmers market, open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, is designed to offer a place to purchase farm-to-table-fresh produce and meats, including mixed lettuces, Swiss chard, kale, pork, chicken and grass-fed beef. Now in its second year, Hummel says it offers customers more selection since the farmers had the chance to start planting in August. “But you have to keep in mind for this time of year, when temperatures go down, growing slows down,” Hummel says. “So

Farm Indiana is a monthly publication of AIM Media Indiana.

there may be a few weeks where there is less in abundance.” Unlike shopping at traditional groceries, attending the market allows customers to speak directly to the farmer, Hummel says. “Talking to the farmer is the key of education for the public,” she says. “I feel so strongly that there should be videos on healthy eating, farm demonstrations and farmers markets in doctors’ offices. Why are health care costs going up? People do not eat right. Everything is a trickledown effect.” Hummel, who is the owner and manager, says the market, which begins the first Saturday in December, averages 15 to 20 vendors who offer a variety of farm-fresh products in addition to specialty chocolates, coffees and high-end crafts made by local artisans. “I have home-based bakers who all sell something different so they aren’t competing,” she says. “I am happy for the people I have there that everything is being purchased.” As with any specialty market, foot traffic and crowds are dependent on weather conditions. During the holiday season, traffic averages up to 400 each weekend and goes back down to an estimated 150 to 200 during the remainder of the season, which runs through the third week of April. “We have consistent regulars who just love to come to the winter market,” Hummel says. “The importance of the market is that you can get more local, healthy food

Publisher Chuck Wells Editor Doug Showalter

sold at their store. It’s hormone- and antibiotic-free. “In addition to package quantities, we sell quarters, halves and whole cows,” says Kristen, who, along with Carol, focuses on running the west-side retail outlet. Their chickens are for eggs. They raise about 400 a year at Ben’s home. The Dailys’ soybean productivity has earned them nationwide recognition. “We were the first farm in the Midwest to meet the BASF 100-Bushel Bean Challenge,” says Jim. “We raised 102 bushels per acre. They had a camera crew and a drone document it for marketing purposes.” They have good relations with a number of area grain elevators. According to Jim, “it depends on where you can capture the best basis,” which is the difference between the Chicago Board of Trade price and the cash price for a given grain. How do they sort out who is going to do what? “We each have areas we mainly take care of,” says Ben, “but we can all take care of anything that needs attention.” With such a diverse array of business activities, switching gears as warranted is key. “You establish your priorities at the beginning of the day, but you have to be flex-

ible enough to take care of stuff as it arises,” says Ben. Carol takes a bounty of offerings to the Carmel farmers market, which runs all year, every Saturday. Kristen runs a booth at the Columbus market during the warm weather months. The entire presence of a farmers market in Columbus has its roots in the Columbus East High School senior project of another Daily daughter, Kristin, some years ago. “She did research indicating people were in town on Thursdays, for events like Neighborfest,” says Jim, “so she started a market on Jackson Street by the courthouse. Columbus in Bloom eventually went with it, and now you have today’s farmers market activity here.” The family established its store on Jonathan Moore Pike, called Daily’s Farm Market, in 2010. In addition to the vegetables, beef and eggs they produce, they sell lamb and pork produced by other area operations. Fromscratch pies, homemade chicken salad and take-home dinners are also big sellers. Their deli section offers meats such as roast beef, pastrami, ham and turkey breast as well as a wide assortment of cheeses. The clientele includes people coming off the inter-

that isn’t handled by 29 people, coughed and sneezed on. It is gathered by one or two people, washed and cared for, brought to the market, and you come choose it.” Growing the market not only brings more traffic into the mall, but it also builds community and awareness about the importance of healthy eating and supporting local businesses. Mackenzey Shatto, of Poseys and Pumpkins in North Vernon, says she has participated in the winter market since its inception. As a matter of fact, she was the one who originally pitched the idea, she says. “I thought Columbus needed a winter market because after the spring and summer markets, there wasn’t anything for the customers in Columbus to go to,” Shatto says. “I threw the idea out there, and she [Hummel] went for it.” Shatto’s family business, which launched in 1998, offers a variety of greens, such as kale, lettuce and spinach, as well as many other vegetables during the winter season. Customers may also purchase meats, including lamb, chicken and pork, and eggs. Like Hummel, Shatto sees the importance of community and supporting local farming. For her, participating in the Columbus area markets is a way to build rapport with customers and help familiarize them with why it is so significant to

state, but also a strong core of regulars. “You get to know your customers well,” says Kristen. “Some almost become part of your family. One couple that Ben and I met here came to our wedding.” That kind of bond extends to actually being a team member. Carol’s helpers at the Carmel booth are longstanding customers. Kristen didn’t come from a farm background. She took to that way of life as part of the family cohesion that so greatly impressed her when she started dating Ben in high school. For the past two years, she has compiled handsomely bound albums of the family’s life and work by uploading photos to Shutterfly. In addition to well-chosen shots of crops in sunlight and frolicking livestock, her photos document family milestones such as multigenerational gatherings and new additions. She even devotes a page to “I-thought-I-could-make-it” pictures of equipment bogged down in soggy ground and other such attempts at agricultural heroics. So there’s a lot of esprit de corps in what they do. Kristen characterizes her gratification as being around her favorite people all day. Jim says, “We have fun while we’re working.”

buy locally. Doing so offers customers the chance to actually get to know where their food comes from and the farmers who grew and raised it, she says. Seymour resident Jon Claycamp says he discovered the winter market via word-ofmouth last summer. Seeking a place to sell his dairy products during the off season while he works to launch a small farm store at his Lot Hill Dairy Farm, Claycamp took advantage of the opportunity to grow his customer base in Columbus. “I am surprised with the foot traffic,” he says. “I am not sure if we are helping the mall out or if the mall is helping us.” Primarily specializing in cheese and butter, Claycamp says buying locally is important to not only the farmer, but to the community as well. “When you buy local, you can come to my farm, check it out and if you have questions just ask,” he says. “I think the local label is more important than the organic label. It is just a matter of educating people.”

