Workshop Helps Entrepreneurs Cook Up a Home Food Business

Midwestern entrepreneurs interested in starting their own food business can learn how to begin and grow their enterprise at a Purdue Extension workshop in Indianapolis.

"An Introduction to Starting a Specialty Food Business in Indiana" will be held April 25 from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Indiana Farm Bureau offices, 225 S. East St. Sessions will cover a variety of topics, including business planning, marketing, entrepreneurship, product development and packaging, as well as issues specific to food businesses, such as food safety, food regulations and organic products.

 

Featured presenters will include Sharon Farrell of the Indiana State Department of Health and Cissy Bowman and Jessica Ervin of Indiana Certified Organic.

 

Other presenters will be Purdue's Katherine Clayton, food science Extension outreach specialist; Maria Marshall, agricultural economics associate professor; and Steve Smith, managing director of the Food Science Pilot Plant and Sensory Laboratories.

 

"This workshop is a great introduction to all of the issues that you're going to have to deal with before you start a food business," Marshall said. "The food industry is very competitive, and this workshop will help you make sure you know what you're getting into."

 

Registration is $100 per person and is due by April 17. For more information or to register, click here or contact Marsha Pritchard at 765-494-0889 or mpritcha@purdue.edu.

Upcoming Events - Farm Succession Planning & Perry-Spencer Crop Day

Farm Succession Planning Series

Family farmers can get tips from Purdue University specialists on business communication and dealing with accounting and legal issues during a succession planning program offered at 10 sites in Indiana.

“Cultivating Strong Indiana Farm Family Relationships for Today and Tomorrow” will be offered in early 2013. The program is presented by Purdue’s Women in Agriculture and Farm Succession Planning teams in partnership with the North Central Risk Management Education Center.

Kelly Heckaman, Purdue Extension educator in Kosciusko County, said Indiana farmers and farm wives have asked educators for advice on handling their family businesses.

“In order to get estate planning started in families, they need to be able to communicate about it. And it’s an emotional topic, so it can be hard to get those conversations started,” Heckaman said. “The workshops will give families ideas on improving their conversations and skills to help them work through their problems and keep their families intact.”

Heckaman said the program is a collaboration between Extension and local communities, as organizers will invite local accountants and attorneys to speak on financial strategies. 

The first-session agenda topics are: “A Great Year to Farm: New Farmer Financial Skills,” “The Team Approach: Working Together Through Transition” and “Communicating for Success.”

The second session’s lineup is “Business Structure and Taxes,” “The Truth about Pre- and Post-Nuptial Agreements” and “Managing Conflict.”

Registration is $50 for individuals or $100 for families up to four members. Locally, the program will be offered at the Vanderburgh Co. 4-H Fairgrounds, 201 E. Boonville New Harmony Road, Evansville, on February 19 and 26, from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM CST. 

For more information, please contact Purdue Extension-Spencer County at (812) 649-6022 or nheld@purdue.edu.   Registration brochures are available online. 


Perry-Spencer Crop Day

The annual Perry-Spencer Crop Day program will be held Thursday, February 21 at 6:00 PM CST at the Fulda Sportsman Club. The program will feature Dr. Chuck Mansfield, Purdue Extension Agronomist, speaking on “Wheat Nutrient Management and Drought Effects on Soil Nitrogen”. The program will also feature an update on new fertilizer application regulations affecting farmers. 

The cost to attend is $5.00 per person, including the meal, and is payable at the door; however pre-registration is requested by February 14. PARP and CCH credit is available for an additional $10 fee. Two CCH credits will be available in categories 1, 14, and RT. 

For more information, or to register, please contact Purdue Extension-Spencer County at (812) 649-6022 or nheld@purdue.edu.

Upcoming Event - Area Corn and Soybean Day

Purdue Extension Educators from southwest Indiana are hosting an Area Corn & Soybean Day for grain producers interested in receiving agronomic, as well as, a local grain market update.  The event is being held on Tuesday, February 5^th at the Vanderburgh County Fairgrounds Activities building, beginning with registration at 8:00 AM CST. 

