Spring Agriculture Salute
SECTION B FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 THE HERALD
SWCD celebrates award with tour By JUDI BROWN SWCD Executive Director
JASPER — The Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District has been named an Indiana Showcase District. To celebrate this honor, the SWCD hosted a tour on the Vincennes University Jasper Campus to showcase the partnership between the SWCD and VUJC, creating the VUJC Land Stewardship Initiative. Thirty-five dignitaries, including county, state and federal elected officials and representatives from Vincennes University, SWCD supervisors and local businesses learned more about the SWCD and the Land Stewardship Initiative. The tour featured innovative conservation practices, including a raingarden, a newly installed waterway, field borders, cover crops and other methods to improve soil health, and a tile system and stop log structure. Indiana’s District Showcase Award highlights the successes of county Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Specifically, the honor demonstrates how SWCDs partner with traditional and nontraditional groups, businesses, government agencies, local officials and volunteers to achieve their conservation goals. The Showcase Award, sponsored by the Indiana Conservation Partnership, was presented to SWCD and VUJC officials at the Indiana SWCD Annual Conference in January. The ICP includes the Indiana Association of SWCDs, Indiana Department
of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil Conservation, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, State Soil Conservation Board, USDA Farm Service Agency, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Although these organizations are from different agencies, all work together to accomplish similar conservation goals. The Dubois County SWCD has a long history of working with local landowners to address conservation needs. The SWCD focuses primarily on erosion control and water quality, strongly utilizing USDA Farm Bill programs. Erosion control measures such as water and sediment control basins, grassed waterways, stream crossings, and pasture management are some of the practices that the SWCD assists with. Several of these practices have been installed on the Vincennes University Jasper Campus cropland, and have been viewed by local farmers at annual LSI field events. The VUJC Land Stewardship Initiative demonstrates and promotes sustainable land use across the university’s cropland, prairies, forests, and watercourses. The LSI’s primary goal is improving the campus’ natural resources. On the cropland, the focus is on soil health. Significant investments have been made in drainage and erosion control, including the use of an innovative tiling system and improvements to the
DUBOIS COUNTY SWCD
The Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District conducts a tour of land that is part of the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District’s land stewardship initiative with Vincennes University Jasper Campus main drainage channel. These improvements have stabilized the channel, reducing erosion and preserving the integrity of the campus infrastructure. Improvements in the cropland and forests benefit VUJC’s water quality, and water quality downstream. Grassed buffers are planted around each crop field which, along with providing habitat for birds, insects, and small mammals, reduce sediment and nutrient run-off from crop fields. Keeping the soil and crop amendments in place on the cropland provides long term benefits to communities such as Jasper that use local rivers and lakes for their drinking
water supplies. The LSI steering committee developed strategic plans to manage the property’s diverse ecosystems, promote the LSI’s work, and ensure financial stability. This is accomplished through a partnership including employees of the SWCD, NRCS, DNR, IDEM, Vincennes University, local financial institutions, and private landowners. Additionally, the SWCD partners with Pioneer Seed, Gypsoil, Superior Ag, Purdue University, Crop Production Services, and IASWCD, among others. The VUJC property is a part of the Indiana Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative
as a demonstration site, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Sustainable Research and Education Program have utilized the campus for staff training. The cropland is enrolled in On Farm Network, now called In Field Advantage. To promote and share the work of the LSI, soil testing, a tillage check strip, forest inventory, water samples, a weather station, and photographs are used to monitor improvements resulting from sustainable land management. The LSI strengthens both the SWCD and Vincennes University in many ways; through newly developed and continually expanding partnerships, and bringing community members onto the campus to learn more about innovative land management techniques. To accomplish its goals, the SWCD is guided by skilled and trained Supervisors, elected officials of the State of Indiana that lead the SWCD. The Supervisors oversee a qualified and talented staff, funded by Dubois County government that complete the ever growing workload. The local conservation partnership — the staff, the supervisors, county government, and the ICP — work to support this SWCD. Without all of the pieces of this machine working together in unison, Dubois County would not have the SWCD that exists today. For more information about the SWCD and the Land Stewardship Initiative, contact Judi Brown at 812-482-1171 ext. 3, or judi.brown@in.nacdnet.net.
