PARP and Breeders and Feeders Banquet Information

Greetings Boone County!

There's some decent content on this blog which I hate to lose so rather than start an entirely new blog now that I've moved to Boone County I decided to just change the title even though the web address still has Clinton County in it. If, after a while, I find this doesn't work, particularly with searches, I may have to start from scratch but I'll go with this for the time being.

There are two upcoming events you may be interested in:

Ag Outlook and Pesticide Applicator Training Program

On Monday, February 24 we'll be having an Ag Outlook and Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program at the Farm Bureau Community Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon. The schedule for the day is as follows:

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon - Ag Outlook with Purdue Ag Economist Chris Hurt
Noon - 12:45 p.m. - Lunch
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Palmer Amaranth Strategies with Purdue Weed Scientist Bill Johnson
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Insect Control Update with Purdue Entomologist Chriatian Krupke
2:30 - 3:00 p.m. - Reducing Pesticide Drift with Curt Emanuel, Boone County Extension


As usual, there will be a $10 fee for those receiving Pesticide credit. CCH's have been approved for Commercial Applicators.

I'll be sending out a letter with more details, including registration information, to all Boone County Private Applicators. Call the Boone County Extension Service at 765-482-0750 by Friday, February 14 if you plan on having lunch.



Breeders and Feeders Fish Fry and Awards Banquet

The Boone County Breeders and Feeders annual Fish Fry and Awards banquet will be held on Thursday, March 6 at the Witham Health Services Pavilion at the Boone County Fairgrounds. Tickets are available at the Extension Office or from Breeders and Feeders Directors. The cost is $7.50 for adults and $4 for children.

The Purdueettes will be the entertainment for the evening.

I'll have additional information on the banquet as we get closer.

August Clinton County Extension Ag Programs

I have three programs in the first half of August I'll provide a quick post about with a link to the flyers, for the first two anyway. I'll be making longer posts on these in the near future, either during a slow moment during the fair or afterwards.

Farm Drainage Program
On Thursday, August 8 we'll be having a Farm Drainage program, officially titled, Farm Drainage for the Environment and for Profit. We have some great speakers lined up for this program, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Clinton County Farm Bureau, Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District and of course the Clinton County Extension Service. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided. Because we're serving a meal I need to have pre-registrations in by August 1. This program has been approved for Private Pesticide Recertification (PARP) credit. The following link is to the program flyer which includes additional information:

Farm Drainage for the Environment and for Profit

I will be sending letters out to all Private Applicators who need classes for recertification before their license expires.

Locally Grown Foods Tour
We're offering an exciting new program on Saturday, August 10. This will be the first Clinton County Locally Grown Foods Tour. During the day we will be visiting four sites in Clinton County which grow, raise and sell food products for the public. We have some pretty good variety with producers of produce, honey, meat products including pastured pork, and poultry and eggs. I will have much more information on this and am planning to put a website together in the near future. You can either participate in this by riding a bus through the day or driving yourself to as many sites as you like. Registration is $10 if you will be eating lunch and $20 if you will be eating lunch and riding the bus. A link to the program flyer which includes additional information is here:

Locally Grown Foods Tour

I should mention that two of the tour host sites have their own web sites, This Old Farm and The Farming Engineers.

Adult PQA Plus
The final program will be an Adult PQA Plus program on Tuesday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office, 1111 South Jackson Street in Frankfort. I will be offering both PQA Plus and Site Self-Assessment Training. There's no cost for this program. Some of you may have heard of changes to the PQA Plus program which includes a "test-out" opportunity. This is true but they've also revised the curriculum so you're only eligible for the online testing option once you've taken the new course in person.

I'll have more information on the first two of these in the near future. Don't forget that the Clinton County and 4-H Fair will be held July 14-20.

Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program March 1

This is an update to something I posted a few weeks ago. The Clinton County Extension Office will be hosting a Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program on Friday, March 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, 1701 South Jackson Street, in Frankfort.

The program schedule is as follows:

• 10:00 a.m. - Bill Johnson, Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology, "Weed Control Update"
• 10:45 a.m. - Christian Krupke, Purdue Entomology, "Insect Control Update"
• 11:30 a.m. - Curt Emanuel, Clinton County Extension Service, "Fertilizer Application Regulations"
• 12:30 p.m. - Registration and adjourn.

In addition to Private Applicator credit, 3 CCH's are available for Category 1 and RT, 1 CCH for Category 14 Commercial Applicators. There is a cost of $10.00 for Private Applicators taking the program.

