Indiana AgriNews_110819

Page 1

+2.0 BU./A. ADVANTAGE vs. industry Roundup Ready 2 Xtend ® varieties in 12,588 head-to-head comparisons. *

November 8, 2019 Q&A: CHAD METZGER

Auctioneer finds his true calling Auction veteran shares insights on farmland values By Erica Quinlan

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS — When it comes to auctioning farmland, Chad Metzger has been in the game for almost 20 years. Metzger, an auctioneer at Metzger Property Services and director at Indiana Auctioneers Association, shared insight on the industry with AgriNews.

www.agrinews-pubs.com

*Beck’s Roundup Ready 2 Xtend varieties versus Pioneer, Asgrow, and Syngenta Roundup Ready 2 Xtend varieties. Includes data from farmer plots, Beck’s research, and third-party data. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® is a trademark of the Bayer Group.

Growing rural Indiana Strategy boosts agricultural products as ‘raw material’ for manufacturing By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS — In an effort to help change the way rural communities think about economic development, a new strategy has been developed to help them grow one of the biggest assets that is right under their noses — agriculture. The new strategy, which is known as the Rural Economic Development Model, utilizes

an online interactive tool and guidebook to help develop an ag-based economic development plan which will expand current agribusinesses while attracting complementary processing companies to a specific region. “The overall goal of the Rural Economic Development Model is to grow investment in Indiana’s rural communities. The intent is to leverage Indiana’s agricultural products as

the ‘raw material’ for a new manufacturing base,” said Lee Lewellen, president and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Association. Lewellen said typically when individuals think of manufacturing in Indiana they think of vehicles and vehicle parts. However, Lewellen said those types of manufacturing facilities don’t often locate to rural areas because they need access to a

930,000 POINTS OF LIGHT

What are some trends you’ve seen in rural land sales in Indiana? See AUCTION, Page A2

Indiana Auctioneer Convention Nov. 13

The Indiana Auctioneer Association Convention includes business meetings, educational seminars, a trade show, auctioneer contest and plenty of opportunities to network. It will be held Nov. 13-15 at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport, 2501 S. High School Road, Indianapolis Learn more at www. indianaauctioneers.org

SEE SECTION B

INSIDE

Schnackburgers winning tailgate recipe A3

Women in FFA Women were officially allowed full membership in the National FFA Organization in 1969. What does it mean to you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women being allowed to become FFA members?

AGRINEWS PHOTO/ASHLEY LANGRECK

FFA members check out the display holding hundreds of brightly colored buttons that promote different community service projects, as part of the Challenge Accepted program.

FFA CHALLENGE

FFA members pledge 930,000 hours of community service By Ashley Langreck

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS — A challenge was issued during the 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo that will continue until next year’s convention. FFA Challenge Accepted encourages FFA members and chapters across the nation to come together and complete 930,000 hours of community service and volunteer work before the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo. The National FFA Organization said that accepting the challenge can be done in three easy steps: n See it — FFA members need to arm themselves with knowledge by finding and researching a need in their community and then deciding how their chapter can assist.

A huge sign welcomes members to the National FFA Convention

n Solve it — Help lead your chapter into taking action. After that, create and carry out a service project before the start of the 93rd National FFA Convention and then measure the impact. n Share it — Help inspire others by sharing your chapter’s story and report impacts of

Auction Calendar B1 Calendar C8 Classifieds C2

Ashley Langreck can be reached at 800-426-9438, ext. 192, or alangreck@ agrinews-pubs.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_ Langreck.

AGRINEWS PUBLICATIONS

Farms For Sale C1 From The Fields A12 Lifestyle B6 Livestock B4 Weather A6

Vol. 42 No. 6

CONTACT AGRINEWS: 800-426-9438

service events at www.ffa.org/ ffa-challenge-accepted after each service event.

By Erica Quinlan

Opinion C7

Business C3

WALTONVILLE, ILLINOIS, FFA CHAPTER

“It’s pretty huge. Back then, the National FFA Convention wouldn’t have been what it is. I have so many things in the two years I have been here. It’s weird for me to think about women not being allowed in FFA.” Abby Heisler “My entire family has been in FFA for years now. My mother was never able to join because she was born in 1963, and even though women were allowed in FFA in 1969, her father wouldn’t let her join. All of my sisters and cousins have been FFA members, and my family is very involved in agriculture.” Alexis Nichols MERCER, KENTUCKY, FFA CHAPTER

Question asked by Ashley Langreck at the 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis.

Buyer’s Guide connects schools with local farms

Trade war becoming a cold war C7 Alan Guebert C7

“It shows that women are as equal as men in farming. Women play big roles, and there are just as many women today who own ranches and farms.” Jacey Kujawa

SPRINGPORT, MICHIGAN, FFA CHAPTER

Analyst predicts higher milk prices B5

AgriTrucker B3

See RURAL, Page A2

YOUR TURN

Tell me about yourself. “I’m a graduate of the University of Indianapolis. I’ve been a full-time auctioneer since 2000. “We’re a second-generation company. My father started the business in the early 1970s. Four Metzger of my siblings and I are still involved.” What do you enjoy about being an auctioneer? “One of the nice things is that it’s something different every day. One day, we’re selling farmland; the next day, it might be household goods or antiques.”

supply chain, which normally is near interstates and major urban areas. “If we think of food processing as a different form of manufacturing that relies upon agricultural products as their raw material, attracting food processing facilities to rural areas makes sense. They are naturally close to their supply chain,” Lewellen said.

AGRINEWS PHOTO/ERICA QUINLAN

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch speaks about the Indiana Grown Buyer’s Guide, a new resource that will help increase schools’ access to fresh, local foods.

FRANKLIN, Ind. — Indiana Grown and the Indiana State Department of Health unveiled a new resource that will increase schools’ access to fresh, local food products. The Buyer’s Guide helps food service directors find schoolready products grown or raised by local farmers. It includes procurement procedures, food safety guidelines, regional produce seasonality, local success stories and a comprehensive list of local producers and distributors. “With the Indiana Grown for Schools program, students across the entire state will now have increased access to fresh, healthy, local foods,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “They will gain educational experiences directly linked to

our farming community. This partnership unlocks new markets for our farming community, which will result in a boost financially, and has potential to create jobs. “Farm-to-school is so much more than a food purchasing option. It enriches the local community. It empowers children, families and schools to make more informed choices that improve their health and wellbeing,” she said. The project was funded by a farm-to-school grant awarded to ISDH. Kristina Box, Indiana state health commissioner, said that good nutrition is critical for the future of Indiana’s children. “I’m thrilled that the Indiana State Department of Health has been a participant in this process,” Box said. See GUIDE, Page A2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.