Listed below is the text of a message I received this morning announcing Open Houses to discuss the revised CFO/CAFO Rules which go into effect on July 1 of this year:
Indiana Department of Environmental Management E-News Media Advisory
For immediate release
April 5, 2012
IDEM holding open house meetings to assist farmers with the new confined feeding rule requirements
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is holding a series of open –house style meetings across the state to make staff available to meet with farmers operating confined feeding operations (CFOs) and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
Rule revisions affecting confined feeding operations (CFOs) were adopted by the Water Pollution Control Board in November 2011, and go into effect July 1, 2012. The rule changes eliminate the “General Permit” category for farms regulated by federal farm rules. Farms with a general permit must determine if they need to be covered by Indiana’s CFO permit or a federal “Individual Permit.”
In addition, the rule changes place restrictions on land application of manure based on phosphorus limits and land application to frozen or snow covered ground. IDEM staff will be available at the open houses to answer questions and assist farmers and operators in transitioning their permit to make sure they maintain appropriate permit coverage under the new rules.
The Open Houses will be held on the following dates and locations:
Monday, April 9, 2012
2 – 8 p.m.
Carroll County 4-H Building
102 Fourth, Flora, IN 46929
(East side of Flora on SR 18)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
2 – 8 p.m.
Huntington County Courthouse
D.A.R. Room, 2nd Floor
Use Jefferson Street Entrance
201 North Jefferson Street
Huntington, IN 46750
Monday, April 16, 2012
2 – 8 p.m.
Decatur County Extension Office
545 S 200 W
Greensburg, IN 47240
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
2 – 8 p.m.
Dubois County Fairgrounds
Clover Pavilion
4157 S SR 162
Huntingburg, IN 47542
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Thoughts on the 2011-12 Unwinter
I've wanted to post on the strange weather we saw this winter but haven't had a lot to add to what everyone else has been saying. In particular there's been a lot of discussion on possible insect impacts.
My personal feeling is that it will be hard to predict if we'll see increased insect pressure this year. Most of the overwintering insects have adapted to survive here so the sheer numbers may not be too different (and they may encounter disease and predation which they aren't adapted to) though emergence date will obviously change. I haven't heard of any insects which don't usually overwinter here surviving however there may be some early arrivals. What I think is more likely is that there may be additional generations and that the standard timing for insect impacts will be very different from usual. Again, nothing revolutionary or which you can't find in a lot of other places from people who know more than I. I think the key will be that this year will place an additional premium on keeping informed and up to date on what's going on. Purdue's Pest and Crop Newsletter is one good resource. Another is Bob Nielsen's site where he summarizes crop information from various sources - including for crops other than corn.
There isn't a lot of this grown in Clinton County but one thing I've been struck by is how quickly alfalfa is coming along. Growing Degree Day(GDD) accumulation is one way of determining when to make your first cutting and we're already close to 300 in Central Indiana. Craig Thomas from Michigan State University recently posted an article discussing the use of GDD's to determine when to harvest. There's a good chance this will be a four-cutting year if we get rain, as long as you make your first cutting in a timely manner.
In order to track Growing Degree Day accumulation a good resource is the GDD Tracker.
My personal feeling is that it will be hard to predict if we'll see increased insect pressure this year. Most of the overwintering insects have adapted to survive here so the sheer numbers may not be too different (and they may encounter disease and predation which they aren't adapted to) though emergence date will obviously change. I haven't heard of any insects which don't usually overwinter here surviving however there may be some early arrivals. What I think is more likely is that there may be additional generations and that the standard timing for insect impacts will be very different from usual. Again, nothing revolutionary or which you can't find in a lot of other places from people who know more than I. I think the key will be that this year will place an additional premium on keeping informed and up to date on what's going on. Purdue's Pest and Crop Newsletter is one good resource. Another is Bob Nielsen's site where he summarizes crop information from various sources - including for crops other than corn.
There isn't a lot of this grown in Clinton County but one thing I've been struck by is how quickly alfalfa is coming along. Growing Degree Day(GDD) accumulation is one way of determining when to make your first cutting and we're already close to 300 in Central Indiana. Craig Thomas from Michigan State University recently posted an article discussing the use of GDD's to determine when to harvest. There's a good chance this will be a four-cutting year if we get rain, as long as you make your first cutting in a timely manner.
In order to track Growing Degree Day accumulation a good resource is the GDD Tracker.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Interesting Article on Corn Seeding Rates
Purdue Extension Agronomist and Corn Specialist Bob Nielsen has posted an interesting article on corn seeding rates on his Chat 'n Chew Cafe. I encourage you to take a look at it, particularly if you're thinking about substantially changing your rates in the coming year.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Soil Health Workshop
The Greater Wabash River RC&D will be sponsoring a Soil Health Workshop on Thursday, March 1. The workshop will be held at the Beck Center at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education on US 52 in West Lafayette. The two main areas of focus for the day will be on cover crops and drainage, including field tile.
This Workshop is being held immediately following a meeting of the Midwest Cover Crops Council on February 28 and 29. For a detailed agenda and registration information, go to the MWCC web page. A brochure and registration form is on that page. There is also a detailed agenda. You can register for the entire three days or plan on just attending for one. The registration deadline is February 14.
This Workshop is being held immediately following a meeting of the Midwest Cover Crops Council on February 28 and 29. For a detailed agenda and registration information, go to the MWCC web page. A brochure and registration form is on that page. There is also a detailed agenda. You can register for the entire three days or plan on just attending for one. The registration deadline is February 14.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Category 14 Ag Fertilizer Online Training Available
If you did not make one of the training sessions last year for the Category 14 Ag Fertilizer Training, an online module has been developed by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Pork and the Purdue Extension Service. You may find the tutorial at the link below.
Keep in mind that this module is for training only. In order to be certified you will need to attend one of the State Chemist Exam Sessions. You can find information on the exams on the State Chemist's website here.
Category 14 Online Training Module
Keep in mind that this module is for training only. In order to be certified you will need to attend one of the State Chemist Exam Sessions. You can find information on the exams on the State Chemist's website here.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Purdue Corn and Soybean Trials Results Available
The results from the 2011 Purdue Corn and Soybean Performance Trials are available at the link below. We no longer receive a hard copy to distribute so people are asked to access the information online. It is a fairly large file.
2011 Purdue Corn and Soybean Performance Trials
2011 Purdue Corn and Soybean Performance Trials
Central Indiana Pork Conference Details
The final details for the 2012 Central Indiana Pork Conference have been set:
Wednesday, February 8
Rossville High School
9:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Cost: $20 which includes lunch and all materials
This looks like another good program with programs on PRRS filtration, Circovirus vaccination, and a report on the results of the EPA Animal Agriculture Air Quality study. We will also have reports from industry representatives and commodity groups.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, February 1. We'll accept late registrations but we won't guarantee lunch if you sign up after February 1st.
For additional information, go to the Central Indiana Pork Conference Web Page. A schedule for the day and a brochure and registration form can be found on that page. Both are in pdf form.
Rossville High School
9:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Cost: $20 which includes lunch and all materials
This looks like another good program with programs on PRRS filtration, Circovirus vaccination, and a report on the results of the EPA Animal Agriculture Air Quality study. We will also have reports from industry representatives and commodity groups.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, February 1. We'll accept late registrations but we won't guarantee lunch if you sign up after February 1st.
For additional information, go to the Central Indiana Pork Conference Web Page. A schedule for the day and a brochure and registration form can be found on that page. Both are in pdf form.
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