As 2011 comes to a close, Indiana Pork is undertaking an effort to plan for the future success of our members for next year and beyond.   To do that effectively, we want to have a firm grasp of the issues and challenges we will face over the next five and even ten years. In an effort to ensure we understand the issues and challenges as you see them, we are embarking on a strategic planning process that will ultimately establish the goals and priorities for Indiana Pork.

These new goals and priorities will provide the framework our board of directors and staff will use to develop the programming and activities necessary to foster long-term success for the Indiana pork community.

As part of that process, we are seeking your feedback with a survey designed to capture your feedback on the important issues you feel are most important to Indiana’s pork community. The survey can be accessed at the link below.

We ask that you provide your response as promptly as possible.  Your participation in this process is vital to the success of the strategic planning project.  Deadline is November 28, 2011.

Please contact Indiana Pork at (317) 872-7500 if you have questions. Thanks for your participation in this important initiative.

Indiana Pork Survey

From our friends at Indiana Farm Bureau:

Following nearly four years of discussion, new rules for confined feeding operations and CAFOs that discharge were adopted on Nov. 9 by the Water Pollution Control Board. The rules, to be enforced by IDEM, will go into effect on July 1, 2012.

The CFO rules will now require manure to be applied according to phosphorus rates and needs, in addition to the existing nitrogen rates. Additional restrictions will exist for application to frozen or snow-covered ground. In order to comply with a recent court decision, CAFOs with NPDES permits who do not discharge will be given the opportunity to transition into the CFO program by providing notice to IDEM.

According to IFB attorney Justin Schneider, “A lot of work went into shaping these rules so that they would be protective of the environment and human health while not unduly burdening livestock and poultry producers. But as always, we will want our members to let us know how the changes affect them once it is implemented.”

Information on the changes and how to comply will be available in the coming months.

The Area Plan Commission will consider a DRAFT Zoning Ordinance for Carroll County at its next meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the Carroll County Courthouse Commissioner’s Room.  The public is invited to hear discussion about the results of this two-year project to completely review and update Carroll County Zoning Ordinances.

Of interest to Farmers are the changes in the Agriculture District and the new Rural Residential Zoning District, which are excerpted, below.

Agriculture District Zoning

Residential District

A full “mark up” version (this is DRAFT #2 and the “mark up” compares with DRAFT #1) is available on the Carroll County Zoning website.  You can also review the notes and information posted by the Steering Committee.

Carroll County Zoning Website:  Carroll County Zoning Information

The Steering Committee encourages questions and comments, which may be submitted by email here: Carroll County Zoning Steering Committee

Update – October 26, 2011

The Area Plan Commissioners recommended the proposed Zoning Ordinance to the Carroll County Commissioners for adoption.  The next step is a public hearing and comment, and adoption by the County Commissioners, in mid-November or early December.  You can obtain a copy of the proposed Zoning Ordinance (Adoption Draft) from the Zoning Project website, or you can purchase a hard copy for less than $20 from Q Graphics in Delphi. 

WHEN: Wednesday October 19th 5:00-7:00 pm Dinner will be provided between 5-5:30 pm, catered by All-B-Q’s. There will be activities for children from 5:30-7:00 pm.

WHERE: 4-H Community Building (within Flora Community Park at the intersection of Fourth St. and Main St.)

WHY: You are an important part of this community. Your ideas matter.

NOTE: This process is voluntary and it will not lead to an increase of taxes or regulations. RSVP to Rhonda Hicks (Rhonda Hicks SWCDCC Email or 765-564-4480 x3) is suggested, but not required.

More information from the flyer: DeerSugarCreeks

(NOTE – the flyer includes a map showing the area served by Deer Creek and Sugar Creek)

Hoosier generosity is a mainstay of our Indiana culture. We are known for our willingness to give a “Hand out and Hand Up” to our neighbors in need. Today,we are offering you an opportunity to help a fellow neighbor. As you are well aware Texas has experienced a sever, historic drought leaving them in devastating conditions. Through a very generous offer from the Indiana Motor Truck Association, the Hoosier ag community has an opportunity send  Indiana Hay to our Texas friends. 

If you are willing and able to donate a few hay bales (25-50), a round bale or two, whatever the quantity  to send south, the members of the Indiana Motor Truck Association (IMTA) will  transport it to Texas.  We certainly understand the conditions in Indiana this summer have left our stocks in short supply as well.   But,  perhaps you have a small amount to share. If several people can spare a small amount, we can still accumulate a sizeable ‘Hay Wagon’ to send south.

Can you help?  If so, please contact David Eaton, 248-761-1515 (mobile), david.eaton@meritor.com to let him know how much you can donate and where you are located. We will need to determine a convenient  staging location for you to deliver the hay to be loaded.

Your response is needed quickly. The IMTA is coordinating this delivery in conjunction with their attendance at the annual American Motor Truck Association meeting in Texas.  The trucks will need to depart Indiana by October 12. If you can support this effort, please let us know not later than October 7th so that we can schedule loading.

