Purdue Agriculture And Extension Events
JUNE 5-7: FOOD HUB INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
Purdue Extension will hold meetings in three counties in June to determine whether a food hub should be established in central Indiana. The meetings will be held on the following dates and at these locations (all times 6 p.m.): Tuesday, June 5, Hamilton County Purdue Extension office, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville; Wednesday, June 6, Hancock County Purdue Extension office, 802 N. Apple St., Greenfield; Thursday, June 7, Henry County Purdue Extension office, 1201 Race St., New Castle. The meetings are free and open to all farmers, growers and anyone else interested in learning about food hubs and discussing the feasibility of a food hub in central Indiana. For more information or to register, participants can contact their county Extension educators, or Ballard at 317-462-1113 or by email at rballard@purdue.edu. Farmers and growers who are unable to attend the meetings but wish to give their opinions can contact Ballard or complete a written survey at http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/hancock/.CONTACT: Roy Ballard, 317-462-1113, rballard@purdue.edu
JUNE 6: FORAGE SMALL DAIRY/CHEESE FIELD DAY
Purdue Extension will host a June 6 field day in Spiceland for current and aspiring dairy goat and llama producers to learn more about resources for managing their farms. The Forage Small Dairy and Cheese Field Day program will run from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Redbud Farm, 7052 S. County Road 425 W. Morning sessions will focus on various topics, including grazing management, the Driftwatch and SARE programs, and the use of llamas as guard animals. Participants will tour the farm and cheese/dairy facilities during the afternoon session. Field day speakers include Roy Ballard, Purdue Extension; Cindy Newkirk and Kellie Riggs, Hancock and Henry County Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Robert Zupancic, Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Mike and Jessica Hoopengardner of Redbud Farm. The program is free, but participants are asked to register so enough information packets, take-home materials and lunch will be available. To register, contact Newkirk at 317-462-2283 ext. 3, cindynewkirk@in.nacdnet.net or Riggs at 765-529-2303, ext. 3, kellie.riggs@in.nacdnet.net. More information and a registration form can be downloaded from Purdue Extension Hancock County's website at http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/hancock/Pages/default.aspx
CONTACT: Cindy Newkirk, 317-462-2283 ext. 3, cindynewkirk@in.nacdnet.net
JUNE 12-15: HOME AND FAMILY CONFERENCE
The 99th annual Home and Family Conference will focus on issues and skills relating to family life and healthy living through workshops, tours, food and music. The conference will be held June 12-15 on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette and include more than 25 sessions on family, health and fitness, home management, finances, technology and nutrition. In addition to the daily concurrent sessions, participants can take classes in the Indiana Leadership Education and Advancement program, known as i-LEaD. Participants can also take tours of new campus buildings, such as the Purdue Cancer Center and Horticulture Gardens, and learn about family, social, and cancer research being conducted at Purdue. The conference keynote speaker will be Karen McCullough, a motivational speaker, business consultant, branding expert, personal coach and author. McCullough will speak about her book, The Seven Women Project. Other featured speakers will be author and columnist Lori Borgman, novelist Greg Schwipps, and editorial cartoonist Gary Varvel. The Melody Makers of Indiana, under director Scott R. Buchanan, will perform at Elliott Hall of Music on June 13. Registration for the full conference is $185, and single-day registration is $95. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.conf.purdue.edu/homeandfamily
CONTACT: Michele Baker, 765-494-8252, baker177@purdue.edu
JUNE 12 - SEPT. 6: CROP AND FORAGE WORKSHOPS
The Purdue University Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center will continue to offer a series of crop and forage scouting, diagnostic and management workshops from June to September. Workshops and dates are: June 12: Early Season Diagnostic Workshop; July 11: Mid Season Diagnostic Workshop; July 17: Mid Season Diagnostic Workshop; Aug. 30: Late Season Diagnostic Workshop; and Sept. 6: Forage Management Workshop. All of the workshops, except the July 11 Mid Season Diagnostic Workshop, will be at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education, 4540 U.S. 52 W., West Lafayette. The July 11 workshop will be at the Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center, 4425 E. 350 N., Butlerville. Workshops run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration is limited to 60 participants per workshop. Participants can find more information, including a list of topics and speakers, and download the registration brochure at http://www.ag.purdue.edu/agry/dtc/Pages/june12.aspx. The cost is $110 per person, per workshop. Certified crop advisers will receive continuing education units, and Indiana commercial pesticide applicators will earn continuing certification hours. Topics covered at the workshop will determine the categories and hours awarded.
CONTACT: Corey Gerber, 765-496-3755, gerberc@purdue.edu
JUNE 14: BEDDING PLANT WORKSHOPS
The last in a series of educational workshops will be held for greenhouse, nursery and garden center operators who can learn about new production techniques and get advice on marketing. The free workshop will be held from 4-6 p.m. (Eastern) on June 14 at Heartland Growers, Westfield (Hamilton County). Bridget Behe of Michigan State University will speak on marketing. Attendees are requested to confirm their attendance three days in advance by contacting Tammy Goodale at tgoodale@purdue.edu.
CONTACT: Roberto Lopez, 765-496-3425, rglopez@purdue.edu
JUNE 21: CORN AND SOYBEAN DIAGNOSTIC WORKSHOP
Corn and soybean growers have the opportunity to learn more about crop diagnostics at a June 21 workshop in Columbia City featuring presenters from both Purdue and Ohio State universities. The Diagnostic Training Workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northeast Purdue Agricultural Center, 4821 E. 400 S. The workshop focuses on helping growers to diagnose and manage field problems, such as insect pests, weeds, diseases, fertility problems and nutrient deficiency. Event organizers have applied for Commercial Category 1, 11, 14 and RT Credits (CCHs); Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP) credits; and Crop Adviser Credits (CEUs). Registration of $50 per person is due by June 15. Lunch will be provided. A brochure and registration form are available on the Web at http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/huntington/Documents/DTCFlyerJune12.pdf. For more information, contact Ed Farris, Purdue Extension educator in Huntington County, at 260-358-4826, emfarris@purdue.edu
CONTACT: Ed Farris, 260-358-4826, emfarris@purdue.edu
JULY 9-11: TOP FARMER CROP WORKSHOP
Farmers looking to improve their operations will learn how to better evaluate their economic, agronomic and technological opportunities and challenges at the annual Top Farmer Crop Workshop in July at Purdue University. The July 9-11 workshop, in its 45th year, for the first time will be held in partnership with the University of Illinois. Presenters from diverse viewpoints of academics, agribusiness and farmers will help participants explore strategies for growing their business, develop new ways to manage production costs and risks, and learn about new crop production technology. They also will have the opportunity to meet other farmers and share ideas. Brent Gloy, director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture, based at Purdue, and Purdue agricultural economics colleague Michael Boehlje will lead a session titled "Positioning Your Farm for Growth," focusing on ways to evaluate growth options and alternative business models to optimize success. Another session, "Using Spreadsheet Tools to Make Better Decisions," will be led by agricultural economics experts from the University of Illinois farmdoc team. For complete information including the agenda, list of speakers and registration, visit http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/commercialag/progevents/topfarmer.html.
CONTACT: Brent Gloy, 765-494-0468, bgloy@purdue.edu
Compiled by Jessica Merzdorf, 765-494-8402, jmerzdor@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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