Farm Indiana | August 2017

August 2017

Stewards of

the land Trevor and Brett Glick find seeds of opportunity in diverse operations

By Barney Quick | Photography by April Knox Two brothers in eastern Bartholomew County embody a formula for success based on diversification, strategic savvy, respect for legacy and gratitude for opportunity.

They do so on land that has been in the family name since 1854.

Brothers Trevor, 37, and Brett, 35, have four activities that comprise their operation: commercial rowcrop production, a seed company, beef production, and distillery grain production. They see growth potential in each, depending on trends and economic forces in the world in general.

Each went to Columbus East High School and then earned an agricultural economics bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. As is often the case in Midwestern farm families, farming got in their blood

Farm Indiana is a monthly publication of AIM Media Indiana.

early on and was regarded as a way of life.

“We feel blessed to be able to farm,” says Trevor.

“It’s not the kind of profession people generally get into without coming from a family that does it. That can be done, but it’s more challenging than being born into it. We see ourselves as stewards of what’s here for the next generation.”

There are a lot more Glicks in Bartholomew County, comprising three main branches that can trace a common ancestry in Pennsylvania. The brothers have cousins nearby who also run a seed company.

“We don’t really compete,” says Trevor. “That’s the charm of this area in general. The farmers have a strong sense of community.

You don’t see the inclination to undercut each other that you do in some places.”

Publisher Chuck Wells Editor Doug Showalter

Both the commercial row crops (corn, wheat, soybeans) and the seed business are driven by meeting precise needs of customers.

“We have opportunities to license different genetics and traits and select corn and wheat varieties for unique characteristics for the soil in southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky, which is our customer base,” says Trevor.

Their corn is non-genetically modified. It’s sold through a broker.

Some goes to the distiller market and some is exported. Japan and South Korea are two destinations for Glick corn.

The current iteration of the seed business has its roots in Glick Seed Service, founded by the

L & M Glick Seed Co-Owners, Brett and Trevor Glick have been working for the family business all their lives, but they formally took over operations in 2005.

brothers’ great-grandfather, Lloyd. His son, Lynn, founded Lynn and Myron Glick Seed Co. with his son, Myron, the brothers’ father. Myron passed away in 2005, and the brothers purchased his interest and later their grandfather’s too. The acronym version, L&M Glick, is the current name.

While consolidation in the seed industry has diminished the number of local companies, it’s been important to the Glicks to remain independent.

“We get to choose what we provide (Continues on page 3)

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 | august 2017

Dan Arnholt coaches Brendan Boewe.

The curved line represents the edge of a flower bed.

Drive time 4-H tractor program develops skills for a lifetime Story and photos

by Marcia Walker

Arnholt watches as Jenna Boewe practices backing up a zero-turn mower.

Jaden Decker practices backing up a tractor with a trailer attached.

Surrounded by cornfields and grain bins on a sweltering summer day, 13-year-old Jaden Decker climbed onto a bright orange tractor, buckled the seatbelt, turned the ignition key and put the machine in gear, then deftly began maneuvering along a course outlined with stakes.

There were twists and turns, and at one point Jaden even had to back up the rig; the course simulated obstacles that he might encounter when driving a tractor, including backing into a barn or shed, maneuvering through doors and around posts.

Jaden, who is home-schooled, doesn’t live on a farm, and his family doesn’t even own a lawn mower. But he has developed a passion for agriculture, influenced in part by his older sister, Julia, who is studying agriculture as a possible career.

This day, Jaden was practicing for the upcoming tractor competition at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair. It’s his fourth year in the 4-H tractor program; he began by driving garden tractors and zero-turn mowers. This year, he moved up to a bigger tractor with a trailer attached.

“A little harder,” the teen replied, when asked what it was like to switch from a small tractor to a larger size. “You have this big massive thing following you around. It’s a lot harder to back up, that’s for sure.”

Jaden was driving under the careful supervision of leader Dan Arnholt; the 4-H tractor program is Arnholt’s passion. He became involved with the program back in the early 1980s, when his sons, Clint and Corey, became big enough to drive. Corey was the first member to win a state championship; since then, there have been six others, and at least one member has participated nationally.

Scott Decker, who was watching Jaden, his son, practice, said he and his wife, Laura, are huge proponents of the 4-H program; participating in the tractor program is just one of the many projects Jaden is taking this year. A reason for the couple’s support, Decker said, is because participants learn practical skills that can be applied to life.

And Scott is also a big proponent of Arnholt.

“Dan can teach anybody to drive this stuff,” he said. “He is great. I’m so thankful he’s helping teach Jaden all this stuff.”