Your help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance for your consideration and please know that we understand if you are not able to help.

Sincerely,
David Eaton, IMTA board member
Shorty Whittington, IMTA board member

Carroll County Focus on the Future is sponsoring a public forum featuring Debbie Driskell from the Indiana Township Association, and  Larry DeBoer, State and Local Government Specialist from Purdue University.

Please join the discussion on Wednesday, August 31, from 7-9 p.m. at the Carroll High School Auditorium.

FocusTwpGovtFlyer

Rick Hall, from Barnes & Thornburg and Todd Samuelson from Umbaugh & Associates will be on hand to present information and answer questions about TIF districts.

As our County reaches for opportunities to fund economic development, use of TIF districts will be an important component.  Citizen understanding of what TIF districts are, and how they can benefit the County is an important step in the economic development process.

TIF FLyer1

Presented for the first time during the April 14 meeting, the proposal seeks to create a baseline for care build on five core principles:

• Food and water
• Shelter
• Animal disease, injury and treatment
• Animal stewardship
• Handling and transportation

BOAH veterinarians routinely assist local law enforcement agencies with determinations in cases of animal abuse and neglect, which violate Indiana cruelty laws. For the first time, these core principles provide definition to acceptable levels of care for livestock and poultry species.

“This is an issue that stirs a lot of passion and emotion in many people from different perspectives. By recognizing five core principles that apply to all Hoosier livestock and poultry producers, we feel this identifies a place of common ground to ensure all animals are cared for in the best ways possible. This is an innovative approach to the issue, and we feel this is the right direction for the state of Indiana,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh.

In 2010, the Indiana General Assembly officially tasked, by state statute, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health with developing standards of care for livestock and poultry in the state. The Board, which has been in existence in 1889, is comprised of 11 members, representing different livestock species sectors, poultry industry, companion animals and the veterinary community.

As the first reading, the Board has opened a comment period, which will end with a public hearing before Board members vote on the final version after a second reading. A copy of the proposal may be viewed online at the Board of Animal Health’s web site at:  www.boah.in.gov . Comments may be submitted to the agency, during the public comment period, via email at animalhealth@boah.in.gov

The CAFO Annual Report is due February 15.

Follow this link to the report for easy access:

IDEM CAFO Report Download

The new rule also requires certification for anyone applying manure from confined feeding operations. Certification exams are conducted at the Purdue University-based OISC, with exams available at remote testing sites starting in January.

Purdue Pesticide Programs will offer a training manual in January. “Category 14 Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator” will sell for $32 and be available through Purdue Extension’s The Education Store at The Education Store.

More information can be found at this Press Release from Purdue:  New Fertilizer Rule

There has been a great deal of informal discussion among sheep and goat farmers across the state about deficiencies in the marketing options. The Indiana sheep and goat associations in cooperation with the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service have received a USDA grant to investigate what can be done to improve marketing opportunities for small ruminant producers.

It is up to us as livestock producers to indicate the challenges we face and provide suggestions regarding cooperative marketing, interest in graded sales, tele-auctions or other ideas. No idea is too small, the more producers involved, the stronger a marketing program we can develop. We look forward to meeting you at one of the Town Hall locations listed below. We thank you in advance for your collaboration and input. If you are unable to make any of these meeting we would still appreciate your ideas, suggestions and information.

For more information, send an email to Sheep and Goat Group or call us at 765-891-0716. All times are EST.  Click the links below for more information about specific meetings:

November 1, 2010 7pm Dubois County- SIPAC (Southern Indiana -Purdue Agricultural Center) Location:

November 3, 2010 7pm Hancock County-County Extension Office

Significant changes have been taking place in environmental regulations over the last few years.  Agriculture has been targeted for many of the changes.  Regulations on livestock and poultry operations, both the state confined feeding operations regulations and the NPDES permit requirements for CAFOs, have been a main focus of our efforts to ensure that the regulations are fair to our farmers while still being protective of the environment. Under these new regulations, only CAFOs that propose to discharge will be required to obtain an NPDES permit.  Most livestock and poultry operations will be able to seek regulatory approval under the state level CFO permit.

In other words, unless you are a CAFO that proposes to discharge, you can request your current CAFO permit will be allowed to revert to a CFO permit. However, the proposed draft regulation will re-define, to some degree, how you operate as a CFO. We have isolated the components that we feel are of primary concern to our producers and have offered some perspective on why this should concern you. Please review these areas of comment and offer your opinion.

Comment Summary is a two-page PDF available here:  CFO Draft Rule Producer Comments0910

It is important that all livestock and poultry operations consider the impact of the changes to the confined feeding rules.  How new operations are constructed and how all operations are managed and manure is applied will likely see big changes.  Our goal, and why your assistance in filing your own comments is requested, is to help ensure that you can continue to operate your farm in an economically feasible manner.  For those of you who don’t own livestock, you may wonder how these rule changes will affect you.  First, livestock farmers are the biggest customers of corn and soybean farmers.  Secondly, and maybe most importantly, is that these regulations put into place practices and standards that can be easily translated to all farming operations where nutrients are applied.

