Indiana Board of Animal Health Office Relocating to Indiana State Fairgrounds

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) central office will be moving to a new location at the Indiana State Fairgrounds the week of December 12.  As a result, callers to the agency may experience some disruption to phone services on December 13 and 14. 

After December 13, the agency’s new address will be:

        

            Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Discovery Hall, Suite 100
            1202 E 38^th Street
            Indiana State Fairgrounds
            Indianapolis, IN 46205

All phone numbers will remain the same.  Only the BOAH fax number will change to 317/974-2011.

BOAH will be occupying the newly renovated Discovery Hall, which has historically been known as the “4-H Girls Dorm.”  The agency will be located on the building’s ground floor.

SW Indiana Corn & Soybean Plot Results Available

Results from corn and soybean test plots conducted in Posey and Gibson Counties are now available online. 

You will find the Posey County corn and soybean test plot results, as well as an identically-planted corn plot in Gibson County.  In addition, we have the Posey and Gibson County corn plot data combined, listing the average of both of these plots together. 

The corn plot in Gibson County experienced a high incidence of green snap.  Therefore, you will see a separate column in the Gibson corn plot results that shows the percentage of the plants that showed some damage.  The Posey plot location did not experience damage from green snap.   

Thanks again to all the cooperators, seed dealers, and Extension Educators who helped with these plots.  See the last page on each of the results for a listing of the seed company contacts. 

Anticipating Crop Prices in 2012

Crop prices during 2011 were influenced by a wide range of factors that resulted in extremely large trading ranges.  The price patterns, however, were very different for corn, soybeans, and wheat.  As the year ends, thoughts turn to likely price levels in 2012.

December 2011 corn futures started the year near $5.50, with the higher trend that began near $4.00 in July 2010 still in place.  The trend continued, although erratically, reaching a peak near $7.80 in late August.  Prices have declined sharply since then, with the December 2011 contract currently only about $.30 higher than at the start of the year.

January 2012 soybean futures started the year just below $13.00, with the higher trend that began near $9.50 in July 2010 still in place.  The price of that contract traded between $12.50 and $14.00 through mid-August, peaked at $14.74 in late August and then plummeted to $11.00 in late November.  That contract is currently trading near $11.40. <Read More>

In the Grow - Q & A

Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

shelf fungi (top) and lichens (bottom)

Q. We are enclosing some pictures that we took of some of our trees, which have been attacked by disease. We were wondering if you could tell us what it is and how to treat it. I'm afraid it will spread to our other trees and eventually kill them. The types of trees are maple, apple, oak and poplar. We appreciate any help you can give us.

A. I have good news and bad news. Your trees have two types of growth showing in these photos. The good news is that neither spread to other healthy trees.

More good news is that the flatter, grey-green growth is a colony of lichens - harmless symbiotic (mutually beneficial) organisms composed of a combination of fungi and either algae or cyanobacteria. Together, they live as one organism and are only using the bark of your tree for anchorage; lichens are not parasites. More information on lichens can be found at http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/expert/Lichens.html.

Some not-so-good news is that the creamy-colored growth that protrudes a bit from the trunk is called shelf fungus and lives on old, usually decaying, trees. While this fungus does not cause disease itself, it is an indication of serious decay problems below and can further weaken the tree. The fungus is less serious than the principal cause or causes of decay. Affected branches can be pruned out, but there's nothing that can be done when the decay is on the main trunk. The tree can continue to live for quite a few more years, but eventually it will need to be removed.

  Norfolk Island pine

Q. I've inherited a distressed Norfolk Island pine. It was in an office, which was very dry, and it had been neglected, even as to its watering. It now is in my living room, and I would like to do what I can to get it back to health. It is sparse from the middle on up. I have removed all of the dead branches. It measures approximately 48 inches from the top of the soil to the top of the branches and measures about 48 inches at its widest point. The pot that it is in is 12x16 inches and does not have any drain holes. It is not full but is very wide. Should I prune the tree? I have attached a picture. What is the best course of care?

A. Unlike many other plants the Norfolk Island pine is not able to replace the gaps in the middle. Any branch that has dropped needles or whole branches that have died will remain bare. So there is no way to prune it that would result in desirable regrowth.

The most immediate need is to repot into a container that allows excess water to drain away from the soil. However, given the bare areas in the middle, you might want to consider either starting over with a new plant or, if you really want to save this particular plant, you might try to root the cut top and discard the bottom. Norfolk Island pine cuttings can only be taken from the top of the central leader stem; cuttings from the lateral branches will not form a new leader.

More information on the care of this plant is at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/norfolkislandpine.html and on how to take cuttings at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-37web.html.