Comments, story ideas, events and suggestions should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 2980A 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

Farm Indiana | February 2017

Briefs the Certificate of Distinction, Premier Ag the highest honor bestowed employee recognized by the Purdue Agricultural Westin Rink, an account Alumni Association. The manager with Premier Ag, award is presented annually to was named one of 20 “Rising professionals who have conStars” by the Agricultural tributed significantly to agRetailers Association at its riculture, forestry or natural recent annual conference and resources through career acexpo in Orlando, Florida. complishments, organizationRising Stars is a recognition al involvement, community and development program service and other activities. for high achievers and future Biehle was named the first leaders within the ag retail superintendent of the sector. The conferSoutheast Purdue ence provides Agricultural participants an Center in 1977. opportunity to Over the next engage with 39 years, he ARA through helped build keynote SEPAC into one speakers, of the leading educational sesresearch facilities sions, networking of its kind in the events and trade Westin Rink nation, leading an expanshows. Future leaders sion from the original 900 gain a better understandacres to more than 2,400. In ing of regulatory forces and 2015, an estimated 65 research legislative pressures shaping projects were underway at how ARA acts regarding key SEPAC, involving more than issues facing ag retailers. 50 researchers, graduate students, Extension educators Animal health issues and industry professionals. In a recent report, the Indiana Certificate of Distinction State Board of Animal Health recipients will be recognized foresees some significant isat the Purdue Ag Alumni sues to be dealt with in 2017: Fish Fry Feb. 4 in the EleRabies rule: BOAH will be ments Financial Blue Ribbon updating rules for quarantine Pavilion at the Indiana and post-exposure handling. State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. Bovine tuberculosis: 38th St., Indianapolis. BOAH is working with USDA to determine a TB control and NRCS to address monitoring plan going forat-risk wildlife ward, as well as state status. Indiana will receive $960,000 New dairy processing for the Southern Indiana plant: With new construcYoung Forest Initiative tion underway, the number as part of the Regional of dairy cows will likely Conservation Partnership grow to supply milk. Program. The project will be Pork production expanled by the Indiana Departsion: New hog operations ment of Natural Resources are springing up across Division of Forestry. Indiana to supply new The Southern Indiana out-of-state processors. Young Forestry Initiative is one of 88 projects funded Jennings across the country with $225 native honored million in federal funding Jennings County native Don through RCPP with partBiehle is one of seven agriculners contributing up to an tural educators and industry additional $500 million. leaders named recipients of RCPP projects improve the

nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. IDNR will work with NRCS and other local and state partners to address a lack of early successional forestry habitat and corresponding declines in at-risk wildlife species in 43 southern Indiana counties. This project will make cost share dollars available to forest landowners in the area through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for practices that help increase young forest habitat. Program aims to grow ag story Farm and ranch families make up just 2 percent of the U.S. population, and with people showing a greater interest in where their food comes from, it’s important to tell the story of agriculture. Working toward this goal, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture has launched the Indiana Agvocate program, a series of interactive workshops designed to help those in agriculture share their story more effectively. Each workshop will include information on outreach tools available today; how to use social media to maximize reach and consumer engagement; and the importance of having an open dialogue with consumers, just to name a few. Attendees will also have the chance to develop a personalized outreach and communications plan. On Feb. 2 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in French Lick (Orange County), a workshop will be hosted by Indiana Dairy Producers in conjunction with the inaugural Indiana Dairy Forum. To register for this or future workshops, email KDevaney@isda.in.gov or call 317-450-3570 at least three days prior to the event. There is no cost to attend.

Purdue’s ‘Corn Guy’ Bob Nielsen receives Hovde Award for service to rural Indiana Bob Nielsen

By Darrin Pack, Purdue Agricultural Communications Service

housands of Indiana corn farmers rely on Bob Nielsen’s expert guidance for a successful crop, just as they rely on spring rains and summer sun. But Nielsen, Purdue Extension corn specialist and professor of agronomy, has proven to be more dependable than the state’s often erratic weather. Over the past 30 years Nielsen has delivered timely, significant, research-based crop management information on his Chat ’n Chew Café and KingCorn websites, in educational programs and through one-on-one conversations with producers and crop advisers in fields, tractor cabs and farmhouse kitchens throughout the Midwest and across the globe. Known simply as the “Corn Guy,”

Nielsen is widely recognized as the foremost expert on Indiana corn production, a key driver in the state’s $25-billion-a-year agricultural industry. To honor his ongoing commitment to the state’s grain producers, Nielsen was presented the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana on Dec. 9, at the annual convention of Indiana Farm Bureau, sponsor of the award, in Fort Wayne. It is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who has provided exceptional service to the improvement of rural Indiana. “By sharing his vital research and expertise with farmers throughout the state, Dr. Nielsen has helped Indiana’s agricultural community remain in the forefront of the

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Purdue ag economists forecast weak crop prices, farm incomes in 2017 By Darrin Pack, Purdue Agricultural Communications Service