Whether you choose to submit comments is up to you.  But either way, please consider the impact that the changes will have on agricultural production.

While it probably does not need to be mentioned, it is better to be safe than sorry.  Any comments you file will be public documents.  In other words, don’t share any confidential information and be professional.  Please note your comments are due by Friday, Sept. 24^th.

If you have any questions, please contact –

• Greg Slipher, Livestock Development Specialist, Indiana Farm Bureau — 317-692-7886
• Justin Schneider, Staff Attorney, Indiana Farm Bureau — (317) 692-7835

The agreement was reached to prevent HSUS from putting restrictive livestock initiatives on the Ohio ballot for public vote.  Fortunately, Indiana does not permit ballot initiatives, but Ohio is right next door to us, and Indiana could become a new HSUS target.

A copy of the agreement can be downloaded here:  HSUS Buckeye Compromise.   Note attention to paragraphs 6, 7, and 10 for a taste of HSUS’s intentions for “supervising” livestock production and retaining control over Ohio livestock regulation.

Sadly, this document does not require HSUS to give up anything – HSUS still retains the right to bring the ballot initiatives to Ohio if HSUS doesn’t think that Ohio is properly (or quickly) implementing the “recommendations” in the agreement.

More information can be found at a great website which operates as a watchdog for HSUS:  Humane Watch

More information and itinerary available on the attached flyer:  Farm Bureau Flyer

Contact Mike Beale (Carroll County Farm Bureau) or Kendell Culp (District 3 Director) for reservation information.  Contact information is on the flyer.

1. Create Job Opportunities

2. Youth and Family Recreation

3. Marketing the County

4. Tourism

5. Infrastructure

6. Government Unity with a Vision

7. Diversity

You are invited to attend a meeting to help develop goals and actions for these issues. Join in on Thursday, September 24, from 7-9 pm at the Burlington Community Center. Also, save the date for November 12, 7-9 pm at the Canal Center to hear presentations on these proposed goals. For more information, check out the attached letter: 09-16-09 Crossroads II Priorities

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has signed 33 bills into law. A number of these deal with agriculture and rural Indiana.  Click on the Bill Number to go directly to the Indiana General Assembly data about the bill.

- HB 1193 (Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City, and Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette) adds school corporations, colleges and universities to the list of entities that are eligible to apply for a grant under the E85 Fueling Station Grant Program.

- HB 1203 (Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale, and Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen) establishes the invasive species council within the Purdue University College of Agriculture.

- HB 1204 (Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale, and Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn) provides that money in the Clean Water Indiana fund does not revert to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year.

- HB 1218 (Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City, and Sen. Ron Alting, Lafayette) increases to $10 million the balance that will trigger the reinstatement of the collection of producer premiums for the grain indemnity fund. The bill also provides that if premiums are reinstated, they will be collected through June 30 of the year in which the fund reaches $15 million.

- HB 1473 (Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, and Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus) requires that residential, agricultural and commercial rental agreements entered into or renewed after June 30, 2009, must disclose if a structure on the property is located in a flood plain.

- HB 1524 (Rep. Terry Goodin, D-Austin, and Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette) allows the State Egg Board to set fees rather than return to the General Assembly for fee increases. It also makes other changes regarding the sale of eggs in Indiana.

- SB 271 (Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, and Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City) provides that a request for an increase in funds for the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University must originate from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, subject to the written approval of the treasurer of Purdue, and will allow fee money to be used for any purpose except for faculty salaries.

- SB 424 (Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, and Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale) allows the director of the Department of Natural Resources to set the boundaries of an area where a pest or pathogen is located and to declare the area to be an infested area. It also changes the definition of “pest or pathogen” for the purposes of certain laws concerning entomology and plant pathology.

- SB 545 (Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, and Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale) makes a number of changes to the state’s fish and wildlife laws. Most significantly, it changes the procedure for establishing a controlled hunt in a state park and increases how old you can be to fish without a license from 17 to 18.

- SB 27 (Sen. Teresa Lubbers, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City) renames the state’s educational technology fund as the Sen. David C. Ford Educational Technology Fund. Renaming the fund is a tribute to the late Sen. David Ford (R-Hartford City), who was instrumental in establishing it.

NYT Our Pigs, Our Food

Purdue and Indiana Pork were quick to respond and noted the lack of “real” data, and the very speculative nature of the article. Certainly, the intent was to leverage the recent and unexpected death of Doc Anderson with yet another attack on the livestock industry. Below is the link to the Purdue article which addressed the topic, the response from Indiana Pork, and local news articles.

Purdue Experts on Livestock and Antibiotic Resistance

indiana-pork-ny-times-mrsa-statement

ny-times-mrsa-article-producer-talking-points

WLFI TV 18 Article March 16 NYT Article Upsets Local Farmers

WLFI TV 18 Article March 17 US Bill Aims to End Antibiotic Misuse

Lafayette Journal and Courier Article March 18 Push to Limit Antibiotics for Livestock

Randy Curless, Indiana Pork President letter to NY Times Response to Kristof