Warmth could bring parasites By EMMA HOPKINS Purdue Agricultural Communication Service WEST LAFAYETTE — Recent mild weather has set the stage for what could be a significant infestation of potentially deadly parasites in sheep and goats this spring, a Purdue Extension expert says. Mark Kepler, Extension educator in Fulton County and a goat producer, said the barber pole worm, the most common internal parasite among small ruminants, lays its eggs around the time of lambing and kidding, typically in late winter and early spring. Kepler said the parasite eggs survive longer on warmer ground, increasing the chances they hatch and develop into worms to infest animals. “At kidding and lambing time, the potential worm load is a lot greater,” Kepler said. “It is a killer. The eggs are excreted and after hatching they climb up a blade of grass to be consumed, affecting the animal. In usual springtime conditions, the process proceeds quickly.” Most lambs and kids are turned out to pasture when the weather warms. “Come spring and warm temperatures, those worms are just itching to go find some young animal to prey upon,” Kepler said. “Older animals are more immune,
FRANCOIS MORI/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The warm winter could bring new challenges to farmers raising sheep and goats. but still susceptible.” If left untreated, worm infestations can cause anemia by consuming the host’s blood and eventually damaging an animal’s vital organs, including the lungs, liver and stomach. Producers can use fecal testing to determine whether their herds have been infested. But treating the parasites can be difficult. “There is a lot of parasitic resistance to deworming medications,” Kepler said. “Control of these worms is just not as simple
as repeatedly giving the same drug over and over again.” Kepler offered these tips to avoid major worm problems in the spring: ■■ Do not overuse deworming drugs. Overuse can lead to the parasites developing resistance to the drugs. ■■ Use fecal samples to determine if the deworming medication is working. ■■ Rotate pastures to reduce worm potential. Do not let animals graze pastures into the ground.
■■ Cull members of the flock or herd that are genetically more susceptible to worms. Although worms are less active in winter months, Kepler said animals could be susceptible to external parasites such as mites in colder temperatures. “There are several different types of mites that affect animals in different locations,” he said. “Goats can lose hair around their lower legs, eyes, muzzles or ears, and the skin will redden and become crusty.”
Kepler said it is necessary to work with a veterinarian when treating goats or sheep for any major parasite issues. “Effective parasite treatment takes management, knowledge and professional advice,” he said. “I really encourage people to speak with a veterinarian about treatment.” More information on managing sheep and goat parasites is available at Purdue Extension’s sheep and goat website at http:// www.ansc.purdue.edu/sh/.
PAGE 2 ■ SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
Annual report: SWCD’s Land Stewardship Initiative From Local Sources The VUJC Land Stewardship Initiative, started in 2012, is a partnership between the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District and Vincennes University Jasper Campus. The primary focus of the LSI is utilizing conservation practices on the land that will improve soil health. These practices can be replicated on the land across Dubois County, and beyond. Changes during 2015 include the retirement of Dr. Alan Johnson, VUJC dean and an advocate of the LSI. The new dean, Dr. Chris Gray, has demonstrated great interest in continuing the partnership. Also new to the LSI is project manager Del Fuhrman. Improvement in natural resources The LSI steering committee continued its efforts in fighting erosion with the completion of a new grassed waterway in Field No. 7 to address a gully erosion problem. Restoration and repairs in the natural lateral ditch were completed. This was essential to stop ditch bank erosion, and to eliminate the deep undercut pocket in the ditch bottom. The stabilization of the ditch will eliminate erosion and improve water quality, and assure that the university sewer line does not fracture and cause spillage into this waterway. In the non-cropped areas of the LSI property, an Eagle Scout Project from a local Boy Scout troop completed an upgrade of the initial section of the interpretive Woodland Walking Trail. This included building walkway bridges, signage and maintenance. Two deer “exclosures” were also installed in April 2015. Their purpose is to compare the effects of deer browsing on the forest growth compared with this area which excludes deer. The goal is to demonstrate the resiliency of the native species against invasive species when deer are not a factor. These exclosures are visible from the interpretive Woodland Walking Trail. A part of Field No. 7 was disturbed during the construction of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing. There is little topsoil to produce a successful cash crop. The LSI Steering Committee decided to leave it fallow in 2015. To rebuild the soil, it was sown to cover crops during the summer of 2015. Despite poor seed germination and slow growth during the year, the cover crop roots are breaking through the very hard compacted layers of the soil. The goal for this area is to restore topsoil, build organic matter, protect it from erosion and once again make it productive for cash crop production. This past fall, some cover crops were drilled in as a reinforcement cover crop. Erosion control issues will continue to be addressed in this area. 2015 program activity Since 2013, water samples from the tile discharge outlets are collected to determine progress in erosion control (clarity), and nitrate and phosphate control. The initial focus is collecting water from Field No. 2 to determine the quality of the surface water coming onto the field from the northern residential subdivisions, and also the water that drains from the field into the Water and Sediment Control Basins (WASCoBs). Collecting samples from subsurface drainage tile in Field No. 2 determines what was actually released into the Jahn Creek tile outlet.