WEST LAFAYETTE — Farm incomes will likely continue to slump next year with grain prices remaining at or near their lowest levels in about a decade, according to an analysis by agricultural economists at Purdue University. U.S. agricultural exports are expected to recover slightly after two years of decline, but not nearly enough to offset increasing global grain stocks, says Chris Hurt, editor of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Report. “In the last three years, U.S. production has outpaced usage for corn, soybeans and wheat,” Hurt says. “Abundant inventories of grains and soybeans mean low prices.” Corn prices for Indiana producers are expected to average $3.45 per bushel in 2017, down from $3.85 per bushel in 2015. Soybean prices are expected to fare better, hovering around $9.50 to $10 per bushel primarily because of lower production last season in South America and relatively stable global demand. But Hurt cautions that soybean prices could fall to around $9 per bushel if South American production picks up and more U.S. acres are planted in beans. “Market prices in the next few years will be in the process of adjusting acreage to cause increases in corn and wheat prices but at the expense of more soybean acres and lower bean prices,” Hurt says. Livestock producers typically benefit when the grain they use to feed their animals is cheaper. But three years of steadily increasing production has kept beef cattle prices low with little recovery effort to feed a growing global population. His work represents the highest standards of the land-grant mission,” said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. “No one could be more deserving of this prestigious accolade,” said Jason Henderson, associate dean and director of Purdue Extension. “Through his innovative Extension programs and ongoing search for excellence, Bob has enhanced the lives of all Hoosiers.” Originally from Nebraska, Nielsen joined Purdue in 1982 and was instrumental in the development of the College of Agriculture’s nationally recognized Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center. He has conducted more than 350 field-scale research trials to determine economically optimal nitrogen application and seeding rates for different types of soils and has helped promote the use of site-specific crop management tools. An energetic and entertaining speaker, Nielsen makes about 60 presentations each year, reaching a total audience of about 5,000 agribusiness professionals and consumers. He delivers his message in a plain spoken, direct style punctuated by colorful figures of speech such as “goose-drownder,” his term for a heavy rainstorm. “Bob’s number of speaking opportunities

in sight, says Jim Mintert, director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture. “After averaging near $153 per hundredweight in 2016, prices for 500-600 pound steers in Kentucky could average in the $120s in 2017,” Mintert says. “Calf prices at this level are below the breakeven price on many cow-calf operations, which could bring herd expansion to a halt in 2017.” Craig Dobbins, farm management specialist, says the weak overall prospects for the Indiana agricultural economy have hurt farmland values. According to the annual Purdue Farmland Value Survey, an acre of average Indiana farmland was worth $7,041 last year, down from a peak of $8,129 in 2013 — a 13.4 percent decline. “The primary force behind the farmland value decline has been the decline in crop production profitability,” Dobbins says. “While there are several positive forces in the farmland market, these positive factors are overridden by low farm commodity prices and low contribution margins.” The Purdue Agricultural Economics Report 2017 outlook was published by the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics. It includes 12 sections by 11 different authors and short video summaries with analysis on topics ranging from the effect of the presidential election on the U.S. economy to cash rents, farm financial management and crop insurance. For a free download of the report, go to ag.purdue.edu/agecon/Pages/PurdueAgricultural-Economics-Report.aspx.

are limited only by the number of free days in his calendar, never by the lack of demand,” said Jim Camberato, Extension soil fertility and plant nutrition specialist and co-author with Nielsen of the annual report Nitrogen Management Guidelines for Corn in Indiana. “During the growing season Bob answers numerous phone calls and emails and makes several farm visits to help farmers and crop advisers identify the causes of crop production problems. These one-onone encounters not only help the individual farmers but are also spread to neighbors via the crop adviser and word-of-mouth.” Hoosier farmers often find that working with Nielsen is a learning experience. “My first experience working with Bob was in 1996,” said Eric Aulbach, a Purdue graduate and grain producer in Blackford County. “I was two years out of college, still knowing everything, and I was asked to scout a field of poorly emerging corn. Quickly finding out that I knew much less than I thought, I called Bob and he came over to help determine what the problem was. His patience and thoroughness started a trust that led to future troubleshooting calls that always resulted in an increased trust of Bob’s ability and an educational outcome for me.”

Farm Indiana | february 2017

Organizational Skill

Indiana Farmers Union provides social and legislative voice for Hoosier producers By Jon Shoulders

While there are educational and economic motivations for becoming a member of the Indiana Farmers Union, Jim Benham feels the most important reasons for farmers and rural community residents to join the organization are ultimately a bit more intangible. “You just really need to be part of the family,” says Benham, the current IFU president and a retired corn and soybean farmer based in Versailles. “The farmers in this state are so important, and we’re always trying to be a voice for people and bring about change to make lives better for those folks in rural communities, whether it’s in Indiana or with lawmakers in Washington, D.C.” Launched in 1955 as part of the National Farmers Union, which was founded in Texas in 1902, today the IFU operates as a grass-roots organization committed to representing the needs and interests of approximately 1,000 small-scale Indiana producer and rural resident members through education, cooperation and legislation at local and federal levels. Rob Davies, IFU member and marketing manager, says the group provides “a gathering point for all the farmers that are not really represented by any single organization. We feel we’ve got the avenues to provide legislative support and to see how we can help to change and level the playing field for small producers, producers of diversified crops and folks who are doing things that are kind of on the fringe of agriculture,” he says. Davies says IFU educational programs can keep growers updated and informed on current issues and changes to the industry. The group is in the process of receiving grant funds from the NFU to implement educational projects centered on the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act, enacted in 2011 to improve measures for the prevention of food supply contamination. “Our members have access to many educational programs. We have a women’s organization within the Farmers Union, and there’s a nation-