I do not need pre-registration for this program, just for the Ag Outlook Breakfast if you're planning to attend that earlier in the day.

Clinton County Private Applicators will be receiving notification of this program in the mail within the next few days. The exception to this is if you have already completed your recertification requirements or if there's no way you can complete them; if you've taken no classes so far and your license expires at the end of 2013(you can only take 2 classes in a given year). To check your recertification status, go to the Purdue Private Applicator Page. On the menu bar to the left select, "Private Applicator Records" and enter the appropriate information into the search.

You do not need to be a pesticide applicator to attend this program. Anyone who has an interest in the topics is welcome to attend. In particular, if you have questions about the new Indiana Fertilizer Rule, I'd encourage you to make the last session.

Ag Outlook Breakfast & Pesticide Applicator Training

This will be along the lines of a "save the date" post however I want to mention that we've scheduled the Ag Outlook Breakfast for Friday, March 1, 7:30 a.m. at the Clinton County Fairgrounds 4-H Building in Frankfort. Purdue Ag Economist Chris Hurt will be on hand to provide his Outlook for 2013. The program is free and designed to help farmers, land owners, input suppliers, and those interested in agriculture make better business decisions in the coming year.

The breakfast and program are sponsored by The Farmers Bank and Regions Bank. Now there's a lot of time between now and the program but because we are serving a meal and need to know attendance numbers, pre-registration for the program is required. Please either call the office at 765-659-6380 or 765-296-3511 or e-mail me at cemanuel@purdue.edu if you are planning to attend. The registration deadline is 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26. And don't worry, I'll have additional information as we get closer.

Later that same morning, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. we'll have a Private Applicator Recertification Program(PARP), also at the Fairgrounds. Christian Krupke from Purdue Entomology will present an Insect Control Update and Bill Johnson from Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology will provide a Weed Control Update. The regulatory topic will be on Indiana’s New Fertilizer Rule. The cost for this program will be $10. All Clinton County Private Applicators will be mailed additional information as we get closer. I also intend to request CCH's for commercial applicators.

August 29 Pesticide Applicator Training

The Clinton County Extension Service will be hosting a Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program (PARP) on Wednesday, August 29 from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, 1701 South Jackson Street in Frankfort. In addition, CCH's have been approved for Commercial Applicators.

Fred Whitford from Purdue Pesticide Programs will be giving two presentations, “Make Liquids and Dry Products Measure Up” and “Watch for Setbacks for Fertilizers.”

This program will directly follow the Farmland Rental Program that morning. The cost for the Pesticide program will be $10 for Private Applicators. There is no cost for Commercial Applicators. You should remember to bring your license with you for registration purposes.

As we're not feeding you, I don't need pre-registration if you're attending just the Pesticide program that afternoon (I do need you to register for the morning program if you're attending it). If you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office at 765-659-6380 or 296-3511. You may also e-mail me.

August Dates to Save

I have a couple of programs I've scheduled for August so I'll throw these in here as a "save the date" message. More details will follow as we get closer.

On Tuesday, August 14 I'll have a Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus and Site Self-Assessment Training program. This will be held at the Clinton County Extension Office, 1111 South Jackson Street in Frankfort from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The first hour will cover PQA Plus, the second hour will be for the site self-assessment training and test. Keep in mind if you know of someone who will be going to college to work in a swine unit or if you have a youth member age 14 or older who markets 10 or more pigs, they will probably need PQA Plus certification.

I've scheduled two programs for Wednesday, August 29 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. In the morning from 10:30 to Noon, Craig Dobbins from the Purdue Ag Economics Department will be on hand to discuss Indiana Land Values and Cash Rents, including information based on the 2012 Indiana Land Values and Cash Rents Survey results, which should be available by this meeting. From 1-3 p.m. we'll have a Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP). I don't know the precise topic for this but Fred Whitford from Purdue Pesticide Programs will be the main presenter so I'm sure it will be good. I'm working on finding a lunch sponsor for this day so hopefully we'll have a meal for attendees. EDIT: Just received a call from The Farmers Bank and they will be sponsoring lunch for the day.

Outlook, PARP and Category 14 Test on Friday, December 16

I think it's time for me to provide more details about the December 16 programs which will be taking place at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, 1701 South Jackson Street, Frankfort, IN. Because there are three programs taking place that day, and because some require pre-registration and some do not, I'm dividing this post into three parts. You can click on the link below to get to whatever portion you're interested in without having to scroll through the entire post - the whole thing will be pretty long.