Ag Leader software is utilized to analyze the impacts of nutrient application into the field. The software tracks detailed cropping results gathered from the yield monitor as the result of the LSI’s use of variable rate nutrient application. Soil tests were pulled on a three acre grid in fall of 2014. The Initiative’s Ag Committee used the results of these tests to develop a variable rate nutrient management plan in 2015. Rather than applying fertilizer at the same rate over the entire farm, nutrients are applied as needed and not applied where they are less likely to be utilized by crops. Applying fertilizer this way is not only more economically efficient, it also has the environmental benefit of potentially reducing the amount of fertilizer that leaves the field. Monitoring of subsurface drainage and the water retained in the Agri-Drain gated tile system in Field #1 continued in 2015. Although it is too soon to draw any conclusions, monitoring of the water quality will continue to determine if the cash crops or cover crops utilize the nutrients trapped in the water retained by the gate system. Managing the water level in this low, wet area has improved the yield of the crop harvested in the fall. The VUJC Land Stewardship Initiative uses the crop land, forest, prairies, and surrounding green space of the campus to demonstrate and promote sustainable land management. In April 2015, a controlled burn for prairie maintenance was start-
ed in two areas near the south entrance of the campus. A healthy prairie requires an occasional disturbance and fire is a tool for providing it. Burning removes accumulated dead plant material called thatch to help restore a balance between grasses and flowering plants. Native plants in this area grow during the summer months, so when the fire burns away the dead thatch, it leaves the prairies living roots intact. The control burn was planned on a day with favorable wind conditions. Adam Dumond, former Indiana Department of Natural Resources District forester, lead the controlled burn while being assisted by the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department. Dumond has his Red Card, a national wildland firefighting authorization. After several weeks, the planting of native wildflowers and forbs was implemented to encourage pollinators. Enhancing wildlife habitat is one aspect of the multifaceted LSI project. Prairies like this one are an important dwindling source of habitat for plants and wildlife. However, even landowners with limited space and resources can help reestablish habitat. Small areas can allow insects, birds, and small mammals to ‘leap frog’ between larger natural areas. Demonstration and education activity The LSI and SWCD sponsored two events on the Vincennes University Jasper Campus in 2015. The first was a workshop in March focusing on herbicide resistance
in weeds. Travis Legleiter, weed science program specialist from Purdue University, discussed herbicide use for cover crop termination, as well as the control of weeds such as marestail and palmer amaranth. The September Field Day included indoor and outdoor presentations, as well as LSI sponsors’ opportunity to set up informational displays. This event was attended by more than 40 people. The program focused on three topics. Dr. Christian Krupke, from Purdue University, discussed the results of research regarding neonicitoid seed coatings. Most seed sold and utilized by farmers is coated. Krupke’s data shows there is limited benefit in using coated seeds due to the timing of the release of the chemicals. Hans Schmitz, Purdue Extension educator and Dr. Hans Kok, agronomist, discussed methods to make farmland more resilient to Dubois County’s weather extremes. More frequent intense rain events cause erosion and nutrient loss that wastes money and pollutes streams. They discussed the benefits of practices such as
cover crops that fight erosion in wet years, and adding organic matter to the soil that holds water in drought years. Matt Pearson from the office of the state chemist, presented a summary of updated regulations to store, transport and apply fertilizer and manure. In November, the Dubois County SWCD hosted a Showcase Tour at VUJC. This was in preparation for the Indiana SWCD Showcase Award that was presented to the Dubois County SWCD and VUJC officials in January at the Indiana SWCD Annual Conference. The VUJC Land Stewardship Initiative is concluding its fourth year. Much work has been done to establish the LSI as a viable and credible project. With this foundation, the Initiative looks forward to increasing its value as a demonstration and education site to advance the adoption of soil conservation, nutrient management, and soil health practices. For more information about the Soil and Water Conservation District, visit www.duboisswcd. org, or call the office at 812-4821171, Ext. 3.
