Hancock County, 4-H leaders at odds over $18M fairgrounds
County officials and the local 4-H group disagree over who should control a proposed $18 million project for a new county fairgrounds.
Agriculture/Farming
Articles
Purdue: Indiana’s farm fatalities rose 10 percent in 2015
Tractor overturns remained the leading cause of fatal injuries on the state's farms.
Scarce cash in land of plenty: Farmers adjust to downturn
It’ll be the third consecutive year in which most corn farmers will spend more than they’ll earn. A glut of corn has depressed prices to a decade-low. It’s a similar story for soybeans, the second most common Midwest crop.
Gregg, Holcomb tout agriculture as key to Indiana economy
The candidates to become Indiana's next governor largely sided with rural interests during a forum Tuesday while discussing agriculture issues.
Indiana governor candidates to discuss farm issues at forum
Republican Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, Democratic candidate John Gregg and Libertarian Rex Bell are all scheduled to take part in Tuesday forum in Brownsburg.
Chemical maker Vertellus to close portion of Indy plant
Currently working its way through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the firm expects the closure at its Tibbs Avenue plant to affect dozens of employees.
Musk’s brother plans to plant 100 gardens at Indy schools
A group run by Kimbal Musk—billionaire Elon Musk's brother—is expanding its footprint to Indianapolis in a big way, aiming to cultivate at least 100 patches of land for schoolchildren to study.
Police investigate report of cattle rustling in Franklin
The owner of the barn told police he had recently bought the 20 calves from a sale in Kentucky and was planning to auction them. They were worth about $21,000.
Average U.S. farmland prices suffer first drop since 2009
The trend hasn’t yet hit Indiana, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but numbers from a Purdue University survey released earlier this month say otherwise.
Egg producer Rose Acre Farms plans new $5M Indiana headquarters
Rose Acre Farms was founded in 1939 and is among the country's largest egg producers, with 17 facilities and about 1,900 employees in six states.
Purdue survey: Indiana farmland values continue to fall
The 2016 Purdue Farmland Value Survey released Wednesday found average declines of 8.2 percent to 8.7 percent from last year, depending on land quality.
Expert: Falling power plant emissions reducing corn nutrient
An Indiana agricultural expert says declining power plant emissions are apparently reducing the amount of an important nutrient corn plants get through rainfall.
EPA’s plan to boost ethanol use in gasoline gets hearing
Ethanol advocates, largely from Midwest farming states, testified that the Environmental Protection Agency's target for biofuels next year again falls short of what Congress had in mind.
Germany’s Bayer makes $62 billion offer for Monsanto
The news is the latest example of a huge shakeup in the agricultural industry.
Weeks of rain hamper Indiana’s corn, soybean planting
Agricultural experts say rainy, cool weather has left Indiana’s farmers well behind in the spring rush to plant their corn and soybean crops.
Bayer takeover of Monsanto would further shake up ag industry
The sector is undergoing a wave of consolidation, driven in part by falling crop prices, which have reduced farmers' spending on genetically enhanced seeds. Locally based Dow AgroSciences is merging with DuPont’s ag unit, and ChemChina is buying Syngenta.
Fertilizer firm plans $450M coal-gasification plant conversion
A Connecticut-based company is planning to convert a closed coal-gasification plant in Indiana into an ammonia fertilizer production facility.
National FFA Organization names new chief executive
Mark Poeschl, of Brookville, Ohio, will take over leadership of the Indianapolis-based National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation on Aug. 1, succeeding Dwight Armstrong, who is retiring after leading the organizations for seven years.
Egg prices near 5-year low as farms recover from bird-flu crisis
The cost of making everything from quiches to cakes is less than before avian influenza killed more than 35 million laying hens and the government spent $1 billion to prevent the disease from spreading.
Whiteland farmer chosen for Indy 500 Milk Man tradition
Indiana has more than 1,000 dairy farms, and the Milk Man tradition is designed to spotlight the state's dairy industry.