Ag Outlook Breakfast

Private Applicator Recertification Program
(includes CCH's and CCA's)


Category 14 Fertilizer Applicator Exam

Ag Outlook Breakfast

The annual Clinton County Ag Outlook Breakfast will be held on Friday, December 16, 7:30 a.m. at the Clinton County Fairgrounds 4-H Building. A free breakfast, sponsored by The Farmers Bank and Regions Bank, will be provided.

Purdue Ag Economis Chris Hurt will be on hand to provide his Outlook for 2012. The program is free to the public and is designed to help farmers, land owners, input suppliers, and those interested in agriculture make better business decisions in the coming year.

The volume of corn used for ethanol is expected to continue to be near record levels. In addition, China continues to excite the corn market with corn purchases for a second year with prospects for longer-term buying relationships. The program will review potential pricing strategies for corn and soybeans.

Increasing attention is being given to the growing fears of a double-dip recession. This program will outline why the economy is growing slowly and make predictions for future growth, interest rates, and inflation.

The livestock sector faces another year of high feed costs. Yet some animal product prices have also risen sharply over the past year. This means some animal species can afford these record feed prices. Regardless, consumers are experiencing the highest costs ever to feed their families.

Crop prices are up, but so are input costs for 2012. This program will outline which inputs are headed higher and how that may affect margins for 2012 and 2013. The battle for 2012 acres is already underway and the expected economic returns to various crops will be discussed.

Land values and cash rents are expected to move higher again in 2012, but by how much and what are the driving factors to watch? These and other topics will be covered.

Because we are serving a meal and need to know attendance numbers, pre-registration for the program is required. Please either call the office at 765-659-6380 or 765-296-3511 or e-mail me at cemanuel@purdue.edu if you are planning to attend. The registration deadline is 4:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Monday, December 12. Again, this program is free and open to the public.

This is always an interesting and informative program so I encourage you to attend. And thanks again to The Farmers Bank and Regions Bank for their sponsorship of this program.

Private Applicator Recertification

Following the Ag Outlook Breakfast we will be holding a Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program, or PARP. This program is scheduled to run from 9:30-Noon though I always caution people that if Chris is covering something very interesting at 9:25 I don't cut him off in the middle of it. I promise that it will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the latest.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Christian Krupke from Purdue Entomology will present an Insect Control Update and Glenn Nice from Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology will provide a Weed Control Update. Also, I know of a couple of people putting in some bulk fertilizer storage so the regulatory topic will be on bulk fertilizer and pesticide containment rules in case anyone else is thinking of going this route.

I have received CCH approval for commercial applicators and I am able to request CEU's for Certified Crop Advisors after the program so I always have the forms there in case any CCA's attend.

There is a cost of $10 for Private Applicators taking this part of the program. If you are paying by check, please make it out to, "PUCES." You must bring your current license with you as we need that to register you. If you don't have your license on hand we can register you with your social security number but it takes a separate form. Since we aren't feeding you, you don't need to pre-register for this program.

Also, this is not a program for people looking to get their pesticide license for the first time. The program is for people with an existing license who want to receive credit toward their renewal requirements.

There is no cost for Commercial Applicators or CCA's (unless you're also receiving PARP credit). However you will need to have their licenses with you to register.

Clinton County Private Applicators who need recertification credit will receive a letter about a week before the program. I do not send letters out to those of you who have already completed your recertification requirements or are unable to complete them - if you have taken no recertifications and your license expires at the end of this year. Hopefully everyone understands how tight budgets are and why we don't spend the $.44 on mailing letters out to those who don't need them.

If you need additional PARP credits, The Purdue Private Applicator Page keeps a calendar of all approved PARP's in the state. They also keep a page where you can check on your recertification status. As a reminder of the recertification rules, you must attend three PARP Programs before the expiration date on your license, with no more than two programs in the same calendar year. There is an online PARP you can take which will count as one program.

Finally, if you are interested in what Christian and Glenn have to say but don't have a pesticide license, feel free to attend. Much of what they discuss will be relevant to everyone, not just licensed applicators and as you know, not all products are restricted use pesticides.

Category 14 Fertilizer Exam

Beginning at 1:00 PM we will be hosting a Category 14 Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Testing Session, also at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. If you are wondering whether you need a Category 14 License, I briefly discussed this last spring on this blog and the State Chemist has much more detailed information on the program.

