Indiana AgriNews_050120

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YOUR SOURCE FOR INSEASON SEED NEEDS. AGRONOMY, PRODUCTS AND SUPPORT.

May 1, 2020

www.agrinews-pubs.com

800.937.2325 SM-LA1774287

Virtual 4-H fairs in works

FFA to livestream convention By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

TRAFALGAR, Ind. — Despite not being able to host the 2020 Indiana FFA State Convention at Purdue University in June due to COVID-19, the annual convention will still take place — virtually. “Obviously, there are a lot of details still to figure out, but a majority of the convention will go on in a virtual setting,” said Indiana FFA Association Director Rob Hays. He said the traditional six general sessions will take place via livestream and video recordings. While award winners will still be announced and recognized during the livestream sessions, Hays said Indiana FFA staff thought that instead of FFA members getting their plaques or Hoosier Degrees in the mail, they should still have the opportunity to walk across the stage as they are presented with their award. Hays said that as of now the FFA organization is planning on having an Indiana FFA convention awards day at Purdue in early fall, hosted by the Indiana FFA state officers, for any member who wants to walk across the stage to receive their award. The director added that while the plan is to have an in-person awards day later in the year, nothing is set in stone yet, because they recognize the COVID19 situation changes every day. Besides general sessions, Hays said the virtual state convention also will contain several other activities, including student leadership workshops, community service projects and a version of the Monday Fun Night. See FFA, Page A5

State FFA officers react to online event By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

TRAFALGAR, Ind. — The 2019-2020 Indiana FFA state officer team recently shared their thoughts as they prepare for the virtual state FFA convention.

guiding light.” Morgan Hinz

“This isn’t what anybody expected, but nothing in life ever turns out the way we want. Indiana FFA is always a

NORTHERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT

“It’s a lot to take in, but doing the convention virtually will be a really cool experience. We are stepping out of the box to adapt to a new normal.” Dillon Muhlenkamp PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

“We have a really good idea of what we want to do at convention and plan to highlight members.” Caitlyn Lewis See OFFICERS, Page A5

CLASSIFIEDS SEE A7

Vol. 42 No. 31

CONTACT AGRINEWS: 800-426-9438

By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANA SOYBEAN ALLIANCE PHOTO

HerbiSoy, a non-toxic, soybean-based herbicide, won the Student Soybean Innovation Competition this year.

Soy innovations Student inventors win $20,000

“If we only capture 1% of the market, our product would be valued at $47.6 million.”

By Erica Quinlan

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Alyson Chaney, student

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — HerbiSoy, a non-toxic, soybean-based herbicide, won first place at the 26th annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition. The results were announced via Facebook Live on April 21. Purdue students Alyson Chaney and Peyton Clark were excited to win the $20,000 prize. “It’s a general weed killer,” explained Clark, a senior majoring in sustainable biomaterials process and product design. “We’ve tested it on broadleaf and grasses, and it’s effective on both. Finding the right composition was the hardest thing. We see this as a product that is safe for people to use around their homes, but there is also potential for it to go into the agricultural market as a general burndown.” “We’re both from farm fam-

Alyson Chaney, a senior studying agronomy at Purdue University, and Peyton Clark, a senior studying sustainable biomaterials process and product design, took home first prize at the Student Soybean Innovation Competition. ilies, and I’ve worked in ag retail for quite a few years,” said Chaney, a senior majoring in agronomy. “We thought weed killer would be something useful that people really need. We started looking into it and it took off from there. “Before the competitions, (soybeans) were just something we planted every year. I didn’t realize how many things soybeans could go into making.” Their soy-based herbicide dif-

fers from other products on the market. “Our product is non-toxic, kills weeds more quickly and is less expensive,” Chaney said. More than 52 million U.S. households use herbicides. The total demand for pesticides in 2012 was $14 billion. “I’ve definitely learned a lot about marketing during this project,” Chaney said. “If we only capture 1% of the market, our product would be valued at $47.6 million.” This is the second consecutive year that Chaney and Clark were top finalists. In 2019, the duo earned second place for developing a wood finish made with soy nanocellulose. The team plans to use their winnings to invest in their hobbies, which include beekeeping and woodworking. See SOY, Page A2