al Women in Agriculture conference every year that offers a multiday educational experience,” he says. According to Davies, IFU members have a powerful and respected voice in national policy decisions made in Washington. “Because we’re grass roots, an idea might come out of the county and state level that gets taken up at our national convention, and that might find its way into federal policy,” he says. “That’s kind of the beauty of grass-roots legislation. If you have an issue and you can find a good way of presenting that issue, then it might very well be something that will get worked on at the national level.” Richard Wahlman, owner of a corn, soybean, livestock and 10-acre vineyard operation in Jennings County, joined the IFU seven years ago and says the support and structure lent to members who wish to voice their various concerns makes membership worthwhile. “You can go to D.C. and lobby, and the National Farmers Union will have a meeting and they’ll tell you what bullet points to hit,” says Wahlman, who serves as IFU vice president. “You don’t have to necessarily even talk about farming. Last time I went, I talked about the rural drug problem that we have here in Indiana. It’s good to know you can be heard at that level.” According to Benham, one of the most important challenges facing Indiana producers is commodity value, and the IFU board is currently working to voice supply-and-demand issues on the national stage. “Farmers have taken a hit over the last two or three years – corn, soybeans and livestock took a pretty good hit,” he says. “If someone does a good job, over time they would expect to be rewarded with an increase in pay. If a farmer does a good job, he gets penalized for it and his commodity values are lowered more than what the increase in the yield is. So we’re really working to bring attention to that.” Benham says property tax is another topic the

organization continually tackles at the legislative level in an attempt to relieve what he sees as a heavy financial burden borne by many producers in rural areas. “We have fought it for a long time at the state level trying to figure out how our legislative body will take more consideration of farm issues and base some of our taxes on our ability to pay it, not on what we own,” he says. Members of the IFU have access to insurance discounts, which Benham says can help ease some of the hardships stemming from factors like decreased commodity values. “Many farmers just don’t have a margin for equipment breakdowns, and members get a 9 percent discount on their insurance policy to help deal with equipment failure out in the field,” he says. General farm insurance programs for dwellings, equipment, buildings, etc., as well as crop coverage programs, are available for card-carrying IFU members. “We’ve got normal crop insurance and also specialty crop and whole-farm revenue protection,” Davies says, adding that the crop insurance program offered through the IFU is primarily aimed at diversified producers who don’t have easy access to crop or revenue protection for each type of crop grown on their land. Benham says the majority of IFU members are based west and south of Indianapolis, and the board is currently trying to reach more producers in northern portions of the state. “There’s power with numbers, and I put it like this: If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” he says. “The more membership we have, the better ability we have to fund projects and the more people we can send to tell their stories at the legislative level. A lot of people get left on the sidelines if they don’t at least have someone speaking up for them.” For additional information on the Indiana Farmers Union, including membership and insurance policy details, visit indianafarmersunion.org.

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Farm Indiana | February 2017

Up to scratch Purdue Extension branding initiative aims to set quality standards for pastured poultry production

By Jon Shoulders

Consumers throughout the state might soon be able to better identify high-quality, pasture-raised Hoosier chicken, turkey and duck at their local groceries and farm markets, thanks to a new initiative being launched by Purdue Extension representatives in conjunction with local producers. In 2013 Roy Ballard, a Purdue Extension educator in Hancock County, submitted a proposal for securing a U.S. Department of Agriculture ValueAdded Producer Grant for the Greenfield-based Hoosier Harvest Market. Included in his pitch was a branding initiative for which small- and mid-scale poultry producers could collaborate and help promote humanely raised, pastured poultry as a recognizable brand. After obtaining the grant and further developing the basic concept, Ballard and Michael O’Donnell, a Delaware County Extension educator, began reaching out to farmers in 2015 for input on how to bring the Indiana Pastured Poultry Branding Initiative to fruition. “Pastured poultry production can be pretty challenging in terms of margins and finding people willing to pay the price premium that’s typically involved around the additional labor, the smaller scale and specialty feeds for the chickens,” O’Donnell says. “The idea was that we bring together a group of producers interested in working together, in some fashion that they determine, so they can find an advantage.” As co-leaders of the project, O’Donnell and Ballard are currently discussing options with several local producers to establish the exact structure of the initiative, which O’Donnell says could take the form of an official cooperative or a less formal organization depending on the number of farmers ultimately interested in participating. “It will be farmer-led, so they will determine where they want to take it,” O’Donnell says. “We’ve been talking to a group in Arkansas called Grass Roots Cooperative that actually organized as a farmer cooperative with a pastured poultry piece. They have set standards, and they really turned over a lot of their customers to this entity that handles the marketing. It’s a pretty neat arrangement.” Purdue Extension members hosted an informational webinar in December to offer an overview and background on the project, and are surveying producers and consumers for input on farm production and processing methods as well as consumer buying preferences. O’Donnell says the official branding standards would incorporate many

Agricultural producers’ economic sentiment soars post-election Purdue News

production factors, including bird genetics, brooding period, amount of space per bird, feed types and slaughter age. Farmer members would be required to meet or exceed all health and food safety regulations at the state level as part of the standards they determine for raising, processing and marketing their meat. “Rather than all these smaller producers trying to scramble and find markets on their own, they could have some agreed-upon set of standards for production and marketing that can possibly reach additional markets, and have distinctive labeling to identify the products raised using those standards,” O’Donnell says. Amy Surburg, owner of Berry Goods Farm in Morristown, sees uniform standards for pasture-raised poultry as a win-win approach for local producers and their customers. “If you have standards listed and these poultry products are labeled, the consumer can match those to their own values and know that they can trust that brand because it’s been checked on,” says Surburg, who has pastured poultry and eggs as well as berries and veggies on her farm. “Also, if you have a conglomeration of producers that maybe buy in bulk together, you might be able to get a better deal for feed and supplies and take advantage of the economy of scale that you would get as a large producer but not be a large producer yourself.” Purdue Extension currently has approximately 30 producers on its mailing list for updates on the branding initiative, and most are based in east-central and southeast Indiana. Ballard and O’Donnell are attempting to bring additional farmers throughout the state on board to expand the conversation and hope to establish concrete standards among participating producers before the 2017 growing season is underway. “If a farmer might be reluctant to get involved because they think that if they join they have to give up their markets or customers, that’s not the case,” O’Donnell adds. “We feel like we could develop this as a means to increase production or diversify their poultry production and not take away from their existing markets in any way.” For additional information on the Purdue Extension Indiana Pastured Poultry Branding Initiative, contact Roy Ballard at 317-462-1113 or rballard@purdue.edu, or contact Michael O’Donnell at 765-747-7732 or modonnel@purdue.edu.

