Agriculture and Natural Resources
Compiled by Diane Turner - Hamilton County Educator
2016 Hamilton County Fair Dates: July 21-25
Auction July 26
Click here for more information and the full fair schedule
The Purdue Extension Hamilton County Website
Indiana State Fair: August 5 - 21, 2016
Indiana Crop Weather Report - Rain Showers Off and On
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.
Current Purdue Production Newsletters
Chat 'n Chew Cafe - June 2016
Facts for Fancy Fruit - Issue 1606 - June 8, 2016
Pest & Crop Newsletter - Issue 11 - June 2016
Vegetable Crops Hotline - Issue 615 - June 23, 2016Ag Water Management Critical in the Coming Decades
In 2015, extreme weather events widely attributed to climate change were headline news. Globally, it was the warmest year in history, breaking the record set just the year before. Deadly heat waves were reported in India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, and throughout Europe; floods in Ghana and Myanmar; droughts in Brazil and California. Unprecedented and unpredictable weather roiled agricultural markets and raised fears of a potential long-term threat to the global food supply.
Back home, Indiana had its wettest two-month period on record in June and July, followed by near-drought conditions in August and September. Fields flooded in spring were parched by late summer. Farmers are increasingly finding they either have too much water or not enough of it. Continue reading this article by Darrin Pack, Purdue Agricultural Communication
Upcoming Training Events and Opportunities
Thorntown Hops Farm to Be Featured in Upcoming Field Day July 23, 2016
Individuals interested in learning more about growing hops and/or want to start hops production should join me and the Purdue Hops Team at Purdue Extension's Hops Field Day on July 23. The field day offers two registration options, see flyer below.
Topics to be covered on July 23 include: Hops Variety Trials, Harvesting, Economics of Hops Production, Hop Trellis Design, Drying and Pelletizing.
The event is free, but registration is required by July 5, 2016. To sign up, go to this link. For more information, contact the Monroe County Extension office at 812-349-2575 or afthompson@purdue.edu. Hope to see you all there to learn more about this new Indiana crop.
Pickin' and Packin': PostHarvest Produce Workshop
Beginning Farmer Veteran Program - July 30, 2016
On July 30th, 2016, the Beginning Farmer Rancher Program will be hosting a Beginning Farmer Veteran Workshop that will be open to all Indiana military veterans and their families.
The workshop will feature extension specialists from around the state who will be doing various 50-minute presentations to our veterans. The topics covered will vary from beekeeping to business planning. We encourage you to share the attached flyer with veterans whom may be interested. For more information, click here for event registration.
Hamilton County Master Gardener Intern Training Begins August 23, 2016
Hamilton County has scheduled their popular Purdue Master Gardener Program to begin August 23rd, 2016. Classes are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 pm through October 11th at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.
The program provides gardeners with intensive education in horticultural principles. The instruction is provided without charge, however, there is a fee for supplies which become your personal reference collection. The cost for the program materials is $165.00. Participants from the same family can attend the training together and share materials for an additional $50.00.
Participants who successfully complete the program and, thereafter, donate an equal number of volunteer hours in community gardening services are certified as Master Gardeners. Yearly donation of time is expected to maintain certification. Click the link below for more information. All applications are due by August 1, 2016.
Master Gardener Intern Training Information
Photo Credit Samantha Spidel
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