Although the machines are usually associated with the agricultural industry, Dan Arnholt pointed out that skills learned behind the wheel of a tractor apply elsewhere. He places a big emphasis on safety, which becomes a mindset and pertains to many tasks that are a part of day-to-day life.

“It’s that awareness,” he explained.

A short time later, Arnholt moved to a different course at a different location, where two other participants practiced their skills, this time on garden tractors and zero-turn mowers.

One of them is Jenna Boewe, 13, who last year brought home the state championship for driving zero-turn mowers. Jenna, daughter of Lesley and Daniel Boewe and a student at Central Middle School, said she wanted to join the tractor program because her older brother, Braden, who is now 17, was in it.

“When he started, there were no girls. … I wanted to be the only girl,” she said. She estimated that there were approximately 25 participants in the state competition, including several other girls.

“She is only the second girl to be a state champion in the history of the program,” Arnholt said.

The hot, humid day with temperatures approaching 90 stands in contrast to a winter day several months before, a day that was cold, blustery and punctuated with snow squalls. On that January night, participants in the 4-H tractor program gathered in the Arnholts’ huge barn, where they listened to a presentation by the club’s state and national champions.

For some of them, their experiences with the tractor program have a direct link to a career. John Whittington, owner of a trucking company, told the group that the same principles that apply to driving a small garden tractor also apply to driving big trucks. “It’s definitely tools you can use at home,” he said.

David Kelly, who works in construction, said the skills he picked up from participating

in the program came in handy the day he had to back up a tractor-trailer about a mile. He also used that story to illustrate another point.

“You become more conscious of what is important,” he said. “Be aware of your surroundings; think about something before you do it.”

For others, the link to the club may be less direct but no less important. “A lot of what we do can be applied to anything: hard work, focus, dedication ... (it can apply) to sports, school, a job,” Todd Martin told the group.

Once again, a major emphasis was safety.

“Learn safety so it’s embedded in your brain,” Clint Arnholt said, adding “dig deep in yourself and push yourself to do things quickly but safely. The big thing is to find what drives you.”

Some of the champions even shared the mistakes they have made during competitions. Whittington recalled the time he lost points because he skidded the tires when coming to a stop. He also stressed the importance of the part of the competition that for many is their least favorite: a written quiz. He indicated the quiz may not be as fun as driving but does offer a good way to pick up additional points.

“It’s like a free throw shot in basketball,” he said.

As he opened the meeting that January night, Dan Arnholt looked out over the crowd seated in front of him. This year, 34 young people are participating in the tractor program. Gesturing to the seven champions seated behind him, he told the members: “There are four or five people out there, that in a few years, should be up here.”

Top scorers from this year’s tractor driving competition at the county fair then moved on to the area competition, which is held in Greensburg. The top three there will advance to state.

Whether any of Bartholomew County’s participants make it that far isn’t known at the moment. But even if the club doesn’t turn out any state champs this year, it’s a sure bet that sometime down the line, another name will be added to the list of local champs.

Farm Indiana | august 2017

The distilled grains component of the Glick operation came about when the Spagnuolo family, owners of Bear Wallow Distillery in Brown County, approached the brothers.

“They said, ‘Hey, you know how to clean

Glick

(Continued from page 1)

to our customers,” says Brett.

Their beef operation currently consists of feeder calves. They are born in February, weaned in September

analysis, and Trevor does a lot of the customer relations work.

Lynn can be seen strolling the premises on most days, which shouldn’t be surprising, given that the brothers’ office and the equipment storage building are across the lawn from his house.

From left, Brett and Katie Glick “Grandpa with their 1-year-old daughter, Mae. Kelly and Trevor Glick with is our parts their children, Sophie, 9, Eli, 5, and retrieval Ethan, 7. Below, Left: Eli and Ethan specialist,” play In the hog barn. Below, right: says Brett.

Glick family homeplace.

They send him on misgrain, and we want to sions to nearby equipwork with someone loment dealerships when cally,’” says Trevor. something breaks down.

That led to supplying Lynn notes that it gives other distillers with cus- him the opportunity to tom grain cleaning and eat at restaurants in Seyand sold when they “We breed them for a a partnership with a rye mour or Greensburg. reach the 500- to calm disposition,” says importing business.