Purdue University Agronomy Specialists Bob Nielsen, Shaun Casteel and Jim Camberato will be the featured speakers on corn, soybeans and fertilizer topics.  In addition, representatives from area grain elevators will conduct a panel discussion on grain marketing issues. PARP, CCH, and CEU credit is available. 

A complete list of speakers and topics is available here.

Horticulture Congress to Educate, Connect Growers

Farmers, growers and owners of agritourism businesses can gain new information in their fields and connect with other professionals at the Indiana Horticulture Congress and Trade Show in Indianapolis.

The congress, which typically draws more than 800 visitors yearly, will be held Jan. 22-24 at the Wyndham Indianapolis West, 2544 Executive Drive. The conference will feature speakers from around the state on a variety of topics in areas such as agritourism, fresh fruits and vegetables, wine grapes, organics, farmers markets and raw products. There will be luncheons, receptions, banquets, roundtables and lectures.

"Our educational sessions are designed to meet the needs of growers, with information on production practices, pest and disease control, processing, marketing, agritourism, food safety and legislative and regulatory concerns," said Peter Hirst, associate professor of horticulture at Purdue University. "The congress is also a wonderful opportunity to reacquaint with old friends and business contacts, as well as form new connections."

Coinciding with the congress is the trade show with more than 70 exhibitors from equipment, seed, processed food and irrigation companies. During the conference, attendees can participate in a cider contest by submitting two 1-gallon jugs of cider to the registration desk by noon that Wednesday, and can also bid in a silent auction to benefit the tree fruit and vegetable extension and research funds.

Certified private pesticide applicators may attend a recertification session on Wednesday or Thursday. There is a $10 fee to attend the session, and participants must know their private applicator license numbers. Additionally, licensed commercial applicators in category 1 may attend sessions for their continuing certification hours.

Early registration is due by Jan. 14 and must be accompanied by full payment in order to be processed. Fees do not include meals and will vary based on participants' membership in certain horticultural associations. Participants should visit www.inhortcongress.org to register. There will be a late fee of $20 added to the registration price for submissions after Jan. 14. Students and educators are eligible to receive free registration.

For more information, contact Tammy Goodale at 765-494-1296 or tgoodale@purdue.edu.

Upcoming Event - Feeding Sheep and Goats Webinar Series

Purdue Extension will present a webinar sereis to educate goat and sheep farmers on feeding practices following the drought, managing forage shortages and the production of commercial versus show goats.

The webinars will run 6:00-8:00 PM (CST) on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 at various Extension county offices in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Goats and sheep are small ruminants, so they rely on forage-heavy diets. Indiana's extreme heat and drought this spring and summer greatly reduced forage supplies. Those challenges, combined with a growing interest in sheep and goat production, are the impetus behind the webinars.

"We'll be talking about what this year's drought did to pastures and the lack of feed for farmers," said Mark Kepler, Purdue Extension educator in Fulton County and webinar organizer. "More and more farmers are starting to raise goats and sheep because they require less space and maintenance than larger farm animals. We're gearing this program toward those who are novice or beginners, but the information is really important to all sheep and goat producers."

The Nov. 28 session will cover dealing with forage shortages and feeding sheep and goats following drought.  

The Dec. 5 session will cover pasture management for 2013 and differences between raising show goats and commercial goats. 

Current Purdue Extension county offices signed up to host the webinars are Brown, Dubois, Elkhart, Fulton, Hancock, Harrison, Hendricks, Huntington, Jasper, Jefferson, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Montgomery, Morgan, Owen, Spencer, Switzerland, Vermillion and Warrick.

The Spencer County location will be held at the Spencer County 4-H Fairgrounds in Chrisney, IN. The series is free-of-charge but pre-registration is requested by November 26. To register, contact Purdue Extension-Spencer County at (812) 649-6022 or nheld@purdue.edu. 

More information about the webinar series is available on the Purdue Extension-Spencer County website at www.extension.purdue.edu/spencer.

Upcoming Event - Ohio Valley Precision Ag Conference

Purdue Extension and University of Kentucky Extension will jointly host a Nov. 29 conference to teach farmers more about how precision agriculture systems could improve their bottom lines.

