Upcoming Events - Sheep and Goat Webinar Series

Learn more about sheep and goat production through a webinar series sponsored by Purdue Extension, Kentucky State University, and University of Kentucky.

This is a two-part series that will focus on kidding care and birthing in does and ewes, feeding, management, marketing, and economic projection issues in raising goats. Goat production numbers are rising in Indiana and Kentucky. According to the USDA 45,000 goats are raised in Indiana and 87,000 in Kentucky.

The webinar sessions will be held on two consecutive Wednesday nights starting on November 30 from 6:00-8:00 PM CST (7:00-9:00 PM EST).

Session 1 on November 30, concerns Kidding and Kid Care and will feature Dr. Kenneth Andries, Kentucky State University; and Dealing with Difficult Births in Does and Ewes by Endre Fink, University of Kentucky.

Session 2 on December 7, features teaching about Feeding and Management Tips to Reduce Input Costs for Sheep & Goat Producers led by Dan Morrical, Extension Sheep Specialist, Iowa State University; and Marketing and Economic Projections for Sheep and Goat Producers for 2012 and Beyond by Erica Rosa-Sanko, Agriculture Economist, Livestock Marketing Information Center.

This webinar series will be viewable at many locations across Indiana, including Dubois County (812-482-1782) and Warrick County (812-897-6101).  The series is free-of-charge, however pre-registration is required by November 23.  Please contact the host site you plan to attend to register.  A program brochure listing all viewing sites is located here. 

In The Grow - Q & A

Q. Do you think some suckers should be taken off tomato plants? I say yes; my son says no. I take off the first three from the bottom of my plant.

Q. We live a few miles north of West Lafayette. We purchased four Korean boxwoods, intending to plant this summer, but an unexpected waterline problem means we will not be able to plant them this season. They are still in their plastic tubs. Must we plant them here temporarily, or can we store them over the winter in their tubs in a basement or unheated outbuilding? And what about watering?

Q. I have a poinsettia that I planted outside after frost this spring on the north side of my house. It grew as big as a bushel basket. I dug it up and brought it inside. Now, how can I get it to bloom for Christmas?

For answers to these questions, click here.

Weekly Outlook - Soybean Export Progress

Since the first of October, November 2011 soybean futures have traded in a range of $1.20, with a high of $12.72.  The price of that contract is currently about in the middle of the recent trading range and $2.50 below the contract high reached on August 31.

A number of factors have contributed to the lower prices since August and to the weakness since mid-October.  These factors include early forecasts of another large South American soybean harvest in 2012.  That forecast has been supported by generally favorable weather conditions in Brazil and Argentina in the early part of the planting and growing season.  A slow start to the 2011-12 marketing year domestic soybean crush and lagging soybean oil export sales have also contributed to the negative tone. <Read More>