W YA TT S EED
C O M P A N Y IN C .
H w y . 57 S outh in P etersburg
DEALER IN FIELD SEEDS AND LAWN GRASSES NATIVE GRASSES
WE ALSO CARRY A FULL LINE OF
PURIN A FEED
LET US ROCK YOUR WORLD • Rock Spreading • Lime Hauling • General Hauling
(812) 639-1078 Fair and There
SANDER PROCESSING INC. W holesale & R etailM eats • Beef• Pork • Lunch M eat • Cheeses • M eat M arinades & Seasonings
Custom Processing B eef,Pork, & D eer • On the Farm Live Pickup • Low Prices • Excellent Service
www.sanderprocessing.com Hwy 164 in Celestine Indiana
812-481-0044
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm; Saturday 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
812-354-8542
800-581-5826
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE ■ PAGE 3
Weyer named Conservation Farmer of the Year By PATTI SCHROEDER Program Assistant Dubois County SWCD Alan Weyer of was presented the 2015 Otto J. Bauer Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year Award during the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual meeting Feb. 4 by Tony Sanders of Old National Bank and Brenda Sermersheim of German American Bank, both agriculture lenders. The Otto J. Bauer Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year award is given in memory of Otto J. Bauer, a champion of soil and water conservation efforts in Dubois County and a member of the SWCD board of supervisors from 1969 to 1986. The district presents the annual award to a Dubois County farmer who uses good soil and water conservation practices on their farm and puts extra effort into conserving natural resources. In 1870, Weyer’s great-grandfather purchased 80 acres of land from a neighbor. Since then, the property has been continually owned by his family. Last year, Weyer’s mother presented him the original deed to the 80 acres. Weyer has purchased other properties over the years and owns more than 300 acres for his grain and beef operations. Weyer has utilized many conservation practices and participated in several of the USDA Farm Bill programs including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program. He has also installed practices on his own with no cost assistance from the state or federal government. Weyer is innovative in the use of cover crops on his farm and has experimented with different mixes. In addition to the cover crops, Weyer’s list of conservation practices include: fencing, eight watering facilities, Heavy Use Protection areas, Forest Stand Improvement, prescribed grazing, a waste storage facility, a pumping plant, nutrient management, pest management, 10 water and sediment control basins, an underground outlet, CRP field borders and used exclusion, pasture and hay plant-
ing. He also hosted a SWCD pasture walk on his farm in 2014. He actively pursues new information on conservation methods and Weyer programs and generously passes along this information to others. He believes it is his obligation to preserve the land for future generations. Weyer has learned a lot over the years
and is now seeing that his sons have picked up similar attitudes and values regarding conservation practices. Weyer finds one of the biggest challenges to be not only sustainable but profitable. He understands how financially difficult a young person interested farming would find buying farm land, animals, seeds, equipment, etc Weyer is very involved in his community. He is a member of St. Ferdinand Catholic Church and is a longtime insurance agent for Ferdinand Farmers Insurance. He has been active with the Forest Park FFA chap-
ter and served on the FSA County Committee for nine years. He is an associate supervisor for the SWCD and assists with the Land Stewardship Initiative. He previously served four terms (12 years) on the SWCD Board of Supervisors and for six 6 of
those years was chairman. During this time on the boad, he also served as the southwest representative on the State Association of SWCDs. The Indiana Association of SWCD recognized Weyer as their first Supervisor of the Year in 2009.
W ATER W ELL D R ILLIN G
COM PLETE DRILLIN G SERVICE Geo Therm alDrilling Backflow Testing W ATER PUM PS
S & S DRILLING, INC. 6”-36” DRILLING
6052 N 575 E MONTGOMERY
M O N TG O M ERY
812-486-3390 OR TOLL FREE 1-800-352-3791
SUBMERSIBLE AND JET PUMPS
FA R M E R W ed ., M a rc h 9 , 2 0 16 11:0 0 a .m . -2 :0 0 p.m . at Jasper Moose Lodge Hwy 231, N. Newton St.
