Videoconference to focus on protecting Indiana's farmland

The program, geared toward community leaders and landowners, is free and designed to assist in balancing Indiana's need for retaining a viable farming industry in local communities with expanding non-farm development. The videoconference is interactive and participants are encouraged to ask questions and share their thoughts and needs for providing farmland protection in their communities.

"Protecting farmland is an important issue that many communities are dealing with," said Mike Ferree, conference coordinator and Purdue Extension specialist. "This videoconference will help inform people of what their options are and what can be done realistically."

Topics to be discussed include zoning ordinances to protect agriculture, land use and zoning models to help local officials more effectively plan for growth in agriculture and other industries, and recent legislation to provide farmland protection incentives for landowners. Future legislation efforts and needs for providing farmland protection incentives also will be discussed. Planning tools to be covered include differentiated agriculture zones, protective agricultural zones and funding sources for farmland protection.

Speakers include Robert McCormick, director of Planning with POWER at Purdue University; Brad Buening, land-use specialist with Indiana Farm Bureau; Sarah Simpson, program manager for regulatory affairs with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture; and state Sen. Robert Jackman of Milroy, Ind.

The video sites and contact people include:

• Adams County — Brad Kohlhagen, (260) 724-5322, bkohlhag@purdue.edu

• Bartholomew County — Mike Ferree, (812) 379-1665, ferreel@purdue.edu

• Clark County — David Trotter, (812) 256-4591, dtrotter@purdue.edu

• Clinton County — Curt Emanuel, (765) 659-6380, cemanuel@purdue.edu

• DeKalb County — Dave Holloway, (260) 925-2562, wholloway@purdue.edu

• Elkhart County — Jeff Burbrink, (574) 533-0554, jburbrin@purdue.edu

• Floyd County — Debra Carlton, (812) 948-5470, carlton@purdue.edu

• Franklin County — Phil Harsh, (765) 993-1214, pharsh@fccsc.k12.in.us

• Hamilton County — Bill Rice, (317) 776-0854, billrice@purdue.edu

• Harrison County — Adrienne Rich, (812) 738-4236, arich@purdue.edu

• Hendricks County — Jon Cain, (317) 745-9260, joncain@purdue.edu

• Henry County — Jonathon Ferris, (765) 529-5002, ferrisj@purdue.edu

• Howard County — Allen Ullom, (765) 456-2313, ullomg@purdue.edu

• LaGrange County — Steve Engleking, (260) 499-6334, englekin@purdue.edu

• Lake County — Stan Sims, (219) 755-3240, ssims@purdue.edu

• LaPorte County — Walt Sell, (219) 324-9407, wsell@purdue.edu

• Marshall County — Bob Yoder, (574) 935-8545, ryoder@purdue.edu

• Perry County — Margie Zoglmann, (812) 547-7084, mzoglmann@purdue.edu

• Rush County — Will Schakel, (765) 932-5974, wschakel@purdue.edu

• Shelby County — Scott Gabbard, (317) 392-6460, gabbardd@purdue.edu

• Switzerland County — Nathan Crane, (812) 427-3152, nrcrane@purdue.edu

• Tippecanoe County — Jimmy Bricker, (765) 494-0141, bricker@purdue.edu

• Tipton County — Mary Day, (765) 675-1177, maryday@purdue.edu

• Vanderburgh County — Larry Caplan, (812) 435-5287, lcaplan@purdue.edu

• Whitley County — Valynnda Slack, (260) 625-3313, vslack@purdue.edu

The videoconference is sponsored by Purdue Extension, Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning, the Indiana Planning Association and Indiana Farm Bureau.

Writer: Julie Douglas, (765) 496-1050, douglajk@purdue.edu

Source: Mike Ferree, (812) 379-1665, ferreel@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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