Brett and his wife, 600-pound range. The Brett. “They’re easier to Strategic planning is Katie, have one daughcustomers finish the manage, and they stay an ongoing part of their ter, Mae. Trevor and calves for another year. fleshy with less food activity. Five years ago, his wife, Kelly, have The calves aren’t pure than less calm cows they conducted a major three children, Sophie, bred, but, once again, at- would. We’ll keep a SWOT (strengths, opEthan and Eli. Brett tention to genetics is a heifer with good genetportunities, weaknesses, says that their wives top priority. ics up to 15 years.” threats) analysis. Brett are “very supportive of Adds Trevor, “We maps out a budget on a our business but not keep precise records monthly basis. directly involved.” on breeding, birthHe grants that it ing, weaning and their doesn’t come as natuweight when we sell rally as the more handsthem.” on aspects of what For several years, they needs to be done: “I’d had a business called rather be out bush-hogBrothers Beef that was ging or cleaning fence a direct-sales operarows, but you have to tion. They ran a booth know your route for at the Saturday farmers where you’re going. You market in downtown have to take your eyes Columbus, but, accord- off the scenery and look ing to Brett, it became down at the map.” a choice between that They play to their and “Trevor going to his strengths. Brett hankids’ soccer games.” dles the financial

3

Their mother, Marybeth, lives in a house adjacent to the farming property. After raising her children (and occasionally helping with tasks like tractor driving), she worked at Cummins, from which she retired. She now helps with 4-H projects for one of her granddaughters, the child of the brothers’ sister, Lisa.

What is it like to live one’s entire life on one piece of ground and see the same faces daily in one’s professional life in an age when mobility is the norm for so much of society?

“There’s definitely something very valuable about being grounded,” says Brett. “We do travel and have social lives, but we hold that connection to the past in high regard. There’s a particular shovel I really like to use. It has a worn handle and probably isn’t as efficient as one I could go buy at Rural King, but I am putting history to use.”

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Farm Indiana | august 2017

Jennifer Campbell and her daughter, Emi Lou, with Pete.

the love story of

Emi Lou and Pete

By Paul Minnis | For The Republic

Campbell passes out Pete-shaped cookies at a book reading event.

FRANKLIN — Emi Lou and Pete love each other. You can see it in the way they walk together.

In the way they play together. In the way they seem to understand each other.

But this love story can end only one way. You see, Emi Lou Campbell is a farmer’s daughter, and Pete is a 1,300-pound steer.

And like most steers, Pete is destined to be auctioned off to market.

“It’s going to be hard,” admitted Emi Lou, 17, who raised the steer from a sickly calf. “But I know Pete has a job to do.”

Emi Lou’s mother, Jennifer Campbell, has long felt compelled to tell the tale of farmers’ sacrificial lives. Blogging and tweeting help her accomplish that goal. But while watching the story unfold between her daughter and Pete, she found new inspiration that resulted in a self-published children’s book called “Meet Pete.” She hopes the simple tale of a farm girl and her steer might help children deal with their own feelings of life, love and loss.

The story screamed “book!” from the beginning.

About a year ago, some neighbors called Jennifer to see if the Campbell family would take care of a calf that could not nurse.

The Campbells said yes, picked up the newborn and drove it to their Jackson County farm.

The animal’s problems were obvious. His legs were curved under him at the ankles and frozen in place.

Standing and nursing were impossible.

So Emi Lou went to work. She massaged the calf ’s ankles hour upon hour. When his legs began to cooperate, she lifted him from behind until he could stand.

“I was bonding with him,” she said. “Since I was little I dreamed of having a little calf that would follow me around.”

All the while, her mother was watching and thinking. Jennifer is a writer. She has written for Indiana Prairie Farmer and Agri News magazine, and she hosts two blogs — farmwidefeeds.com and jentsfrontporch. com — with about 500 total followers, and a Twitter feed with 4,000 followers.

Writing a book was always in the back of her mind. For

many years, she thought that book might be about Christmas trees at tree farms, about how some trees end up decorating living rooms while others never find a home.

But Pete the steer changed her plans. Suddenly, she knew she’d write a children’s book. And she knew it would get to the very core of her passion.

“I loved the idea that all farmers are willing to put their hearts and souls on the line,” said Jennifer, who was raised on a farm and married a farmer, Chris, 25 years ago. “Emi Lou knows why we raised cattle. But to her it’s worth it.”

Writing “Meet Pete” was a labor of love, Jennifer said. On the one hand, it was easy because the subject matter unfolded in front of her. On the other hand, she had to rely on outsiders’ perspectives to help her choose the right words to make the story understandable to children. And she always knew to keep in mind that her responsibility as a children’s writer was to soothe emotions by

focusing on the love story – not the sad ending.