This is a test-only session - no training. This is the link to the online Category 14 Training Manual. This is a very large file so if your connection is slow it may take a few minutes to load. There are programs around the state which include trainings, which you can find at this link. If you're wondering if you need the training, I always tell people that if you go through the manual and you're pretty comfortable with your knowledge of the material, the test shouldn't give you much trouble but if parts of it leave you feeling lost you should probably try to find a training program.

You must register for this program in advance. We must have at least 50 registrants for the State Chemist to come out and administer the test. As I type this on November 16 we have about 35 signed up so I don't think that will be a problem. However our maximum number is 100 which I have a feeling we'll reach before the registration deadline. In any case, the deadline to register is Monday, December 12 or when we reach 100 registrants, whichever comes first. All we need is a name and contact information in case we need to reach you for some reason (for example, postponing due to weather that day).

Please register by either calling the office at 765-659-6380 or 765-296-3511 or e-mailing me at cemanuel@purdue.edu. The program is free but if you haven't pre-registered and just show up, we won't be able to let you take the test.

Rules for those attending the program are as follows:

• Anyone needing Category 14 private and commercial certification
  
• Registration required
  
• No walk-ins accepted
  
• Testing for Category 14 only
  
• Testing limited to 100 registered individuals
  
• Will need a hand-held calculator for the test, but cell phones not allowed
  
• Will need a government issued photo identification to take the test
  

They don't say it in the official rules but please bring something to write with too.

December 16 will be a busy day. If you have any questions about any of the programs, please let me know.

Pesticide Applicator Training Date Set

We'll be holding a Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Program (PARP) on Friday, December 16, from 9:30 a.m. to Noon at the Clinton County Fairgrounds 4-H Building. Clinton County Private Applicators will receive additional information in a mailing closer to the event.

Christian Krupke from Purdue Entomology will present an Insect Control Update and Glenn Nice from Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology will provide a Weed Control Update. We'll also have a review of the bulk fertilizer and pesticide containment regulations. The cost will be $10 for private applicators. I'll request CCH's for commercial applicators and will have signup sheets for CCA's as well.

This will be part of a full day of programming. At 7:30 that day we'll host our annual Ag Outlook Breakfast, sponsored by The Farmers Bank and Regions Bank. Purdue Ag Economist Chris Hurt will be on hand to deliver the Outlook for 2012. At 1:00 p.m., following the PARP, we'll hold a Category 14 Ag Fertilizer Applicator testing program. This will be a test only session. No training. There will be no fee for either the Category 14 or Outlook breakfast though we will ask people to register in advance so we have an idea on numbers.

UPDATE: I've provided some additional information on the programs we'll be having on December 16 which you can access by clicking on this link.

More Category 14, Ag Fertilizer Application Information

Consider this a follow-up to my earlier category 14 post and something of a "save the date" message.

In addition to the training and exam sessions offered, the Indiana State Chemist will be offering exam-only sessions for producers and commercial applicators needing to get their category 14 certification.

To date, two of these sessions are available:

• Sept. 15, 2-4 p.m. Eastern, Wells County Community Center, 1240 4-H Park Road, Bluffton. To register, call 260-824-6412 or by email at horan@purdue.edu.
  
• Dec. 16, 1-3 p.m. Eastern, Clinton County Fairgrounds, Fairground Street, Frankfort. To register, call 765-659-6380 or 765-296-3511 or email cemanuel@purdue.edu by Dec. 12.

You'll notice the second session will be here in Clinton County and you sign up by contacting me. That day, December 16 will also be an Ag Outlook Breakfast and a Private Applicator Recertification Program (CCH's will also be avilable) in the morning. These haven't been "officially" scheduled but I have speakers lined up (we're looking at a weed control and insect update) so I'm pretty confident it'll happen. For additional information you can take a look at the Purdue Pesticide Programs Website.

Category 14 Fertilizer Applicator Training and Exam Dates

This is a followup to my post on the new Ag Fertilizer Applicator Certification.

I know some of you may not have Adobe so I'm copying the free Category 14 training and exam dates below. I'd encourage you to go to and print the online document if you can. It's a lot prettier.