WEST LAFAYETTE and CHICAGO – Producer sentiment about the agricultural economy soared on the heels of November’s presidential election, according to the December Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer report released Jan. 10. The December survey results landed the barometer at an all-time high reading of 132 — a 16-point jump from the November survey. The barometer is based on a monthly survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers. Producer optimism surrounding both current conditions and, especially, future expectations drove the increase. The Index of Current Conditions rose to 102 from November’s 87, while the Index of Future Expectations increased from 130 in November to 146 in December. “Looking back at the data from the last several months, it’s apparent that we’ve seen a big swing in producers’ expectations about the future,” said James Mintert, barometer principal investigator and director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “Although both the Current Conditions and Future Expectations Indices increased the last couple of months, it was the increase in the Index of Future Expectations, which jumped 51 points since October to reach an all-time high in December, that triggered the sharp rise in the barometer.” Producers’ improving sentiment doesn’t seem to be driven by changes in corn and soybean prices, Mintert said. For example, March 2017 CBOT corn futures were slightly weaker during the November and December survey periods than during the October survey. On the soybean side, January 2017 CBOT futures were unchanged in November and

only slightly stronger in December than those during the October survey collection period. Additionally, improved economic sentiment extends beyond just agriculture, said David Widmar, senior research associate and leader of research activities for the barometer. In October and December, producers were asked about their expectations for the broad U.S. economy and the results were surprising. “The contrast in sentiment from the October survey — three weeks prior to the U.S. elections — and the December survey — five weeks after the elections — is remarkable,” Widmar said. When asked in the October survey about their expectations for the U.S. economy over the next 12 months, only 13 percent of respondents said they expected it to expand, while 23 percent said they expected it to contract. In the December survey, half of the respondents expected economic expansion and only 13 percent expected contraction in the year ahead. “The improvement in optimism regarding the U.S. economy among agricultural producers appears to parallel that of U.S. consumers,” Widmar said. The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment confirmed that observation with a rise from 87 in October to a 12-year high of 98 in December. Read the full December Ag Economy Barometer report, including producer sentiment about the next five years and the health of their operations, at http:// purdue.edu/agbarometer. The site offers additional resources, such as past reports, charts and survey methodology, and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and quarterly webinars.

Farm Indiana | february 2017

Purdue to host

phenomics workshop

March 13-14

WEST LAFAYETTE — Crop scientists and engineers will learn cross-discipline communication and collaboration skills as part of a field-based plant phenomics workshop March 13 and 14 at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. While the genetic background of a plant may be known, the environment varies and will cause differences in physical and biochemical traits — the phenotype. Understanding this variation will improve crop performance regardless of the environmental condition, said Katy Martin Rainey, assistant professor of agronomy and one of the workshop organizers. “Our goal is provide foundational information about agronomic and reflectancebased research methods and help professional plant scientists, engineers and students develop the skills to work together in using the latest sensing technology to collect critical data,” Rainey said. She said that participants will also have several networking opportunities to share ideas and perspectives. Sessions will be led by Purdue agronomic and engineering faculty. Topics include: • Case studies in image analyses. • Fundamental information on remote sensing of vegetation and agronomic research methods. • Implementation of unmanned aerial systems for field experiments. • Analytical methods for temporal data and high-throughput field-based phenotyping. Cost is $500 for professionals, and it is free for Purdue students. Space is limited. For more information or to sign up, visit ag.purdue.edu/ plantsciences/phenomics-curricula/ or contact Chad Martin at 765-496-3964, martin95@ purdue.edu.

Purdue Extension finds new ways to enrich ag knowledge base

If you’re paying attention, and you probably are, you notice that agriculture continues to change in large and small ways. Large-scale production systems are getting more technical, the baby-boom generation of farmers continues to farm into old age or retire, and the supply of new farmers may or may not come from a farm background. These and many other factors figure into the offerings of Purdue Extension. If you participated in the 2014 Community Forums and Listening Sessions, you may have helped to identify current issues that Purdue Extension now works to address under its strategic plan. To see that plan, check ag.purdue. edu/plan/Pages/extension. Addressing many of those technical issues in large-scale production, we now have the Center for Commercial Agriculture. It offers webcasts through the year that cover topics such as crop insurance decisions, managing financial risk, crop outlooks, cash rents and land values. The webcasts are archived, so they can be viewed at your convenience. The Center for Commercial Agriculture also offers the Top Farmer Conference and many other resources. See ag.purdue. edu/commercialag. For farmers raising grain who don’t go online for webcasts, and you know who you are, there are programs such as the 2017 Crop Management Workshops. They are offered in four locations this winter, come up every year, and offer Private and Commercial Applicator credits. In Bartholomew County, we hold programs offering these credits at least twice a year. Two are coming up in February, and you are invited. Contact our office for more information. A new sub-program area