She said her biggest “panic point” was illustrations. Ultimately, she hired her friend, Vicki Gibson, who had once painted an image of their farm. Jennifer sent her photos of Emi Lou and Pete, and Gibson recreated the images in watercolors.

What springs forth is a complete image of love, caring, dedication and life on the farm. And Pete’s pure playfulness.

Jennifer and her husband recalled a time when a couple drove past the farm and saw the calf on the side of the road. They called police and got out of their car, sending Pete into a playful romp to the road’s opposite side. In the end, police called Chris Campbell, who had to leave his favorite restaurant to get his animal.

Some of that playfulness has dissipated with Pete’s added weight, which was displayed during the Johnson County 4-H Fair, when Emi Lou walked her favorite animal one last time.

And so the love story will end.

Left, Katelin Strickland holds a cookie and a copy of “Meet Pete.”Above, Emi Lou gives kids a closer look at Pete.

Farm Indiana | august 2017

BRIEFS Natalie Taylor

Jake Buttles, owner of a liquid manure application business, uses a service called Farmobile on his iPad to monitor the machinery used by his employees. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/TNS)

Data Harvest As precision agriculture technology expands, ownership questions linger By Jon Shoulders The theory is relatively simple – implementing high-tech data systems on a farm will augment a grower’s knowledge of the land, leading to increased efficiency, higher yields and lower costs.

Precision agriculture software, including Global Positioning System technologies, can help determine soil nutrient density, amounts of seed and water needed at given periods during the growing season, accurate weather predictions, and more.

The data gathered through such systems are typically presented in the field via computer, tablet or smartphone, and according to Matt Bechdol, president of DeKalb County-based GeoSilos, an agribusiness consulting firm specializing in spatial analytics, the costs of on-boarding such technologies have decreased considerably over the past five years.

“With row crops here in Indiana there’s been a downturn in the market, and we’re oversupplied and under-demanded with low returns, so there are growers asking about how to use technology to be efficient with farm equipment and improve production,” Bechdol says. “Many farmers are already using GPS systems, and it’s become indispensable for a lot of the mid- to large-scale growers.”

According to an October 2016 U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service study, GPS guidance systems were used on approximately 50 percent of all corn and soybean acres in the U.S. between 2010 and 2012, and GPS soil maps were used on approximately 30 percent. Corn farms consisting of 2,900 acres or more had about double the precision ag usage rates of all farms.

Small-scale producers should consider a few factors before digitizing their operation, such as the return-on-investment issue. “With small growers who have much smaller margins, they have to decide if the costs and the learning curve are worth the benefits of adopting these GPS technologies,” Bechdol says. “The costs have come down, but with the economic downturn for row crops, who knows if it will be something that many more farmers adopt.”

Additionally, all producers should have a firm grasp of where and how their data are stored, whether the grower, the software firm or the agriculture technology provider actually owns the data after they are gathered and who else could have access to them – including marketing firms, regulatory agencies or even groups speculating on farm commodity futures.

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Potential ownership issues don’t exist solely between growers and ATPs either. Landowners renting property to tenant farmers should establish ownership rights for any data collected on the land to avoid future disputes.

Bechdol says there are currently no federal laws specifically touching on data ownership arrangements between farmers and tech providers, and Congress has stayed relatively clear of the issue, opting to let ownership disputes play out in the marketplace.

“You should always read the fine print on your contract when starting to use precision data equipment, and you want to understand anything in the contract about the data sharing,” says Brian Scott, who operates a 2,200-acre corn, soybean and wheat farm in northwest Indiana with his father and grandfather. “Most of the companies as far as I know promise not to share data, but it can be more complicated, and you always want to confirm something like that.”

Scott, who runs an agriculture blog called The Farmer’s Life, says his family’s experiences implementing GPS-based data systems on his farm have been predominantly positive. “It makes things more efficient. We even use the GPS data to submit information needed by our insurance provider, and it takes about two minutes,” he says.

In 2016 a group of ATPs and farmerled industry organizations, including American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Association of Wheat Growers, founded the Ag Data Transparency Evaluator, through which ATPs can complete a 10-question form on how they use farm data.

An independent third party then reviews the answers as well as the company’s contracts and policies, and tech providers that successfully pass the review are awarded an Ag Data Transparent Seal for one year.

Farmers nationwide can visit the Ag Data Transparent website, which officially launched in March, to compare company data policies, and ADTE officials hope the system will help growers make safer and better-informed decisions in their search for precision ag products.