Training and Exam For Category 14 Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator
Certification

Hosted by Purdue Cooperative Extension and Indiana Farm Bureau
• Free on-line training manual available at http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/
• Anyone needing Category 14 private and commercial certification
• Registration required
• No walk-ins accepted for training and exam
• Training and testing for Category 14 only
• Testing and training limited to 100 registered individuals
• Will need a single function calculator for the test, cell phones not allowed
• Will need a government issued photo identification to take the test

July 26, 2011
Location— Beck Center, West Lafayette
Host: Jeff Phillips, Tippecanoe CES
Registration: 765-474-0793
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Jeff Phillips, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 60 registered individuals

July 26, 2011
Location—Jasper County Fairgrounds, 2671 West Clark Street (State Road 114),
Rensselaer
Host: Bryan Overstreet, Jasper CES
Registration: 219-866-5741
Cost: free
Training Time: 1-4 (central)
Exam Time: 4-5:30 (central)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Bryan Overstreet, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 5, 2011
Location—Wabash County REMC Building, 350 Wedcor Wabash
Host: Curt Campbell, Wabash CES
Registration: 260-563-0061, extension 246
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Curtis Campbell, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Kevin Gibson, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 5, 2011
Location—Randolph County Fairgrounds, 1885 South US Highway 27,
Winchester
Host: Dan Kirtley, Randolph CES
Registration: 765-584-2271
Cost: free
Training Time: 2-5 (eastern)
Exam Time: 5-6:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Dan Kirtley, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Beth Carter and Jay Kelley, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 15, 2011
Location— Decatur County Fairgrounds, 1645 North Park Road,
Greensburg
Host: Dan Wilson, Dave Osborne, Purdue Extension
Registration: 812-663-8388
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Dan Wilson or Dave Osborne, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 18, 2011
Location—Washington County Cornerstone Hall, 170 N. Jim Day Road, Salem
Host Brad Shelton, Washington CES
Registration: 812-883-4601
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Brad Shelton, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

August 18, 2011
Location—Dubois County Fairground, 4157 South State Road 162, Huntingburg
Host: Kenneth Eck, Dubois CES
Registration: 812-482-1782
Cost: free
Training Time: 3-6 (eastern)
Exam Time: 6-7:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Kenneth Eck, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

September 9, 2011
Location—Olive Township Public Library, 408 S. Bray Street, New Carlisle
Host: Phil Sutton, St. Joseph CES
Registration: 574-235-9604
Cost: free
Training Time: 9-12 (eastern)
Exam Time: 12-1:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Phil Sutton, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 40 registered individuals

September 9, 2011
Location—Elkhart County Fairgrounds, Ag Hall Building, 17746 County Road
34, Goshen
Host: Jeff Burbrink, Elkhart CES
Registration: 574-533-0554
Cost: free
Training Time: 2-5 (eastern)
Exam Time: 5-6:30 (eastern)
Trainers: Jim Camberato, Jeff Burbrink, Fred Whitford
Test Administration: Leo Reed, Office of Indiana State Chemist
Space Limitations: Limited to 100 registered individuals

Category 14 Ag Fertilizer Program

Producers who apply significant quantities of manure as fertilizer and those who apply fertilizer for hire on someone else's property will be required to get a Category 14 Pesticide License, also known as an Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification.

Category 14 will be administered as part of the Private Pesticide Applicator System. If you already have a license, Cat 14 will be added to your license. The rules for the Category 14 are very similar to those for the current Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP). Basically, you need to take an initial exam to receive your license, which is good for five years. If you attend three approved training sessions within the next 5 years you will be eligible for renewal. The Cat 14 training sessions will be rolled into the current PARP sessions so you can be recertified for Cat 14 by attending three pesticide trainings, even if none of those have any fertilizer subject matter. Conversely, someone with a Private pesticide license can attend sessions on fertilizer application (as long as these are approved programs) and receive their renewal credit.

The question is; Who needs a Category 14 License? There are two distinct categories.

1) Those transporting or applying manure from a CFO unless they apply less than 10 cubic yards or 4,000 gallons of manure in a year.

2) Those transporting or applying commercial fertilizer for hire.

You do not need a Category 14 license if you apply commercial fertilizer to your own acres.

This link has the Category 14 training manual. This is a very large file so if you have a slow internet connection, it may take a while. If you bring a flash drive to the Extension Office I can load it for you. Please call before you come - I can't load it if I'm not here. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. The Adobe Reader is a free download (can't give that one to you though).

This link has the schedule of the free Category 14 training and exam sessions.

Also, you will be able to take a test-only exam with no training at Purdue.

You must register for all of the above trainings and exams.

The Category 14 requirements go into effect on January 1, 2012. There's still some time but we all know how quickly it goes and I expect that the free trainings will fill up fairly quickly.

If you are a Commercial Applicator, your rules are different. See the Indiana State Chemist Fertilizer Page for additional information.