Agriculture and Natural Resources
Complied by Diane Turner - Hamilton County Educator
A Year in Review - Purdue Extensions Annual Report 2015
Introducing Purdue Extensions - FoodLink℠ QR Code Program
Have you ever stood in front of produce and wondered, “What is that?” or “What do I do with that?” Scan the FoodLink℠ QR codes on fresh fruits and vegetables to learn more about them, including how to select, prepare, and care for them.
You don’t have to be a seasonal produce expert, but now you can get information fast from the experts at Purdue Extension. Click on the FoodLink links above for more information.
New Recordkeeping Requirements for Indiana Poultry Purchases, Sales
Last October, in response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza findings throughout the Upper Midwest, Indiana adopted new recordkeeping requirements for Hoosier poultry owners buying and selling birds. At the time, members of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) did not foresee the discovery of the avian influenza H7N8 virus in Dubois County in January—which reinforces the need for good recordkeeping.
Under the new law, all sellers and buyers of poultry in Indiana must maintain records of flock additions and removals for 3 years. Records must include: names and addresses of buyer and seller, sale date, breed, sex, number of animals and reason for movement. This state requirement applies to all retail, swap meet, flea market, auction and private sales, including barters or trades.
For more information about Indiana’s poultry entry and recordkeeping requirements is available here on BOAH’s website.
Produce safety rule to change the way fresh fruit, vegetables are grown, handled
Ever since the Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law in January 2011 and the act’s Produce Safety Rule was proposed two years later, fruit and vegetable growers have waited for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finalize the regulations they will be expected to follow on the farm.
Now that the FDA has done so - the final Produce Safety rule was printed in the Federal Register on Nov. 27, 2015 - growers and fresh produce handlers must learn what it means for their operations. A summary of the rule’s key requirements is online at FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety.
Upcoming Training Events and Opportunities
Indiana Small Conference Workshops Offered - March 3, 2016
This year's Purdue Extension Indiana Small Farm Conference begins with a series of 5 pre-conference workshops on direct marketing, woodland management, hops cultivation and other topics. These informative workshops are being offered on Thursday, March 3, a day before the conference opens at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, IN. Extension and industry experts will lead each workshop. All workshops are scheduled from 9am-4pm. Lunch will be provided, except "Getting the Most Out of Your Woods," where lunch will be on your own. Click here for more information on the scheduled programs.
Central Indiana Pork Conference - March 8, 2016
Consider attending this event, there is a great lineup of excellent speakers and topics. See registration form below. Click here for the registration form.
Central District Scheduled PARP Trainings
Clinton County Ag Outlook
Date: Fri Feb 12 2016 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Topics Covered: Pest Management in Grain Storage; Mycotoxins; Weed Management Update; Bee Aware
Location: 4-H Bldg. Clinton Co Fairgrounds
Contact: Britt Reese, ANR Educator 765-659-6380
Shelby County PARP Training
Date: Mon Feb 15 2016 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Topics covered: Safe and Legal Transport of Farm Equipment and Chemicals, Precision Agriculture
Location: Shelby County Fairgrounds
Contact: Scott Gabbard, ANR Educator 888-671-2367
Wabash Corn Fertilization Class
Date: Mon Feb 29 2016 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Topics Covered: Weed Control Timeliness Applications; Efficient Nitrogen Management; Optimum Nitrogen Rates; Bee Aware Pollinator Protection
Location: Wabash REMC Building, Wabash
Contact: Curt Campbell, ANR educator 260-563-5895
Quad Co PARP - Morgan County
Date: Tue Mar 01 2016 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Topics Covered: Ag Outlook; Adjuvants and Power of Spray Droplet; Precision Agriculture; Department of Transportation
Location: Equipment Technologies, 455 Merriman Rd, Mooresville
Contact: Amanda Dickson, ANR Educator 765-342-1010
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