Scott says there is also growing interest in what could be described as the flip side of the data ownership and privacy issue; farmers can potentially monetize their data by selling it to agribusinesses such as seed and pesticide companies. Kansas-based data management company Farmobile now offers a service called Data Store whereby the company markets information gathered by a grower to various agribusinesses and splits any resulting income with that grower.

Farmobile touts the Data Store service as a means to added revenue streams for producers that could help offset slow growing seasons.

“That kind of detailed information on land and seed usage could be useful to different businesses, so farmers have to decide how comfortable they are with putting their records out there,” Scott says.

To learn more about the Ag Data Transparency Evaluator and review companies that have obtained the Ag Data Transparent Seal, visit agdatatransparent.com.

Hauser native becomes state’s FFA reporter

Natalie Taylor, 18, a recent Hauser High School graduate with hopes to pursue a career in agriculture communications, has been elected as the state’s FFA reporter. She was among 19 Indiana high school students to apply for a position on the sevenmember FFA state officer team.

Taylor joined the Hauser chapter her freshman year and later took on leadership positions in the local chapter and district, such as co-reporter and District IX treasurer.That experience convinced Taylor to reach even higher — seeking a state office position.

As the state reporter, Taylor will be responsible for informing the public about FFA-related events and updating all Indiana FFA social media accounts. She will also work with fellow state officers to organize the annual state convention, workshops and camps for chapters across Indiana.

Taylor said and the other state officers will receive scholarships for their year of service, but the amounts have not yet been announced.

Protecting Pollinators

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue Extension has released two new publications in the Protecting Pollinators series: “The Complex Life of the Honey Bee” and “Biology and Control of Varroa Mites in Bee Hives.”

These new publications provide information on honey bee biology, how to promote healthy hives and current issues in pollinator research.

“Biology and Control of Varroa Mites in Bee Hives” focuses on one of the greatest threats to North American honey bees the pesky varroa mite. These mites cause massive winter losses in hives by infecting brood cells.

The publication provides details on the biology of the infestation and methods used to reduce mite populations and prevent honey bee die-offs. The publication is available as a free download from Purdue Extension’s Education Store at edustore.purdue.edu/ item.asp?Item_Number=POL-8.

“The Complex Life of the Honey Bee” is a detailed guide to the species and its management. The publication provides insight on the environmental, biological, and chemical challenges of colony health. It also includes an emphasis on the balance between pesticides and pollinators, an important issue today. Print versions of “The Complex Life of the Honey Bee” are available for $5.50 each from the Education Store at edustore.purdue.edu/item. asp?Item_Number=PPP-116.

Nine publications are now available in the Protecting Pollinators series. The series provides practical tips for protecting the habitats of honey bees, mason bees, bumble bees, flies, moths, butterflies and hummingbirds as well as other threatened pollinator species.

For more information on the series and pollinator issues: https://extension.entm. purdue.edu/index.html.

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Farm Indiana | august 2017

»

a different perspective

Farm Bureau urges women to have a say on agriculture issues

Women’s voices in the agricultural arena are increasing in not only volume, but number. The origin of the Women’s Leadership Committee is intricately woven into the foundation of Indiana Farm Bureau, says Isabella Chism, second vice president and chairwoman of the committee.

“Early on, women had no part in the organization,” Chism says. “The bureau’s leaders decided that women were such a vital part of the farm in general and had interest in the organization, and they wanted to create a way for the women to have input.”

By Jennifer Willhite

workshops and opportunities to hone their public speaking skills.

The leadership committee’s other interests lie in expanding community outreach through encouraging legislative dialogue at state and local levels, as well as bringing agriculture to classrooms across the state.

Part of the reasoning behind building communication skills is to encourage women’s participation in the legislative process through speaking directly with representatives about issues the women feel are important, Chism says. Prior to meeting with lawmakers, the women gather with committee leaders to network and ask questions about topics they intend to discuss during scheduled meetings with legislators.

“They set up appointments at the Statehouse on their own and visit with their representative and talk about whatever has pushed a button with them in the briefing session,” Chism says.

“After their meetings we have a debriefing over lunch to find out how Indiana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee district reps. things went, what questions they have, how we And so a women’s auxiliary group called can make the program better and if they the Women’s Committee was formed. would do it again.”

Ten years ago, the group was renamed the So what topics do they discuss? It deWomen’s Leadership Committee, and with pends on what the committee’s delegates the rebranding came a change in the orgahave set as the priority issues for the year, nization’s mission.

