State lawmaker drainage task force fumbles on final report
Sen. Jean Leising called it the “most miserable task force or interim committee meeting I have ever been a part of.”
Agriculture/Farming
Articles
New organic rules from USDA tighten restrictions on livestock, poultry producers
John Brunnquell, president of Indiana-based Egg Innovations, one of the nation’s largest free-range and pasture-raised egg operations, said the new rules should make his business more competitive.
Pushback continues against genetically modified salmon raised at Indiana farm
“AquAdvantage” salmon, engineered by biotech company AquaBounty Technologies, most recently drew criticism from environmental advocates at the 2023 Farm Aid event.
Corteva to occupy new $30M distribution center in Anderson
The 300,000-square-foot facility is being developed by local industrial real estate firm Scannell Properties LLC.
Colts owner Jim Irsay praised by PETA for embracing vegan lifestyle
The animal-rights organization this week promoted a video of a discussion with Irsay, who lives a vegan lifestyle, about his expanded involvement in animal activism.
Corteva sues startup rival Inari for patent infringement
The lawsuit seeks to prevent Inari “from continuing its brazen efforts to steal Corteva’s groundbreaking, patent-protected work,” according to the complaint.
Mellencamp: Unfortunately, there’s still a need for Farm Aid
“I don’t believe any of us ever, in our wildest dreams, would think 38 years later there would still be a need to do Farm Aid,” singer John Mellencamp told IBJ about the concert that benefits independent farmers.
Indoor farming players struggling to find profitability
Some businesses in the industry are continuing to bet big even as rivals such as AppHarvest wobble and fail.
Rep. Andre Carson: Welcoming immigrants is part of Hoosier hospitality
Without addressing labor shortages, our reliance on imported crops grows.
Hard Truth, Mellencamp Whiskey call partnership a ‘no-brainer’
Brown County’s Hard Truth Distilling Co., in partnership with the recently founded Mellencamp Whiskey Co., is releasing a new whiskey collection specifically celebrating and supporting Hoosier farmers.
Closure of Indiana chicken facility to cost 368 workers their jobs
More details have emerged regarding the impact of Tyson Foods’ announcement this week that it is closing four chicken processing facilities, including one in Indiana.
Tyson Foods closing 4 chicken processing plants, including one in Indiana
In a cost-cutting move, Tyson said it will shift production to other facilities and halt operations at the four plants in the first two quarters of fiscal 2024.
IBJ Podcast: Farming challenges mount as Indiana gets hotter and wetter, but crops will have staying power
Three members of Purdue’s agronomy faculty—including an expert in soybeans and an expert in corn—explain how climate change is playing out on the ground in Indiana farm fields.
National swine show, athletic events announced for new fairgrounds building
Indiana State Fairgrounds officials opened the 196,000-square-foot Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion on Thursday, sharing announcements of national events already scheduled for the venue that has replaced the Swine Barn.
Southern Indiana farm gets $15M grant to expand climate-smart production
Fischer Farms will use the funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand its own environmentally friendly initiatives and help other farmers adopt regenerative farming practices.
Indiana to host Farm Aid benefit concert for third time
Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp will top the bill at Ruoff Music Center.
Central U.S. getting worst of drought, stressing corn crops, lowering rivers
Experts say the drought in the central U.S. is the worst since at least 2012, and in some areas, is drawing comparisons to the 1988 drought that devastated corn, wheat and soybean crops.
U.S. approves chicken from cultivated cells, the nation’s first ‘lab-grown’ meat
The move launches a new era of meat production aimed at eliminating harm to animals and drastically reducing the environmental impacts of grazing, growing feed for animals and animal waste.
West Terre Haute carbon-capture project viewed as forerunner
By the time it’s expected to come online in 2026, a Wabash Valley Resources fertilizer plant will be able to capture and store up to 1.65 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Corteva, two other companies reach $1.2B settlement over ‘forever chemicals’ in water
The pollutants, polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances—commonly known as PFAS—can be found in many industrial and cosmetic products and have been linked to infertility, thyroid disorders and several types of cancer.