By Kris Medic

established in the past year is Diversified Food and Farming Systems, which addresses emerging and rapidly changing aspects of agriculture at multiple scales. There are six disciplines within DFFS: • Urban Agriculture provides training, and even a farm incubator. While the incubator is in Marion County, the programs are available to all who would farm in town. Urban farming is active in Indianapolis, and Columbus has seen some growth in community gardens as well as commercial businesses raising produce on available land. • Local Food provides assistance for those developing their local food economy. Whether you are a producer or buyer, you may be interested in the Columbus Area Local Food Summit planned for Feb. 22 at Donner Center. • Organic Agriculture gives support and guidance to producers who are establishing organic farm enterprises, or transitioning land to organic. • Beginning Farmer helps entrylevel farmers find appropriate training, resources and guidance for a new farm enterprise. For some veterans returning to civilian life, farming has become a welcome vocation, and this program gives them support in finding the right niche. Through a grant obtained by the Beginning Farmer program, Purdue Extension took pairs of farmers and extension educators on study trips to farms in Wisconsin, Maine and Vermont last year. This included seven farmers who sell or farm in Bartholomew County. Watch for programming based on what we learned last year as well as the chance to apply for this year’s trips. In 2017, we will visit livestock operations in Missouri and diversified organic operations in upstate New York and Quebec. • The Small Farm Team produces

the annual Indiana Small Farm Conference – coming up in March – along with other programming. • Student Farm: Student Farms are standard on agricultural campuses now, generating both produce and experience. Students may enroll in a Small Farm Experience class or volunteer as a member of the Purdue Student Farm Organization. Products are sold in CSA shares or commercially to dining halls, caterers or grocers. Whether you are farming large or small, there’s always the need to plan for business succession or to make an estate plan. This is where our workshops on estate/ succession planning come in. We offer these locally about once a year. To jump-start the process, consider Code Red training, which provides a spreadsheet setup for getting your farm’s asset and financial information in one place. We will offer Code Red from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds. For more information on that, see our website extension.purdue.edu/bartholomew. Regardless of how you farm or what you raise, Purdue Extension is called to help with research-based expertise. The knowledge base on campus is deep and wide, and the specialists are outstanding resources. While the educators in the counties each have their areas of expertise, we are good at accessing those resources. Let us know how we can help you.

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

Farm Indiana | February 2017

Workshop topics

Take an information deepdive into one of our full-day workshops on March 2. » Hop Production in Indiana: Issues That Impact Your Farm Viability Learn about growing hops from Indiana farmers and nationally known hop experts.

Small Farm Conference

returns in March

Registration is open for the fifth annual Indiana Small Farm Conference, presented by Purdue Extension, scheduled for March 2 to 4 at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex in Danville. This annual networking and educational program is geared to the unique needs of the growing Indiana small and diversified farm community. Thursday, March 2, will feature workshops on hops production, starting a small farm in Indiana, on-farm produce food safety or an Indianapolis urban agriculture tour. On Friday and Saturday, the conference features concurrent sessions on topics ranging from vegetable and livestock production to farm management and marketing. The trade show is open Friday and Saturday for networking and interacting with farm supply and services businesses, nonprofit organizations, state agencies and more. The Friday keynote speaker is Eliot Coleman, farmer at Four Season Farm and author of “The New Organic Grower,” “Four Season Harvest” and “The Winter Harvest Handbook.” Coleman has more than 40 years of experience in all aspects of organic

Eliot Coleman

farming, including field vegetables, greenhouse vegetables, rotational grazing of cattle and sheep, and range poultry. On Saturday, the keynote speaker is Blaine Hitzfield, farmer at Seven Sons Family Farms. He is the second son in the family farm operation and manages the marketing and distribution of their farm products. He will discuss the family and operations team for the farm and how they have been successful at direct sales and regional distribution. Visit the registration site at purdue.edu/dffs/smallfarms/ indiana-small-farm-conference for more conference details and to register. The site provides details about the conference agenda, Thursday workshops, annual poster session, sponsorship and trade show exhibitor opportunities, hotel options and more. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/PurdueExtensionSmallFarms for timely updates on the 2017 conference and other Small Farm programs and resources. Contact the conference chairman, Michael O’Donnell, at 765-284-8414 or modonnel@ purdue.edu with questions about the conference.

Blaine Hitzfield

» Beginning Farmer Workshop: Getting Started in Farming in Indiana Gain knowledge and skills from nationally known speakers and get started on a successful path, whether you just started farming or are considering it for the future. » Indianapolis Urban Agriculture Tour: Learn About Agriculture Production in Marion County Visit a school-based livestock project, commercial hydroponic farm and commercial market farm.

» On-Farm Food Safety for Fruit and Vegetable Growers: Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Learn how federal regulations regarding produce safety recently changed through the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Rule, how it impacts your farm and how to minimize the risk associated with foodborne pathogens on your farm.

Small farm poster session

Register as a poster presenter to showcase your small and diversified farming program, research or outreach. The annual showcase will run concurrently with the conference trade show from 11 a.m. to noon on March 4. Learn more about the poster session and how to apply at purdue. edu/dffs/smallfarms/2017/01/04/2017isfc-poster-session.

Sponsorship and trade show exhibitor opportunities

Sponsoring the 2017 Indiana Small Farm Conference gives your organization more exposure to small-scale and diversified farmers as well as the organizations and businesses supporting diversified agriculture in Indiana. Your sponsorship supplies key support to the Purdue Extension Small Farm Team to continue offering the Indiana Small Farm Conference, a unique and important opportunity for statewide networking and learning. We offer tiered benefits for different levels of sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities. Information: purdue.edu/dffs/ smallfarms/2017/01/04/2017-sponsorshipand-trade-show-exhibitor-opportunities.