COVID-19 a ‘shock to the system’ Purdue economists discuss virus’ effects on agriculture

marketing, reducing demand for key commodities and putting severe financial pressure on farmers, said James Mintert. Mintert, director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, hosted a webinar April By Erica Quinlan 30. AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS “This is a huge shock to the system,” he said. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Coronavirus con- “The system isn’t designed to accommodate a cerns are disrupting U.S. food distribution and huge shock.” TROUBLE AHEAD FOR ETHANOL The estimates in demand for ethanol are all over the map, according to Mintert. “We’re going to be in a recessionary environment for an extended period of time,” he said. “That’s going to take its toll in terms of fuel demand and ultimately ethanol demand. “We looked at three scenarios and estimated reductions at about 350 million bushels and as much as 640 million bushels for the 2019 crop year.” The estimates depend on how long restrictions on activity continue and how rapidly the U.S. economy recovers. The result will likely be larger projected ending stocks and lower prices this year and next.

LOWER CORN PRICES Michael Langemeier, agricultural economist at Purdue, said that things have “really turned south for corn.” “Corn prices have really tumbled,” Langemeier said. “I’m reflecting a drop in corn prices of around 55 cents per bushel, resulting in a drop in crop revenue of about $116 (per acre). “We do get an increase in government payments, but it’s not near big enough to offset that drop in crop revenue. … The bottom line here, looking at contribution margin/return over variable costs, we’re looking at a drop in net return of close to $80 per acre.” Declining net return prospects, particularly for corn, will put downward pressure on cash rents and land values, as well.

MEAT PROCESSING OUTLOOK Jayson Lusk, agricultural economist at Purdue, is keeping a close watch on what’s happening in the meat packing sector. “The reason I think this is an important sector to look at is that a big proportion of our meat processing is concentrated in a handful of processing plants that have a lot of workers,” he said. “This works well when times are good because we have really large economies of scale that can affordably process meat. But in this time, if you get a few of these plants shut down, it can have some big impacts — especially on the farm side of the market.”

Changing the way we communicate A4

See FAIRS, Page A5

Home garden interest spikes By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A backyard garden is a great way for individuals to grow their own herbs, vegetables and flowers, especially now as stores have trouble keeping up with the demand for fresh produce during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are getting lots of inquiries and interest in gardening this spring,” said B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension consumer horticulture specialist. Lerner said several Purdue Extension county educators have come together to create “Gardening Tips for Everyone,” a video series about gardening. “The series started earlier this month, but there are still several sessions to come,” she said, adding that individuals can check out the series by visiting https:// tinyurl.com/y72q26oq. Besides checking out the informative videos, Amy Thompson, a Purdue Extension director for Monroe County, shared tips for new and seasoned gardeners when it comes to growing plants. 1. Site selection. Thompson said the first step to starting a garden is finding the right site where your garden will grow, whether that is in the ground, a raised bed or in containers. Make sure that the site is able to get at least eight hours of sun a day. 2. Proper drainage. Gardens need well-drained soil because plants don’t like sitting in water, and without proper drainage, roots will begin to rot.

See COVID-19, Page A2

INSIDE

Indiana pork plants shut down A3

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University and Purdue Extension recently announced the decision to extend the ban on face-to-face events through June 30 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Due to the extended ban on large gatherings of people and face-toface-events, Indiana 4-H state staff has been working with 4-H county educators to find another way for 4-H programs in June, including county fairs, to still take place — just in a different format. Tony Carrell, a Purdue Extension 4-H youth development specialist, said Indiana 4-H isn’t canceling fairs that are held in June, but instead will be helping county fairs find an alternate solution to still allow 4-H members showcase the hard work they put into their projects throughout the year. Carrell said 4-H state staff are asking county fairs that were scheduled for June to either reschedule the fair until a later date and take a gamble that COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted, or to use an online platform and host a virtual fair. Carrell said if counties choose to pursue a virtual fair, it will be done through the online program, FairEntry. “All 92 counties have FairEntry and lots of families use it,” Carrell said, adding that members this year will be asked to upload pictures of their project along with any notebook or information that goes along with it.

INFB to host teacher workshops A10

See GARDEN, Page A2

AgriTrucker A11

Lifestyle A9

Alan Guebert A4

Livestock A8

Auction Calendar A11

Markets A10

Business A10

Opinion A9

Classifieds A7

Science A6

Jerry Welch A10

Weather A6


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