Purdue News
Purdue News
The tour is designed to show off well-managed farms in different parts of the state. Host families give tours of their facilities and describe their production and management practices. The tour is free and open to the public.
This year's tour begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, in Decatur County at Langeland Farms Inc. Owners Gary and Patty Reding, in addition to traditional crops and livestock, have a certified soybean and wheat seed sale business and export food-grade soybeans. They also have 70 acres of veneer-grade timber.
The tour continues with a free lunch at Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC) in Jennings County. SEPAC manager Don Biehle will lead a tour of the facility.
At 3 p.m., the tour will reconvene at Graham Creek Farms, also in Jennings County. Owners George and June Corya raise about 2,500 acres of corn, 2,500 acres of soybeans, 1,000 acres of hay and 700 acres of timber. The Coryas also have 200 head of commercial Angus beef cows. They are considered no-till pioneers in the state. They began using the practice in 1959.
The tour's evening program will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Greensburg. It will focus on multi-generation farming arrangements.
On Wednesday, July 9, the tour will begin at 8 a.m. at Roy and Denise Friedersdorf's farm in Decatur County. The Friedersdorfs operate a 1,595-acre grain farm, along with a seed dealership and a 100-sow farrow-to-finish swine operation.
The tour will move on to David Miers' farm in Decatur County at 10 a.m. Miers raises seed corn, soybeans for seed and commercial soybeans. He also has done extensive drainage work on his farm.
Following lunch at Miers' farm, Purdue agricultural economist Chris Hurt will give his corn/soybean price outlook.
At 1:15 p.m., the tour will move to Larry and Carol Pumphrey's farm in Decatur County. The Pumphreys have a 1,250-sow operation at their Greensburg farm and a 425-sow operation at their Hagerstown farm. They have 25 employees and use a hands-on management style.
For more information about the tour, contact Howard Doster, associate professor of agricultural economics, (765) 494-4250.
The Putnam County 4-H team consisting of Sandy Peters, Darren Hughes, Mitch Walton and Nick Pennington placed first. In addition, Peters was the high individual in the contest. The Putnam County team is coached by Duane Huge. Second-place honors went to the Porter County 4-H team of Carolyn Ames, Charity Ames, Jill Lambert and Mike Klemp. Their coach is Todd Ames.
Three other Indiana 4-H teams also placed well in the field of teams from 35 states. North Miami 4-H garnered ninth place honors, while White County 4-H and Gibson Southern 4-H placed 12th and 13th, respectively.
Contest participants evaluate the topsoil, subsoil, slope and plant life characteristics of the land and make recommendations for its use.
CONTACT: Bob Ritchie, associate professor, Department of 4-H Youth Development, (765) 494-8439
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