Chism says. This year, the women dis“We found there is a great imbalance of cussed road funding and sustaining the leadership as far as gender division goes,” property tax changes that were impleChism says. “Part of that comes from a very mented last year. conservative culture and the history of the The most popular community outreach organization. Our specific mission would aspect the committee be to develop women leaders and educaoffers has to be Ag in tional programs internally and externally the Classroom, says for individuals of all ages.”

Melba Loyd, district This year the committee launched its first education and outWomen’s Communication Boot Camp with reach coordinator exciting results. The camp was designed to for District 10, which evaluate the participants’ communication consists of southeastskills and offer tools to help boost confiern Indiana counties, dence with public speaking, especially on including Jackson topics related to agriculture.

County.

“The boot camp brought out several The urbanization women with no agricultural background,” of many formerly ruChism says. “That opened my eyes to all the ral counties has inpotential we have out there and the interest creased the need for that is there. Now we can pick their brains agricultural educaand find out what they truly need, want and tion, she says. “In the why they reached out to us.” counties I serve, we The day-long camp offered its 16 pardo a lot with Ag in ticipants training, educational talks, the Classroom,” she

says. “We go into the schools and talk to the children about where their food, fiber and fuel come from, and the teachers love it.”

In an effort to keep momentum going throughout the year, the committee has introduced a book-of-the-year program as part of the newly established Ag Literacy Week, which takes place in February. This year’s chosen book was “The Boy Who Changed the World” by Andy Andrews.

Volunteers with Ag in the Classroom leave a copy of the book with the participating teacher, who is then able to follow up with additional related discussions, Loyd says.

As with anything, knowledge is power.

And Chism is the first to admit that in the coming years she sees the committee blossoming to take on a life of its own.

There are numerous opportunities, especially at the county level, for women to get involved, Chism says. From volunteering for single events, such as the county fair, to Ag in the Classroom and legislative visits, there’s something for everyone.

“Anyone who has a passion for eating and wearing clothes, I would ask they take the initiative to make themselves the best they can be to promote agriculture and farming in general,” Chism says.

The rise in women’s involvement dovetails perfectly with the local farming movement, she says. She hopes to see women’s confidence increase so there are more serving in leadership roles at the county and state levels.

“What women bring to the table, especially as far as the local question goes, is they are quicker at building relationships or pointing out, ‘It is me or my family who has grown this,’” she says. “They have a different tone in their messaging and relationship and make up a vital part of our organization that deserves time and attention.”

Women’s Leadership Committee members meet with a state legislator during the Women’s Boot Camp event last March.

What’s growing here?

By Jeff Tryon

Agricultural statistics show how local acreage is planted

Indiana’s non-farming residents have some general sense that we are a rural, agricultural state with a lot of farmland and farmers. We could probably guess that we grow a lot of corn here, but what else? What kind of crops are growing around these parts and how much?

A 2012 agricultural census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives a little snapshot, some statistical idea about what is growing in several local counties.

The 2012 survey showed Bartholomew County had 623 farms comprising 171,601 acres with an average farm size of 275 acres.

“If you look at total number of acres, you would say yes, we have thousands and thousands of acres of corn and

soybeans,” said Kris Medic, an agriculture educator from the Purdue Extension office in Bartholomew County. “However, if you look at county by county rankings, you’d find that we’re about in the middle of corn and soybeans.”

Bartholomew County farmers grew 74,795 acres of corn and 65,523 acres of soybeans. That put it 36th of 92 counties in corn and 34th among Indiana counties for soybean production. Bartholomew County farmers also raised 6,505 acres of wheat in 2012, eighth in the state. They also produced 4,039 acres of forage, such as hay.

A February 2017 USDA report estimated Bartholomew County planted 60,000 acres of corn and 73,200 acres of soybeans in 2016. Bartholomew has sandy soil types that support melon crops on a commercial scale.

“One of our highest rankings is in fresh produce; we are number 15 in the state for vegetables and melons,” Medic said. “We also have specialty produce that’s going to farmers markets, and we also have farmers growing produce year-round in high tunnels, which is how you get lettuce at the market in the winter.”

“Most of the corn and soybeans grown here is going to animal feed and to bio fuels, but we do have a significant amount of popcorn grown here,” Medic said. “We have a lot of seed corn growers.

A lot of those corn acres are dedicated to seed corn that is being grown for next year’s crop.”

There are still some tobacco farmers down in the southeast corner of the county, and Bartholomew ranks 18th among the relatively few Indiana counties that still produce it.

Jackson County had 744 farms covering 183,878 acres, or an average farm size of about 247 acres, according to the 2012 government survey. The county grew slightly more acres of soybeans, 60,816, than corn, 59,204, and devoted 6,788 acres to forage crops and 3,383 for wheat.

