Agriculture and Natural Resources
Compiled by Diane Turner - Hamilton County Educator
Current Purdue Production Newsletters
Chat 'n Chew Cafe - April 2017
Facts for Fancy Fruit - April 2017
Greenhouse Newsletter - Issue 4 - March 2017
Pest and Crops Newsletter - Issue 1 - March 2017
Vegetable Crops Hotline - Issue 624 - March 2017
INDIANA CROP WEATHER REPORT - Rain Showers Suspend Fieldwork
Find the updated crop reports for the past two weeks for Indiana by clicking the links below. Information is provided by Indiana State Statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Upcoming Training Events and Opportunities
Sustainability Workshop - Sustainable Growth for Backyard Chicken Flocks
Backyard chickens can be a great source of eggs and fun for your family or an opportunity for some extra income. Join the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Purdue Extension Hamilton County on Saturday, April 29th to learn about Sustainable Growth for Backyard Chicken Flocks.
Education sessions include “A Real Life Perspective on Managing a Backyard Flock- 5 Years in the Making” with Jon Whitesel of Circle City Farm, “Know Your Produce: Marketing for Profit” with Liz Brownlee of Nightfall Farm, and “Resources for Backyard Growers: Connecting Producers to Experts & Information” with Jeffrey Deutschman and Chelsie Lawyer of the Indiana State Poultry Association. Additionally, SWCD and Purdue Extension staff will share with attendees the many local resources available to them to start these and other sustainability efforts.
The Sustainability Workshop will take place Saturday April 29th at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall in Noblesville. The workshop costs $15 per person and will run from 8:30am - 12:00pm. Registration can be completed at www.hamiltonswcd.org.
Questions regarding the event can be directed to Claire Lane at claire.lane@hamiltoncounty.in.gov or 317-773-2181 or Diane Turner, Purdue Extension, at turnderda@purdue.edu or 317-776-0854.
Purdue Extension - Hamilton County Education Center to Re-Open Soon
Beginning April 10th, the Hamilton County Master Gardener Association, Inc. (HCMGA) will once again be available to answer calls and walk-in questions on lawn and garden on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. You can also email your horticulture questions to HamiltonGardenline@gmail.com.
The Purdue Extension staff will be on hand to answer questions about food preparation and preservation. Visitors can also schedule an appointment to have their pressure canner gauge checked for accuracy.
Purdue Extension offices across the state provide educational opportunities to Indiana’s communities - our educators, specialists, and volunteers live and work in all 92 counties. Purdue Extension provides practical solutions to real issues – transforming lives and livelihoods in Indiana and around the world.
For more information about the Education Center or Purdue Extension Hamilton County, contact your local office at (317) 776.0854 or visit our website.
Announcements and Community Needs
*NEW* Turf Doctor App Released
The Purdue Turf Doctor app was developed by experts at Purdue University to help homeowners and land managers diagnose and address turfgrass problems common in the Midwestern & Eastern United States. Turfgrass management professionals and garden center personnel can also use this app to improve communication with their customers and build customer confidence.
The app allows users to follow a diagnostic pathway to create a short list of possible problems and solutions. It uses images to reinforce diagnostic terminology, providing the user with an opportunity to sharpen their personal diagnostic skills and learn something about the diagnostic process. Click here to download for Apple or Android.
Successful Gardening Blog
2017 Crop Outlook Webinar - Replay Link Now Available
Purdue University Center for Commercial Agriculture is happy to announce that you can now view the archive of the recent webinar, "2017 Crop Outlook." The link provides access to the recorded webinar, as well as the slides for download.
Produce Donations Needed
Are you a small farmer or a backyard gardener who often has excess produce in the summer? If so, please consider donating it to food pantries so that it can help local food insecure families. The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District has surveyed 35 food pantries in the county to determine which ones would like to receive produce donations to distribute to families in need. There is at least one food pantry in each of the county’s eight communities, so convenient drop off locations are located all across Hamilton County. SWCD created a directory of these food pantries which lists the names and addresses of the pantries as well as the days and times when they are open to receive donations.
If you have larger amounts of produce to donate and would be interested in having it picked up, call us at (317) 773-2181 or email Cara Culp and we can pair you with a food pantry that is able to pick up donations.
To view the directory of food pantries or for more information, visit www.HamiltonSWCD.org/FoodPantries.
About Diane Turner
Email: turnerda@purdue.edu
Website: https://extension.purdue.edu/hamilton
Location: 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville, IN, United States
Phone: 317-776-0854