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NEWS IN BRIEF
News Bites —Compiled by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team
Pence eases restrictions on movement of propane—Governor
Pence and his administration have taken steps to help make more propane available for heating after extreme winter weather has strained propane gas supplies. On Jan. 3, Pence issued an emergency proclamation waiving statutes that limit the hours of service for propane transporters in order to help suppliers better meet market demands. Pence extended that order on Jan. 17, and it will remain in effect until Jan. 31. “With the shortage and weather conditions expected to continue, I…urge the federal government to exhaust all possible means to assist and help alleviate the supply issues currently faced across the Midwest,” Pence said in a statement In order to keep more propane available for residential customers, the Indiana Department of Transportation trucks will use diesel fuel instead of propane through March 1, 2014. Pence also said, “My administration has been in close communication with the propane industry and will continue to monitor developments and take all actions available to help Hoosiers make it through this crisis.” (Office of the Gover-
ment of Agriculture. Ellspermann and a committee of agriculture leaders developed this competition to address the lack of knowledge and appreciation among the increasingly urban population of Indiana. “I am increasingly concerned about Hoosiers’ appreciation and knowledge of the agriculture industry as only 2 percent of Hoosiers live on a farm today,” Ellspermann said. “Thus, telling the story of Indiana agriculture to our young adults and increasingly urban population is even more important. All Hoosiers should know the vital role that Indiana farmers and the agriculture industry play in our economy, as well as the sustainable, quality practices deployed to supply healthy food, feed, fuel and fiber to our state, nation and world.” To participate in the contest, a college or university was invited to establish a team(s) of students supervised by a faculty or staff member. Each team must have at least three students, but no more than 12 students plus the advisor. The team will prepare a marketing/communications proposal including messages, strategies, tactics, timeline, budget and implementation plan. After reviewing all proposals, the panel of judges will invite the top three teams to make formal presentations in March with the winning proposal announced soon after. The winning proposal will earn a $25,000 prize including a $10,000 contribution to the college or university and an additional $15,000 to be shared by the students on the successful team. (ISDA 1/2/14)
Farm Bureau members of all ages and from around the country line up for popcorn from the Indiana Farm Bureau booth that was part of the trade show at the AFBF convention in San Antonio, Texas. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
put it on there or not. It is as safe here as anywhere else,” Yates said. (AFBF 1/13/14)
from 17 Indiana colleges and universities will be competing in a competition to tell the story of the “Good Works of Indiana Agriculture” sponsored by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann’s office and the Indiana State Depart-
than luxuries, tablets and smart phones are tools that farmers can use to keep their operations running smoothly, Jackie Smith and Jay Yates of Texas A&M Agri-extension
Services, told attendees at a seminar at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 95th Annual Convention. With the ever-growing marketplace for apps, Smith and Yates recommend farmers and ranchers be careful before buying. Ask friends and peers, visit workshops, read agriculture magazines or blogs and watch agriculture television shows to see what others are using. Make sure that no additional equipment or subscription is needed. Apps are currently being developed for all corners of agriculture, turning a farmer’s phone or tablet into a portable office. Yates also touched on a new trend in Web development that allows farmers and ranchers to save websites and label them alongside other apps. With smart phones and tablets, any information that a producer needs is never more than a few clicks away. “A lot of content is not in an app. It is on a mobileready site,” Yates said. “Many sites do this now because it is easier and faster to manage content.” Security is a concern for everyone, but Yates encouraged people not to be thrown off by the potential risk. “Your information is on the Internet, whether you
Administrative/Finance Team
Legal Affairs Team
Public Relations Team
Regional Managers
President...................................... Don Villwock Vice President.................................Randy Kron Second Vice President................. Isabella Chism Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer....Mark Sigler Receptionist...................................... Kim Duke General Fund Accountant.............. Tiffanie Ellis Office Manager & Meeting Planner.Kay Keown Controller.......................................Elaine Rueff Administrative Assistant....................Jill Shanley Executive Secretary..................... Beverly Thorpe
Director & General Counsel ...Mark Thornburg Associate Counsel for Corporate Compliance & Nonprofit Affairs ............Sara MacLaughlin Legal Assistant........................... Maria Spellman Legal extern.................................... Colin Poling