The estimate of last year’s crops showed Jackson County farmers planted 55,000 acres of corn and 80,400 acres in soybeans.

But Richard Beckort, extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Jackson County, said produce and specialty crops set the county apart somewhat in agricultural output. (Continues on next page)

Farm Indiana | august 2017

Brett Glick and daughter, Mae, check the crops on the family farm.

calendar Through July 29 — Jackson County Fair, Brownstown July 30-Aug. 5 — Brown County 4-H Fair, Nashville Aug. 2 — “Seed Saving,” a presentation by James Kelly, Bartholomew County Public Library Red Room, 6 p.m.

(South Central Master Gardeners Association) Aug. 4-20 — Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis

Work ethic continues across generations

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By Katie Glick

When I left to travel abroad (and we are all guilty of it). It’s one recently, the corn was below my knees, thing to allow your kids to have 4-H and upon my return it was above animals and projects, but it’s another them. In recent years the phrase “knee thing to do half the work for them. high by the Fourth of July” really Everyone has some yard work or hasn’t been accurate as I saw corn tasoutdoor projects. Find that kid or seling on the Fourth of July the past grandkid and teach him how to do it. few years. I’m always amazed at how I’ve lived with plenty of people who fast it grows in such a short don’t know what a screwamount of time. driver is or how to fix a toilet As I think about the or even kill a spider. Don’t let amount of energy and few your kin be one of them. resources the corn plant I can tell you from workhas to grow, I’m reminded ing in an office that fresh about the manpower that air and yard work, not the goes into creating that one screens our eyes are glued Katie Glick lives with seed, which develops into a to for much of the day, are her husband and tall, sturdy stalk. My friends good for the soul. I even daughter on their are pretty clueless about have to be reminded by my family farm near Columbus, where they farmer every so often to get the amount of time and engrow corn, soybeans, ergy it takes to plant, nuroutside and “blow the stink wheat and raise cattle ture and harvest the various off.” It’s a phrase I became and have a private grains that are used in a vafamiliar with as a child seed company. riety of their everyday prodwhen my father would come ucts. However, when you inside sweaty from a hard live with an intelligent, energetic, day’s work on the farm. Oh how I hardworking, young farmer, you long for my youth some days and don’t have to be reminded. When more time outside. my farmer comes in from a long As summer ends and the school day in his second or third sweaty year begins, new routines start shirt, dirty boots and pockets full again, and it’s the perfect time to of soybeans or corn, it’s not hard to start developing our children’s work understand the work ethic that has ethic again — mentally and physibeen passed down from generation cally. Critical thinking is lacking in to generation on our farm. And it’s our culture today, and when it comy hope that it continues. incides with good work ethic, you As many of you are aware, the curhave a solid character in your midst. rent generation doesn’t seem to have I hope Mae grows into a tall, sturdy the same work ethic as you do or as stalk of a strong, independent woman your parents and grandparents exwith a work ethic like her father’s. hibited. However, I think we must She’s already lifting buckets on the realize what one generation does to coffee table and dives into new opthe next before we make judgments portunities, so there is hope.

(Continued from opposite page) “There’s a lot of corn and soybeans, but here in Jackson County, we also have a lot of specialty crops,” he said. “There’s a lot of melons — cantaloupes, watermelons — a lot of tomatoes, a lot of other vegetables for fresh market: green beans, peppers. You name it, we grow it.”

One reason is the sandy soil type; another is historical. “These families have raised produce for years,” Beckort said.

Jackson County also has a few small niche market growers, a few Christmas tree farms and even a turf farm. “We do have some people growing honeybees, producing honey,” Beckort said, “but more importantly, the honeybees are providing pollination for the other crops, especially the specialty vegetable crops.”

Decatur County had 186,528 acres of farmland among 610 farms, an average farm size of 306 acres in the 2012 survey. It produced 78,092 acres of corn and 71,488 acres of soybeans, a rank of 29 and 30 among the state’s 92 counties, respectively. It also grew 4,488 acres of hay and other forage and 3,245 acres of wheat. The 2016 estimate showed the county planting

78,000 acres of corn in 2016 and 79,600 acres of soybeans.

Johnson County had 562 farms on 144,646 acres of land, an average of 257 acres per farm. That included 69,120 acres of corn and 52,031 of soybeans. Forage crops accounted for 4,330 acres and wheat another 2,707. The 2016 estimate showed the county had 42,500 acres of corn in 2016.