Special Pricing On All AGRICULTURE TIRES
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS!! Join Us For Refreshments… Fried Chicken Dinner
Sign Up For Prizes Including Jackets, 2 Rear Farm Tires From Firestone Farm and Up To $1,000 OFF 2 Rear Farm Tires from Titan
FAR M IM PLEM EN T
P ic k U p Your P a ir O f FRE E Fire s ton e Chore G love s Lim ited Quantities Available.
8 Dispatch Service Trucks for Fast O n-The-Farm 24 hr. Service W E SER VIC E W H A T W E SELL
59th A nniversary! w w w .d ub ois c oun tytire .c om
M -F 7 AM -6 PM ; Sa t. 7 AM -3 PM
2 12 4 N ew to n Street, Ja s per
812-482-2020
PAGE 4 ■ SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
Report warns of fewer bees, other pollinators By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer WASHINGTON — Many species of wild bees, butterflies and other critters that pollinate plants are shrinking toward extinction, and the world needs to do something about it before our food supply suffers, a new United Nations scientific mega-report warns. The 20,000 or so species of pollinators are key to hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of crops each year — from fruits and vegetables to coffee and chocolate. Yet 2 out of 5 species of invertebrate pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are on the path toward extinction, said the first-of-its-kind report. Pollinators with backbones, such as hummingbirds and bats, are only slightly better off, with 1 in 6 species facing extinction. “We are in a period of decline and there are going to be increasing consequences,” said report lead author Simon Potts, director of the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research at the University
of Reading in England. And it’s not just honeybees. In some aspects they’re doing better than many of their wild counterparts, like the bumblebee, despite dramatic long-term declines in the United States and a mysterious disorder that has waned. The trouble is the report can’t point to a single villain. Among the culprits: the way farming has changed so there’s not enough diversity and wild flowers for pollinators to use as food; pesticide use, including a controversial one, neonicotinoid, that attacks the nervous system; habitat loss to cities; disease, parasites and pathogens; and global warming. The report is the result of more than two years of work by scientists across the globe who got together under several different U.N. agencies to come up with an assessment of Earth’s biodiversity, starting with the pollinators. It’s an effort similar to what the United Nations has done with global warming, putting together an encyclopedic report to tell world leaders what’s happening
and give them options for what can be done. The report, which draws from many scientific studies but no new research, was approved by a congress of 124 nations meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. “The variety and multiplicity of threats to pollinators and pollination generate risks to people and livelihoods,” the report stated. “These risks are largely driven by changes in land cover and agricultural management systems, including pesticide use.” But these are problems that can be fixed, and unlike global warming, the solutions don’t require countries to agree on global action — they can act locally, said Robert Watson, a top British ecological scientist and vice chairman of the scientific panel. The solutions offered mostly involve
changing the way land and farming is managed. “There are relatively simple, relatively inexpensive mechanisms for turning the trend around for native pollinators,” said David Inouye of the University of Maryland, a co-author of a couple chapters in the report. One of the biggest problems, especially in the United States, is that giant swaths of farmland are devoted to just one crop, and wildflowers are disappearing, Potts and others said. Wild pollinators especially do well on grasslands, which are usually more than just grass, and 97 percent of Europe’s
grasslands have disappeared since World War II, Potts said. England now pays farmers to plant wildflowers for bees in hedge rows, Watson said. There are both general and specific problems with some pesticide use, according to the report. “Pesticides, particularly insecticides, have been demonstrated to have a broad range of lethal and sub-lethal effects on pollinators in controlled experimental conditions,” the report said. But it noted more study is needed on the See BEES on Page 7
DU B O IS C O U NTY H O M E IM P R O VEM ENT
RO O FIN G S P E CIA L W E ALS O IN S T ALL
W E IN S T ALL
•V inyl Sid ing •So ffit •D ec k s
•D ec ra M eta l Shingles •D im ens io na l Shingles •Aggrega te Pa nels •Sta nd ing Sea m
W e Also B uild
w ith s evera l c ho ic es o f c o lo rs
Fra m e & Po s t
G AR AG ES
CH E CK O U T O U R S P E CIA L P RICE S !
