For more information click the link below:

Registration and Information – IN Livestock, Forage & Grain Forum

Because of the valuable service the Carroll County Sheriff and the Reserve Program provide to Carroll County Farmers, the Carroll County Agriculture Association is pleased to help support the purchase of this vehicle, matching donations from CCAA members towards the purchase of the vehicle.

Thanks to your generous support, the Sheriff’s Reserve now has a 2008 Dodge Charger!  See the pictures (below).  Additionally, come see the car on display at the CCAA Member Meeting Saturday, January 28 at 9:00 a.m.

The Conservation Stewardship Program is available once again in 2012.  Applications are taken on a continuous basis and are considered for approval during certain funding periods.  The deadline for applications to be considered for funding this year is January 27, 2012.

More detailed information about the Conservation Stewardship Program can be found on the Indiana NRCS web site

NRCS – USDA Conservation Reserve Program

Or, from the attached brochure:  CSP Brochure

Or – Call the Delphi office:  765-564-2849, Extension 3

Annual Report

cafo_self_inspection 2012_sheets

- On farm energy initiative: This initiative provides payments to reimburse participants for conducting on farm energy audits. If a participant already has had an audit completed, and the audit reveals the need for energy saving practices, EQIP may be able to assist with paying for the energy saving practices. The attachment provides more information about payment rates and eligible practices.

- Seasonal high tunnel initiative. This initiative provides financial assistance for a practice called a seasonal high tunnel. An attachment is provided that explains the practice in more detail. This initiative has been available in other states for a couple of years, but it is new to Indiana this year.

More detailed information about the Environmental Quality Incentives Program can be found on the Indiana NRCS web site: NRCS – USDA – EQIP Home Page

Guidelines can be downloaded for more information –

2012 EQIP On Farm Energy Initiative Practices

2012 EQIP General Signup Practice Guidelines

SeasonalHighTunnel_JobSheet_Pages 1 and 2

Of course, folks can also call the Delphi office for more information – 765-564-2849, Extension 3.

We recently learned that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management seeking the size and locations of all permitted swine facilities in Indiana. This request was signed by Hannah Conner, a former attorney with the Waterkeeper Alliance now employed by HSUS. It is possible that this information will be used to target a farm on the list with either environmental litigation or undercover video.

In order to safeguard against these potential threats, remain vigilant for infiltration by undercover activists and maintain the highest level of environmental stewardship and compliance with IDEM regulations.

Attached is information provided by the Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA) for your review in order to guard against possible intrusion by unfriendly forces. This information outlines critical areas of facility security and hiring practices and includes simple steps to strengthen the security on your farm. If you have additional questions please contact Greg Slipher, Livestcok Development Specialist at Indiana Farm Bureau:  317-432-3816

Farm Security Brochure FULL

With your donations of funds and animals, the Ag Association provided more than 1500 packages of meat (more than 1 ton)!

Donations in support of this year’s efforts topped $3,600, which is a new record.  Excess meat will be donated to the local food pantry and outreach groups for distribution to families in need after the holidays.

From the IRS Information Center – July 18, 2011:  Because the highway use tax is currently scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, 2011, this extension is designed to alleviate any confusion and possible multiple filings that could result if Congress reinstates or modifies the tax after that date. Under temporary and proposed regulations filed today in the Federal Register, the Nov. 30 filing deadline for Form 2290, Heavy Vehicle Highway Use Tax Return, for the tax period that begins on July 1, 2011, applies to vehicles used during July, as well as those first used during August or September. Returns should not be filed and payments should not be made prior to Nov. 1.

For more information, see the two links below, to the IRS announcements:

IRS Trucking Tax Center

IRS Gives Truckers Three-Month Extension

UPDATE – DECEMBER 5,

The Heavy Use tax return has been updated, and was due November 30.  If you haven’t filed yours, you can download the IRS form here:  Heavy Vehicle Use f2290

The Ag Association also purchases and accepts donation of additional meat from community suppliers and from Indiana Packers.

Last year, we collected more than 3500 pounds of meat to aid area families.

We are in need of 15-20 hogs to be donated and taken to the Burlington Locker Plant November 29 or December 6 at 9:00 a.m. (both days)

Sam Moffitt is coordinating this project for the Ag Association, and it is important to schedule your drop-off with Sam because of the high demand for meat processing at Burlington Locker Plant, this year.

Please call Sam at 574-721-4769 as soon as possible to schedule your animal for drop off.

If you would like to make a donation, please send a check to the Carroll County Ag Association at PO Box 62, Flora IN 46929.  Please send your donation by December 15 so we know what we can afford to process.  All donations are used to pay for the cost of processing the meat.

For more information the Annual Appeal letter is attached:  Christmas letter-11

Pre-registration is required. Lunch is provided.

More information – including registration forms – attached:

2011Category14Letter

2011DecPARPLetter

For more information, call Andrea Brown at the CC Extension Office:  795-564-3169

Free Webinar! “ Income Tax Management for Farmers in 2011,”; held on Tuesday, December 6 from 9-11 a.m. (ET).  George Patrick, Purdue University Extension Economist, and David Frette. CPA from Washington, IN will lead the discussion.  There is no charge for the webinar, and it is available at this link:

Webinar – Income Tax Management for Farmers in 2011

The webinar will be a practical, management-oriented discussion of recent tax changes and the implications for farmers, farm families and farm businesses. Topics include a review and discussion of depreciation alternatives involving additional first year depreciation, Sec. 179 expensing and regular depreciation for 2011 and 2012.  Other topics include deductibility of prepaid expenses, deferral of income, farm income averaging, reporting crop insurance indemnities and distress sales of livestock. Tax planning in a high income year will be emphasized.

Webinar Materials – available After December 2

Other Tax Planning Resources:

Tax Guidance for Owners and Operators of Small and Medium Sized Farms

Farmers Tax Guide – IRS Publication 225

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

Register TODAY for the Midwest Pork Conference – a gathering of more than 300 pork producers and allied industry leaders at the Hendricks County Conference Complex in Danville, IN on December 6.

Check out the invitation:  Midwest Pork Conference Information

Event agenda:  Midwest Pork Conference Agenda

This program recognizes people who work behind the scenes – those in the barn, service managers, production managers or anyone else who ensures every little thing is done right – to raise healthy, productive pigs. “Through the Fostera PCV recognition of excellence program, we want to celebrate those individuals who go above and beyond to exemplify higher standards,” says Benjamin Church, senior marketing communications manager, Pfizer Animal Health.

Winners will be selected by an independent panel and each will receive $1,000 cash, plus an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Pfizer Animal Health headquarters and New York City on April 18-21, 2012.

Deadline for submitting nominations is November 30.

More information: Pfizer Animal Health – Salute to Producers

Submit a Nomination

Through this program $4.2 million has been donated to rural communities across the country! Apply today and the Monsanto Fund will donate $1 to your local United Way to help food banks and other charitable organizations dealing with hunger in your community.

Last year, David Minich was a winner for Carroll County, and $2,500 went to the Flora Youth Baseball program.

Deadline is November 30, so apply today!

America’s Farmers Grow Communities

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. 

Travis Martin speaks at the 2010 Ag Association Annual Meeting

Carroll HS Grad and former FFA State President Travis Martin will have a role at the upcoming National FFA Convention, this week in Indianapolis.

Check out the full article at Hoosier Ag Today:

Travis Martin at National FFA Convention