More information available on the attached Flyer:  Carroll FFA Alumni meeting notice

Applications for 2010 Pork Industry Scholarships Now Open!

All juniors and seniors in college who plan to pursue a career in swine production management or a related field, or will be seeking to attend graduate school and major in a discipline with an emphasis on swine, are invited to submit an application for one of 19 available scholarships sponsored by the Pork Checkoff, PIC and Pioneer.

For more information and application guidelines, visit the Pork Checkoff link:

National Pork Industry Scholarship

Carroll County Sheriff Tony Burns encourages farmers to cut corners.  “As a person that has worked hundreds of traffic crashes I have worked some where the drivers view has been obstructed by something. I have also seen where farmers are getting crops so close to the roadway that they may actually be planting a row or two on county right of way. I have seen intersections were you have to get the front end of your car in the intersection to see if traffic is approaching. This is a recipe for disaster.  As citizens of Carroll County we all have a responsibility to make our travels on the roadways as safe as possible. If there is an intersection with a view obstruction that can be made safer by cutting back crops or vegetation, then we are obligated to our fellow citizens to take the corrective actions.”

Look a the “before” and “after” pictures, below, to see the difference made when the corn is cut back from the corners.  Even on a bus, where the driver has higher clearance, it make a substantial difference in visibility – both to the bus driver and to oncoming traffic.

After cutting corn back

Before Cutting Corn

More details, including time and place, can be found on the attached flyer. 2010 Ham Breakfast Invite

If you would like to attend this event, please send an email message to Allison Ping at the Indiana Pork office to secure your reservation.

For more information about the Indiana State Fair, visit the official website: Indiana State Fair Homepage

(August 6 is also Band Day at the Indiana State Fair, and the Carroll HS Marching Band will be competing at this event – if you get a chance, visit the track in front of the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand to check out the event)

You can take pesticides to the Tippecanoe Fairgrounds on August 5, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

You MUST complete and submit the Clean Sweep Planning form to the State Chemist office no later than July 27 (details on the form available here):  2010_clean_sweep_form

More information is available at the flyer posted here:  2010_clean_sweep

NOTE – Bring pesticides to the disposal site in sealed containers and DO NOT mix chemicals

The Public Outreach Meeting will be Thursday, July 29 at 8:30 a.m. at the Bennett Center in Rossville (50 E North Street).

Two flyers are attached for more information about the Mississippi River Basin Initiative and the regional grant that includes Carroll County.

MRBI Fact Sheet

MRBI Initiative Info- Carroll County

You can also contact Joe O’Donnell or Rhonda Hicks at 765-564-4480 (extension 3) for more information.

Check out the NISWD website for more information about what hazardous waste will be accepted and the fee for tires.  Northwest Indiana Solid Waste District Tire Disposal Day

You can have your property taxes adjusted for next year (2010-pay-2011) tax cycle.

Visit the Carroll County Assessor’s Office and the staff will help you complete form 137R.   Your property will be re-assessed based upon the damage or destroyed property, and this adjustment will be effective on your property tax statements next year.

For more information call the Carroll County Assessor’s office at (765) 564-3444.

Download the Form 137R here: IN DLGF Form 137R

Choice of —

• Porkburger meal
• Tenderloin meal
• America’s Cut meal
• Two America’s Cut meal

All meals include applesauce, chips, bread and drink.  Proceeds from the this project go to support Carroll County and Carroll County youth.

The Carroll FFA Alumni wish to thank their sponsors for their support:

• Baker-Milligan, CPAs
• Bush Veterinary Services
• Hog Slat, Inc.
• Howard Agronomy
• Steven Herr, DDS
• Loudon Printing Company

(The Carroll FFA Alumni is a non-profit organization which supports the Carroll FFA Chapter.  If you are interested in joining the Alumni, please contact Nicole Howard, Pat Meade, or Steve & Melissa Keown)

The Ag Association will cook for the Jr Leaders stand during Fair Week, host the Thursday Noon Meal and the Auction Buyer’s dinner on Friday.

If you can help with the noon meal on Thursday (start time for food prep is 10:00 a.m.), please contact Larry Trapp.   If you would like to help cook during the other shifts throughout the week, please contact Dean Scott or Sam Moffitt.

Be sure to visit the 4H Fair – check out the youth exhibits, visit the Merchant’s Building and have dinner at the Jr Leader’s Stand!

Carroll County Agriculture Association is the Thursday Daily  Sponsor at the Carroll County 4H Fair.