W E W ILL NO T B E U NDER SO LD! 812-683-5766 812-630-5766 or layceejnov@ yahoo.com
Jasper, IN
Drainage, Construction & Erosion Control Products • Custom Fabrication Shop: • ADS N-12 Pipe & PVC Pipe • Custom Fittings (Any Type) • Gabion Baskets • Catch Basins & Yard Drains • Corrugated Metal Pipe • Anti-Seep Collars • Erosion Control Blankets; (straw or Excelsior wood fiber) • DNR Drop Structures • Silt Fence • Geotextile Products “SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT!” • Corrugated Pipe & Fittings Call for truckload pricing specials for your tiling needs. Representing: www.johnbmmfg.com www.filsonlivestockequip.com www.blattnerlivestock.com www.easywaycattlecare.com www.hawkeyesteel.com
A FU L L L INE O F • Trac k hoe • Bac k hoe
• H ighlift • D ozer
SER VIC ES
Any Jo b La rge o rSm a ll
“ W e C a n D ig It”
812-482-7386 5274 W . State R d. 56, J asper, IN 47646
Ferdinand, IN
INDOT Approved Products Farm, Commercial, Industrial
812-482-2267 or 1-888-933-7473 www.southernindianasupply.com Delivery available on all our products
HEAVY DUTY LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT Polar Max Drinkers Heavy Duty Cattle Chute
Easy Way Cattle Saver
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE ■ PAGE 5
W aterFurnace DealerforOver25 Years
722 N . K luem per R o a d,Ja sper
w w w .hulsm a nrefrigera tio n.co m
PAGE 6 ■ SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
Werner, Werner, Margarida earns stewardship award By PATTI SCHROEDER Program Assistant Dubois County SWCD Werner, Werner, Margarida LLC was presented the OFS Brands Forest Stewardship Award by Scott Reckelhoff, property manager of OFS Brands, at the Huntingburg Event Center during the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual meeting on Feb. 4. The SWCD Board of Supervisors annually recognizes forest landowners who carry out wise forestry stewardship programs on their land. Dubois County forestlands provide numerous environmental benefits from wildlife habitat to buffering and the filtering of water runoff. The forestry industry also helps support a large sector of the economy with providing more than 7,000 jobs and $1 billion in sales nationally. This year’s recipients are owners of multiple forest tracts within Dubois County and some in Martin County. Arch and Ruth Margarida, Jerome and Connie Werner and Ralph and Karen Werner work together as a col-
DUBOIS COUNTY SWCD
Arch and Ruth Margarida, Jerome and Connie Werner and Ralph and Karen Werner were presented the OFS Bands Forest Stweardship Award on Feb. 4. laborative group to follow management plans through enrollment in the Classified Forests and Wildlands Program, completing
Fight S oot S a ve M on e y
P etro -Can ada is a Su n co r En ergy bu sin ess ™ Tradem ark o f Su n co r En ergy In c. Used u n der licen se.
Lu b ric a nts a nd Fu els to K eep yo u rEqu ipm ent O pera ting a tPea k Perfo rm a nc e.
C O M P A N Y , IN C
2060 S. Lu be W ay, Jasper 812-482-6666 Quality Certified Under ISO-9000
JO H N’S TR A C TO R SER VIC E, INC . 720 St. M ein rad Ro ad, St. M ein rad, IN 47577
812-357-5323 www.jo hn stracto rservicein c.co m
supervised timber harvests under the direction of consultant foresters and completing Timber Stand Improvement on the properties
when needed. They have also completed work on their land through at least three Environmental Quality Incentives Programs. The
group started purchasing different tracts of properties in the mid1980’s. Most of the properties are wooded, but about 45 acres are tillable cropland. Much of their current focus is the wooded acres located in the WITZ bottoms and is used primarily for deer hunting and timber investments. While doing most of the work themselves, Thom Kinney, professional forester, has helped with the group’s management plans. The group has had several select harvests and has removed storm damaged trees, dying trees, junk trees and invasive species to optimize the overall growth and nourishment to improve the timber and forestlands. “It’s like a garden. You need to keep the weeds out so the rest of the garden will grow,” Arch Margarida said. The only hindrance that the group has seen is the occasional flooding of portions of the forestland. “But it usually is there and gone because of the tremendous actions of the Patoka Lake reservoir. The flooding doesn’t stay long,” Margarida said.