Trailing far behind its neighbors in crop land and production is Brown County, whose rugged terrain is largely given over to public lands. Brown County had 173 farms comprising 14,590 acres, an average of 84 acres per farm in the 2012 survey.

The county was dead last among 92 counties in Indiana for the number of acres devoted to corn and soybeans; 1,833 of corn and 1,274 of soybeans. Farmers there actually allocated more acres to forage crops: 2,553.

Aug. 17 — SEPAC Field Day, Butlerville – PARP, commercial and certified crop adviser credits in a grain crops environment.

Sessions begin at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Information: 812-3763200, extension.purdue.edu/ Bartholomew.

Aug. 26 — Purdue Extension’s Indiana Beginning Farmer tour at Goat Milk Stuff in Scottsburg. Goat Milk Stuff is a dairy goat farm that produces soaps, candies and cheeses.

During the morning session, Maria Marshall, professor of agricultural economics, will discuss how to market farm products, particularly value-added products.

Best practices for agricultural tourism will also be discussed and demonstrated. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $10, which includes lunch. Registration is limited. For more information or to sign up, go to http://bit.ly/2puUV4I or call 866-515-0023.

Aug. 29-31 — Farm Progress Show, Decatur, Illinois. Information: farmprogressshow.com.

Oct. 13-15 — Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Awareness/ Operations course. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Johnson County Fairgrounds, Franklin. $450 for operations level; $175 for awareness. Register by Sept. 15. Topics covered include water, trench and confined space considerations, hazard and fire mitigation and animal containment.

Information: Denise Fletcher at 765-342-7925 or Brandon Shireman at 812-360-1258.

Nov. 7 — Beginning Farmer Regional Workshop with Nathan Boone, Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, all day.

Nov. 28 — Pesticide Applicator Training, crops edition, plus farm succession bonus topic, Hauser Jr./ Sr. High School, 3:30 p.m.

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Farm Indiana | august 2017

Animal control, responders train on large animal rescue

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By Kris Medic

“Fast is slow, and slow is fast.” This expression, used by Dr. Brooke Case, reminds people learning to work with livestock that the animals move at their own pace. If you get in a hurry, the pressure you put on the animals may cause them to bolt or defend themselves.

If you are thinking “fight or flight,” you are correct. Folks who are experienced with livestock understand that you can’t rush them, or what you are trying to do will take longer.

Slow, calm and easy actually get it done faster.

People attending last month’s Technical Large Animal Rescue Awareness Training got to experience this firsthand, thanks to family farms that made their livestock available for an afternoon of training. Sponsored by the city of Columbus Animal Care Services, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, Purdue Extension, and with help from Case, the training provided classroom and hands-on instruction for working with situations where large livestock might be loose, stranded or trapped. Folks going into one of these scenes without training or experience can turn a potentially bad situation worse.

Animals in danger

It wasn’t that long ago when the June 2008 flood stranded livestock in certain areas

Class participants practice moving a herd of goats using construction fencing. Photo by Dr. Jodi Lovejoy

of Bartholomew County. Assessment is important, because sometimes a solution is as straightforward as getting feed to them and letting the water go down. Moving the animals is not always necessary.

Then there is the risk of accidents with transport vehicles, resulting in loose livestock on the road. Awareness of best practices and those technical skills come into play here.

Imagine, also, that it’s nighttime, and maybe it’s raining.

People who took the training now understand that ready access to corral materials, alternate transport and temporary shelter may be necessary. And buckets of feed can be a huge help, so getting hands on those resources in the middle of the night works into the planning.

They also know that emergency lights and sirens may be a bad idea and that spotlights can actually hinder progress. It’s also a reality that, as animals are rounded up, a road closure may be needed, so it is better to start with a larger perimeter.

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.

Field euthanasia

You have probably seen headlines about loose animals being put down for the sake of public safety. Or maybe an animal is injured beyond help. Regardless, there is much to know.

Trainees last month learned about effective field euthanasia methods, by species, and considerations for when there are bystanders or passing traffic.

The techniques offered in this class can help responders do the best possible job of keeping loose animals from injury or from endangering the public, so euthanasia can be avoided when possible.

Technical training

For those wanting to raise their level of expertise on this, Morgantown Fire Department is offering a Technical Large Animal Awareness/Operations course over three days in October, taught by Dr. Rebecca Gimenez, a leading TLAER instructor.

For more information, contact Brandon Shireman at 812-360-1258. This training will cover all hazards, including water, fire, trenches and confined spaces as well as animals at large.

Finally, thanks to the Downey, Rutan and Whiteside families for making part of their beef cattle, goat and sheep herds available for this training.

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