The Official 4H Fair Schedule is available here:  2010-fair-pamphlet-legal

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

Farmers must know the following:

1. When a load of grain is delivered, it needs “disposition” (or to be sold, in storage, etc.) within 21 days.
2. Farmers are only protected with a licensed elevator. (A “registered” elevator is not necessarily licensed.)
3. Claims must be submitted within a year.

This is a summary of some key points. The entire document can be found on the IGBWLA Statute page.

To help answer questions or address concerns, IGBWLA Director, Jerome Hawkins will be holding one-on-one meetings across the state with grain farmers to further discuss these changes in statute.  These meetings will be confidential.

“Our farmers are our first line of defense with potential problems at our elevators,” said IGBWLA Director Jerome Hawkins. “By meeting with our farmers we hope address concerns –which may just be misunderstandings. Regardless, our agency is here to serve our grain farmers and agribusinesses.  We hope these confidential meeting are helpful to grain producers.”

Most packers are requiring Producers to be PQA+ certified by July 1, 2010.

Andrea Brown-Extension agent will conduct the training for those that would like to re-certify or certify.

Pork Quality Assurance is a great program to help producers produce a safe and wholesome product and provide safety for workers.

All are welcome to attend.

Babar Hog Barns Destroyed (click to view image in large format)

On June 6, 2010, a tornado ripped through Carroll County, causing substantial devastation across the northern part of the county.  Not surprisingly, the Carroll County Ag Community responded in force.

An example of the tremendous support and response from the Agriculture Community was experienced at the Babar farm, where three hog barns were destroyed.  Starting at 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning, crews arrived to help move debris and stabilize the site to protect the animals, and to gain access to feed and water the animals by hand.  Crews worked through Sunday to ready the site to receive transport semis on Monday.

Monday found 60-70 people on-site to load 23 semi trucks with livestock.  Due to the diligence and quick response, only one animal perished, and

Equipment moving debris to get to hogs to feed and water

the rest of the animals were safely relocated.

Another 30-40 people arrived on Tuesday to clear debris from the fields, bringing tractors, wagons and 4-wheelers to haul debris off-site.  By Tuesday evening, most of the fields were clear and site accessible.

Bill Babar and Mike Schroeder thank all the people that responded so quickly and worked so hard.  Also, they wish to recognize the following businesses that provided food and water for the work crews:

• Subways - Noon meal and cold water on Sunday
• Indiana Packers Corporation – Noon meal and cold water on Monday;
• Salin Bank and Trust – cold water on Monday;
• Anderson’s – Noon meal and cold water on Tuesday

  
  

  

  Debris scattered over 3 miles of fields (click to view larger image)

  
  

  
  

More information available on the attached flyer:  Plant Exchange

Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) is currently offering grants to Indiana livestock and grain farmers who want to spread the positive word of agriculture in their communities. These grants are intended to financially assist individuals or organizations as they plan and carry through on farm outreach programs in their communities. The programs could include anything from creating a farm Web site to hosting a neighborhood event in order to promote agriculture.

Examples of programs that may receive grants include but are not limited to:
· Local community activities focused on agriculture
· Neighbor appreciation dinners on farm
· Community group tours on farm
· Networking program with non-farm organizations
· Humanitarian programs such as food drives

To apply for the grant, download the application from the ISA website:

IN Soybean Alliance Grant Application

Spring field work has begun!  Everyone be careful, out there!

2010 HOF Inductees: JLP (Jason Pearson), Janet Ayres, Dean Scott

The 2010 CCAA Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame Banquet was held on March 8, 2010, at the 4H Building in Flora.  Janet Ayres and Dean Scott were inducted as the 2010 honorees, and Jackson-Lee-Pearson was recognized as the first Business Hall of Fame honoree.  Michael Burke and Kara Schwarzkopf were awarded 2010 scholarships sponsored by TDM Farms and the Ag Association.  This year’s TDM Scholarship award is in memory of Charles Yeager.  Travis Martin, 2009 graduate of Carroll and current Indiana FFA President gave a great talk about reflecting on the past, advocating the present and investing in the future.  CCAA President Dean Scott provided a summary of 2009 CCAA activities and 2010 goals.  Gary Radar, Jason Pearson, and Travis Flora were elected to serve as Directors.  New Extension Educator Andrea Brown was introduced to the Membership.

A full summary of the Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame Banquet can be found here:  CCAA Annual Meeting Notes 03-08-10

Travis Martin

2010 Scholarship Michale Burke

2010 Scholarship Kara Schwarzkopf