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
Bees (Concluded from Page 4) effects on pollinators in the wild. Herbicides kill off weeds, which are useful for wild pollinators, the report added. The report highlighted recent research that said the widely used insecticide neonicotinoid reduces wild bees’ chances for survival and reproduction, but the evidence of effects on honeybees is conflicting. In a statement, Christian Maus, global pollinator safety manager for Bayer, which makes neonicotinoids, said: “The report confirms the overwhelming majority of the scientific opinion regarding pollinator health — that this is a complex issue affected by many factors. Protecting pollinators and providing a growing population with safe, abundant food will require collaboration.” Potts said global warming is “very clearly a real future risk” because pollinators and their plants may not be at the same place at the same time. England has seen onequarter of its bumblebee species threatened, and those are the type
SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE ■ PAGE 7
of bees most sensitive to climate change, he said. England has lost two species of wild bumblebees to extinction and the U.S. has lost one, Inouye said. The story of honeybees is a bit mixed. Globally over the last 50 years, the number of managed honeybee hives — ones where humans keep them either as a hobbyists or as professional pollinators — has increased, but it has dropped in North America and Europe, where there is the most data, the report said. Potts said the number of managed hives in the United States dropped from 5.5 million in 1961 and dropped to a low of 2.5 million in 2012, when colony collapse disorder was causing increased worries. The number of hives is now back up slightly, to 2.7 million. Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a University of Maryland bee expert who wasn’t part of the report, praised it for looking at the big picture beyond honeybees. Doing something is crucial, he said. “Everything falls apart if you take pollinators out of the game,” vanEngelsdorp said. “If we want to say we can feed the world in 2050, pollinators are going to be part of that.”
Purdue Extension upcoming events Events of interest to the southern Indiana agricultural community have been scheduled. Most events are available to all members of the public. Registrations and/or application fees may be required depending on the event. Contact the Dubois County Extension Service office at 812-482-1782 for information.
■■ Dubois County Cattle Association Annual Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 10, Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center Conference Room. Reservations due Friday, Feb. 26. ■■ Purdue-University of Kentucky Ohio Valley Small Farm and Garden Conference, March 12, Henderson, Ky. ■■ Regional Exam for Private Manure and Chemical Applicators, 3-6 p.m. CST March 14, Posey
County Fairgrounds, New Harmony. Registration needed. ■■ Perry-Spencer Crop Day, Private Applicator Recertification Program, March 15, St. Meinrad. ■■ Dubois County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, March 17, Jasper. ■■ Dubois County 4-H Fair, July 1924, Bretzville. ■■ North American Manure Expo, Aug. 3 and 4, London, Ohio. ■■ Indiana State Fair, Aug. 5-21, Indianapolis.
Purdue Extension releases annual report By NICK ROGERS Purdue Agricultural Communication Service WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue Extension has posted its 2015 annual report online at https://extension. purdue.edu/annualreport/. The can be viewed within any Web browser with zooming capa-
bilities and can also be downloaded to computers or mobile devices. The report is broken into eight topics: ■■ Inspiring Indiana Youths’ Interest in Science. ■■ Educating Indiana’s Agricultural Producers and Professionals. ■■ Improving Health and Wellness Across Indiana.
■■ Growing Great Things with Indiana’s Natural Resources. ■■ Enhancing Success in Indiana’s Communities. ■■ Engaging Underserved Youth Through 4-H. ■■ Strengthening Indiana’s Families. ■■ Building Indiana’s Food Systems.
Residential, Com m ercial& Agricultural
S T. A N TH O N Y M IL L W e carry a com plete line of Livestock F eeds, H orse and P et F oods
S pring is G ra ss Teta ny Tim e it’s NO Problem Time with KENT Hi-Mag Mineral or Hi-Mag Energiblocks
ST. ANTHONY MILL 812-326-2291
M ore than a feed com pany
5649 St.Rd.162 S – Huntingburg 0:(812)683-3243 F:(812)683-3263 Visitour website:www.duboiscountygaragedoors.com
1864 - 2014
Home • Farm • Auto • Business • Health 1405 Main Street • Ferdinand, IN • (812) 367.1413 www.ferdinandfarmersinsurance.com
To o rder o r fo r m o re info rm a tio n, ca llo u r TellC ity O ffice a t 812-547-7921.