Director & Editor .......................Andy Dietrick Web Designer/Developer..............Diane Brewer Publications Managing Editor & Media Relations Specialist...... Kathleen Dutro Marketing & PR Specialist.............. Mindy Reef
Wayne Belden (1 & 3) Greg Bohlander (6) Jennifer Chandler Gish (9) Andrew Cleveland (4 & 6) Janice Deno (3) Seth Harden (7 & 9) Allison Hines (10) Amy Hutson (5) Susan Lawrence (2) John Newsom (1 & 2) Kermit Paris (8) Keegan Poe (5 & 8) Brad Ponsler (10) E.B. Rawles (7) Allie Rieth (4)
nor 1/23/14)
37 teams enter agriculture communications competition—Thirty-seven teams
District Directors Larry Jernas (1) Kevin Ousley (2) Kevin Underwood (3) Steve Maple (4) Dave Wyeth (5)
Scott Trennepohl (6) Jeff Gormong (7) Mark Bacon (8) Philip Springstun (9) Robert Schickel (10)
Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation Director..................... John Shoup
January 29, 2014
Availability of agriculture apps continues to grow—Rather
Public Policy Team
Organizational Development Team
Director........................................ Megan Ritter Policy Development & Industry Relations.........................Bob Cherry National Government Relations Policy Advisor................. Kyle Cline State Government Relations Policy Advisor & Counsel..........Amy Cornell Administrative Assistant .................... B.J. Fields State Government Relations Director...................................... Katrina Hall Administrative Assistant .............Wanda Hunter Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel..................................Justin Schneider Livestock Development Specialist... Greg Slipher Direct Retail Business Specialist........Bob White Policy Intern................................. Zach Schmidt
Director............................................... Kim Vail Field Services Program Director.....Chris Fenner Young Farmer & Women’s Program Coordinator................ Meggie Foster Collegiate Farm Bureau Coordinator................................ Seth Harden Program Assistant.......................Kathryn Rogers Education Coordinator.................... Julie Taylor Member Services Coordinator...........Anna Todd Administrative Assistant.................. Tracie Trent
Indiana regional dairy meetings slated—The Purdue Extension
Dairy Team will co-host a series of free regional dairy meetings around Indiana beginning in late January to help producers improve their operations. The meetings will feature industry experts presenting about topics that focus on animals, economics, labor and farm maintenance. Other workshop hosts are the Indiana Dairy Producers and the Indiana Forage Council. “While milk prices have remained fairly strong, and have combined with decreasing corn prices to improve profit margins on dairy farms, there are always opportunities to review the latest on management practices,” said Mike Schutz, Purdue Extension dairy specialist and one of the meeting organizers. “The regional dairy meetings offer dairy producers a great opportunity to learn from industry experts on a number of important management topics ranging from forages to better utilizing milk marketing strategies. “There will be plenty of management tips for dairy farms of any size.”
Indiana Farm Bureau Inc./ Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Director of Affiliate Relations..... Julie Volbers-Klarich
All locations also will offer presentations about artificially inseminating heifers, labor and immigration, animal identification and traceability and bird control. Additionally, each date will include location-specific topics. Representatives of the Purdue Dairy Team and the Indiana Dairy Council will give industry updates at each meeting, as will some of the program’s sponsors. All meetings will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. local time. The meeting date or registration deadline will have passed before members received this issue of The Hoosier Farmer for the meetings in Turkey Run State Park, Warrenton and Columbus. But the remaining dates and locations are as follows: Feb. 11: Farmstead Inn, Shipshewana. For more information: 260-768-4595. Feb. 12: Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, Ag Hall. For more information: 574533-0554. Feb. 13: Back 40 Junction Restaurant, Decatur. For more information: 260-7243355. Registration is required by Feb. 5. Lunch will be provided. For more information, to register by phone or email, or to request a registration form, contact Schutz at 765-494-9478 or mschutz@purdue.edu. Address Letters & Questions To: Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Phone: 1-800-327-6287 or (317) 692-7776 E-Mail Address: askus@infarmbureau.org Duplicate Magazines If you are receiving more than one copy of The Hoosier Farmer®, please cut out both labels and return them to the address above. Magazine Design and Layout Davis Graphic Design www.davisgraphics.com The Hoosier Farmer® is published 14 times per year by Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206, and is furnished as a service to voting members and others. Controlled circulation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hoosier Farmer® P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
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