Advertise it in print and online for 2 weeks with Wheels and Keels. CALL 812-379-5600 for details, or email text and photo to classifieds@therepublic.com

Farm Indiana | february 2017

EVENTS

Feb. 1

Private Applicator Recertification Program, mixing edition 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Bartholomew County Fairgrounds Family Arts Building. Speakers: Fred Whitford, Trish Waller. Registration begins at 9. Sessions on mixing chemicals, adjuvants and state chemist update. Stay for chili lunch. RSVP by noon Jan. 27 to 812-379-1665. Feb. 1

2016 Food Summit

Second Columbus food summit planned T Staff Reports

he Bartholomew County Purdue Extension office is partnering with Reach Healthy Communities to present the second Columbus Area Local Food Summit Feb. 22 at Donner Center, 739 22nd St. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with registration from 8:30 to 9. Cost is $10, which includes lunch. Register online at extension.purdue.edu/Bartholomew. The summit is intended for those who play a role in the local food economy, such as food producers, grocers and restaurants, distributors and consumers. The goal is to forge connections among these groups, learn about opportunities and best practices, and identify next steps for local food in the Columbus area. Purdue Extension conducted its first food summit in 2015. Five are planned throughout the state this year, said Kris Medic, the local Purdue Extension agriculture, natural resources and community development educator. Medic will share lessons learned on recent study trips to Vermont and Maine, where the local food economies are older and more developed. The day will also feature buyers’ and farmers’ panels, while the afternoon session will be a facilitated discussion on the topic “What’s Next for Our Local Food System?” Medic said 45 people attended last year’s inaugural food summit in Columbus. She hopes to make it an annual event as it facilitates connections among people involved with the local food system. “Every year you get a slightly different mix of people,” she said. “It takes doing this consistently to foster those connections.”

Medic said she visited Maine and Vermont to learn from those states that have “more mature” local food economies. “In places where the local food economy is more mature, there are farmers who are totally thriving on growing products for local consumption, and consumers who are committed to eating locally.” The food summit is also a great way to learn more about what’s happening in our area. “I’m looking forward to hearing from folks on the buyers’ panel about what they’re looking for,” she said, noting that most of the buyers will be institutional, such as restaurant chefs. The farmers’ panel will feature a discussion of best practices while the Local Food Success Lightning Round will give producers and buyers a chance to share their experiences and practices. Medic said that at times it can appear that little progress is being made. But that really isn’t the case, and events like the food summit can keep the momentum going. “There isn’t a lot I have control over except bringing people together,” she said. “Every time we bring people together we get a little more impetus.” One important next step, she said, is creating a local growers guide, to help buyers find what they’re looking for. “That’s a big missing piece for us,” she said. “We have a group of local farmers working on that.” Another “big picture” item, Medic said, is conserving agricultural land. “The more people we have consuming products grown locally, the more farmers get to stay on the farm.”

Code Red 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Bartholomew County Fairgrounds Family Arts Building. Code red is a means of capturing your farm or small business information in one spot so business can continue if something happens to you. The code red tool will be demonstrated, and you will receive a code red flash drive. Bring a laptop if you have one. Cost is $10 per set of materials and includes refreshments and the flash drive. Come early for local-beef chili at 11:30. Register by Jan. 27 to 812-379-1665. Feb. 13

Diversified Food and Farming 2017, Organics Report from Maine and Vermont 10 a.m., Purdue Extension Bartholomew County, 965 Repp Drive, Columbus. Registration not required. Information: 812-379-1665 or kmedic@purdue.edu. Feb. 20

Local Food Lunch Bytes This year-long webinar series features Ginny Roberts and John Orick, School Gardens and Master Gardeners, speaking at the February date. Future dates are always the third Monday of every month. Extension educator Jodee Ellett hosts the webinar, which is free and open to the public. Time: 12:30 p.m. Location: Online. Webinar info: 765-494-0349. Feb. 23

Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner This date kicks off a short course offered by Purdue geared toward landowners looking for help managing their forests. The course runs on Thursday evenings for eight weeks and features subjects including Forest Resource and Tree Identification (Feb. 23); Forest Biology and Ecology (March 2); Forest Cultivation I (March 9); Forest Cultivation II (March 16); Field Tour (March 18); Managing the Woodland Investment (March 23); Marketing Timber (March 30); Wildlife Management (April 6); Field Tour (April 8); and Resources and Assistance for Landowners (April 22). Time: 6 p.m. Location: Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center, 11371 E. Purdue Road, Dubois. Information: 812-678-5049. Feb. 23 and 25

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop Two dates, 2 to 4 p.m. Register to get address for the session. For Thursday session: eventbrite.com/e/ thursday-fruit-tree-pruning-workshoptickets-31157290294. For Saturday session: eventbrite.com/e/saturday-fruit-treepruning-workshop-tickets-31157721584. Dress for the weather; bring pruners and gloves. Weather may cancel.

Feb. 24-25

Beef and Dairy Beef Animal ID (Tagging) Days 6 to 8 p.m. Friday; 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Jennings County Fairgrounds. All market steers (beef and dairy beef) and commercial/non-registered heifers must attend one of the animal ID days. Animal ID worksheets, requirements and 4-H online instructions will be mailed to 4-H members enrolled in the beef and dairy projects. Contact the Extension Office fore more information. A completed worksheet must be brought to Animal ID Day. March 2-4

Indiana Small Farm Conference, presented by Purdue Extension Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex in Danville. This annual networking and educational program is geared to the unique needs of the growing Indiana small and diversified farm community. Information and registration: purdue.edu/dffs/smallfarms/ indiana-small-farm-conference. March 6

Diversified Food and Farming 2017, New Forest Farm and Restoration Agriculture 10 a.m., Purdue Extension Bartholomew County, 965 Repp Drive, Columbus. Registration not required. Information: 812-379-1665 or kmedic@purdue.edu. March 7