PAGE 8 ■ SPRING AGRICULTURE SALUTE
THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016
Overcrowded barns could pose disease risk for cattle By DARRIN PACK Purdue Agricultural Communication Service WEST LAFAYETTE — Beef cattle seeking shelter from harsh winter weather could be at an increased risk of disease in overcrowded barns, Purdue University experts say. Extreme cold or rapidly changing weather can lower animals’ immune response, leaving them more susceptible to disease, said W. Mark Hilton, clinical professor of beef production medicine. “During good weather, beef cattle tend to spread out a bit and don’t seek shelter,” he said. “When the weather is inclement, and if a good barn is available, animals will seek shelter there. If the shelter is too small for the entire herd, or if it has poor ventilation, the viruses some animals harbor can be more easily spread to other animals.” Hilton recommends limiting access to barns and other shelters. “If producers are calving in this weather, which I think is a mistake because the conditions are so variable, calves should have access to shelter while their dams should not,” he said. “If cows and
calves are allowed free access to buildings it becomes an almost impossible task to keep the environment clean.” Hilton said producers should make sure their animals have proper nutrition, suitable housing and all necessary vaccinations. Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist, said cattle should be kept in outdoor lots and pastures unless the weather becomes unbearably frigid. “Cows, replacement heifers and feedlot cattle can handle low temperatures pretty well when they have a dry, winter hair coat and protection from the wind,” Lemenager said. “Where we run into problems is when we have low temperatures and wind chill factors.” Abrupt changes in weather, such as a quick warm-up with rapidly melting snow, can also pose problems since wet, muddy fields make it harder for cattle to move easily or find nutritious feed. “Mud is always a challenge because it not only increases the energy required to maintain the animals but also because their intake is typically reduced,” Lemenager said. The problem of finding adequate nutrition is especially acute this year because last
year’s forage crop was hampered by extreme weather. After record rainfall and flooding early in the growing season, many forages were harvested too mature or with too high of a moisture content. As a result, forage quality was compromised. “I have seen a lot of low-quality hay across the state that will not meet energy and sometimes
protein requirements for cows in late gestation or early lactation,” Lemenager said. “Adding a wind chill factor really puts those cows in jeopardy.” For every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in the wind chill factor below 30 degrees, the energy requirements for a typical cow increase by 13 percent, he said. “The bottom line is to get your forages tested so you know what
nutrients are being provided and then work with a nutritionist to develop a supplementation strategy that will meet animal performance requirements.” It is also a good idea to provide cattle with warm, dry bedding, Lemenager said. Bulls especially need bedding to prevent scrotum frostbite, which can result from the animals lying on frozen ground or concrete.
ERNY SHEET M ETAL,INC. PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS SINCE 1975
Farm Drainage (Tiling) Sports Fields Development Earth Moving & Lake Construction Road Construction & Site Development Demolition Foundation Drainage Wall Stabilization
812-367-2266 Ferdinand, IN
S ince 1978 Industria l& C o m m ercia l S heet M eta l 1020 Second Avenue • Jasper
812-482-1044
ALL TYPES OF TRACTOR REPAIR
HOPF BROS. AG-REPAIR, INC. 2416 S. St. Anthony Rd. N St. Anthony, IN
(812) 326-2173 or Phone or Fax (812) 326-2975 7 AM-5:30 PM Monday thru Friday; 7 AM-1 PM Saturday
CAVE QUARRIES, Inc. • Crushed Stone • Ag Lime • Sand and Gravel P.O. Box 91 Jasper, IN 47546
Dispatch 812-482-4955 or 812-936-4923
OWNER: MARK GUDORF
(812) 482-1081 (812) 309-0661
Jasper, IN 47546
Radiant Heat
SuperiorA g Resourceswould like to salute our localfarm ing fam iliesforalloftheir hard work and dedication. Thanksforallthatyou do. W ishing you a safe and prosperousyear.