Jennings County Soil and Water Conservation District annual meeting 6 p.m., Rolling Hills Shrine Club, 3815 State Road 7, North Vernon. Featured speaker: John Scott Foster, executive director of Wesselman Nature Society. Information: www.jenningsswcd.org. March 13-14

Phenomics Workshop Crop scientists and engineers will learn cross-discipline communication and collaboration skills as part of a fieldbased plant phenomics workshop at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. Cost is $500 for professionals; free for Purdue students. Space is limited. For more information or to sign up, visit ag.purdue.edu/plantsciences/phenomicscurricula/ or contact Chad Martin at 765-496-3964, martin95@purdue.edu. March 20

Jennings County Rural Urban Dinner 6 p.m., Rolling Hills Shrine Club, 3815 State Road 7, North Vernon. All 10-year 4-H members will be recognized at this event. April 10

Diversified Food and Farming 2017, Orchard Success, and Permaculture Orchard Video 10 a.m., Purdue Extension Bartholomew County, 965 Repp Drive, Columbus. Registration not required. Information: 812-379-1665 or kmedic@purdue.edu.

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Farm Indiana | February 2017

from the field

be transferred to a big company that’s based in another state. But I can’t be impatient. We farmers have a big job ahead: helping people realize that although you can’t buy a few summertime treats at market, that’s OK. There’s a bounty of good, fresh food at a winter market, right here in Indiana. And those summertime treats taste that much better The View at Nightfall in summer. Plus, we all know February grocery store tomatoes taste terrible. I remind myself that eating with the seasons is a new idea to many folks. Of course, to my elders, it’s an old idea, one that they grew up with. More on lessons I’m learning from these folks another day. By Liz Brownlee I decide that I need to try a different tactic. I need to be more gentle and encourag“A farmers market in February?” asks a ing with my friend if I’m going to convince friend doubtfully. “What’s there to buy?” I’m more than happy to fill her in on the her to visit the winter farmers market. What if you come by the winter bounty of Indiana farms in the winter. The market and taste what’s in season now, closest wintertime farmers market is in I ask. If I were a betting woman, I’d Columbus, at Fair Oaks Mall each Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., I explain. wager that you will find produce that looks and tastes better than the groI start to list everything she can buy cery store, and it’s often cheaper. at the winter market — greens (like Plus the handmade doughnuts are lettuce and kale), root veggies (onions, incredible, you can find preserves, there’s potatoes, carrots, etc.), meat (chicken, grass-fed beef and our chicken and pork pork, lamb, beef), honey, baked goods. and eggs, crafts from local artisans ... I rein Before long, I decide it would be easier in my excitement, so as not to overwhelm to explain what’s NOT at market. my friend with the choices at market. You won’t find cantaloupe or watermelShe agrees to come. I tell her we’ll on, fresh berries or tomatoes. Those juicy, make a date of it. We’ll sweet crops aren’t in season buy breakfast at the marin Indiana this time of year. ket, catch up and buy our “I know that,” she groceries. We decide to meet says, clearly feeling at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday, a little defensive. when market opens. I didn’t mean to offend, I leave the conversation but I can see how I came hopeful that I’ve found a off a little like a know-itnew way to draw people all. It’s just that sometimes Liz and Nate Brownlee operate Nightfall Farm in to the farmers market, not I get a little impatient. Crothersville. with lessons about what’s in I want everyone to eat season when or why the local food from local farmers. economy benefits when people buy local Food that’s in season tastes better, often food. Instead, I invite them to join me for because it’s shipped a few miles rather fun, community and a new experience. than all the way across the continent. This feels like a key lesson for this young Plus buying local is good because farmer, as I try to figure out how to sell our money spent with local farmers tends to food and contribute to our community. stay here in our community rather than

Market in the winter

For the love of the farmer By katie glick

Time and time again I shake my head at my dirty floors and loads of laundry and then sigh. It’s not that I feel overwhelmed with the housework or burdened by it. My head shakes are about how my younger, detailed and tidy self would have never let this fly. When my husband and I were first married, I promised myself that we would be the farmhouse that was clean and put together – no cow manure on the floor, Carhartts washed at all times and a cute back porch. Well, I got one week into that “married to a farmer” deal and realized my household goals would never be realized. I grew up on a farm and should have known better, but my passionate and organized spirit got the best of me for a while. But for the love of the farm and my farmer, I gave it up. I decided that my own fancy boots weren’t going to stay clean and that was just part of it. And if we both had a pair of dirty boots that was more proof that we were lockstep in this path called life together. I recently read an article about how a woman always nagged her husband for not picking up after himself and forgetting to do things around the house. Then one day he was gone. He had left this earth, and she couldn’t nag him any longer. As much as she hated the random socks everywhere or incomplete honey-do chores, she wasn’t going to be able to live her life with him anymore.

She made a commitment to stop nagging and worrying about the little things because they weren’t important. Just as having clean floors isn’t as important as the steps you take on them with the people who matter. As we approach that February holiday of love, I hope you sacrifice something for someone else. For the love of my farmer, I plan on overlooking that wretched smelling hat, holey socks, dirty floors and time with him so he can work the land he loves … we love. I also hope you take a moment to realize Katie Glick lives with her the sacrifices husband on their famfarmers make ily farm near Columbus, for you – their where they grow corn, time away from soybeans and wheat; raise their families, cattle; and have a private seed company. She works in physical tolls the agriculture industry. they endure and risks they take on multiple levels. For the love of the farmer and the food on your table, say thank you to the next one you see at the store, church, market or ballgame. This Valentine’s Day I hope I come home to mud and manure soaked Carhartts still attached to the boots on my dirty back porch. Just like last time, I’m going to walk right past them to focus on more important things like my family and our farm.

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