The Ohio Valley Precision Ag Conference will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (CST) at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds, 201 E. Boonville-New Harmony Road, Evansville. It will cover data management, implement systems technologies, and systems calibration and setup. It also will feature local precision agriculture companies and projects.

 

"The variety of technologies that farmers and industry representatives have to evaluate for on-farm use is staggering," said Kenneth Eck, Purdue Extension educator in Dubois County. "This conference will give folks a better understanding of what systems are available, how emerging technologies might mesh with producers' current systems, and how both farmers and agribusinesses can manage farm data for improved economic and environmental results."

 

The conference will start with a presentation titled "Data Utilization and Management with Precision Tools" by Betsy Bower and Troy Walker of Ceres Solutions.

 

Morning breakout sessions are:

• "RTK Accuracy" by Tim Stombaugh, associate professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering at the University of Kentucky.
• "Calibration Basics - John Deere" by Ben Carlisle, Wright-Stemle John Deere.
• "Variable Rate Seeding - Can You Do It and Do You Need To?" by Bob Nielsen, Purdue     Extension agronomist.

Afternoon breakout sessions are:

• A repeat of Stombaugh's "RTK Accuracy."
• "Calibration Basics – Trimble/Case IH" by Kevin Roy and Kristina Nadin, Hopf Equipment Case IH.
• "Economics of Investing or Upgrading: Old vs. New" by Greg Halich, associate Extension professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky.

The conference also will feature a farmer panel discussion titled "What Do We Do With the Data and How is It Managed?" The keynote presentation will be "Precision Planting" by Gregg Sauder of Precision Planting Inc.

 

"This is the first time we've pulled together a program with so much of our expertise in one place," Eck said.

 

Conference registration is free, but reservations are required by Nov. 19. Participants can register online at http://tinyurl.com/pukyregister or by contacting any of the sponsoring Purdue Extension or University of Kentucky Extension county offices. Those counties in Indiana are Daviess, Dubois, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick. In Kentucky they are Daviess, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster.

 

A flyer for the program is available here.

Upcoming Event - Indiana Certified Livestock Producer Program Instructional Session

Indianapolis - The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is hosting producer workshops as part of the Certified Livestock Producer Program (CLPP), a voluntary program that recognizes farmers for their commitment to innovative and top industry standards. The workshop will be held on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center in Dubois.

Each workshop is free of charge and will include industry experts in the five areas of focus for the CLPP program: commitment to the environment, food safety & animal well-being, emergency planning, biosecurity and being a good neighbor in their community. 

"The Certified Livestock Producer Program gives an opportunity for livestock producers to publicly demonstrate their commitment to their farm, their family and the future," said CLPP Program Manager John Nagle. "The instructional sessions are the first step toward completing the program, and offer valuable insight from experts in the livestock industry that will benefit each producer’s operation and community."

Who:
Livestock producers of all sizes and species

What:
Free CLPP Instructional Sessions

When & Where:
November 7th & 8th

Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center
11371 East Purdue Farm Rd, Dubois, IN 

5:00 pm to 8:30 pm EST both evenings

Cost:
No cost for producers to attend, and dinner will be provided

To register please visit the CLPP page on the ISDA website, http://www.in.gov/isda/2395.htm.

Contact John Nagle at jnagle@isda.in.gov or (317) 232-8770 for questions or more information.

Upcoming Events - Weeds, Cattle, and Grazing

There are a number of Extension-sponsored events in the local area coming up over the next few weeks that may be of interest to you.  Details of a few are listed below.  If you have any questions or need more information on any of them, please contact the person listed under each event.

Weed Watcher Training
September 4 & 11, 6 to 9 PM
September 8, 8 AM to 12 Noon
September 15, 8 AM to 2 PM 
(all times EDT)

Southern Indiana Purdue Ag. Center
11371 E. Purdue Farm Rd.
Dubois, IN

Registration Fee - $40 per person

This program provides hands-on training to help participants identify and survey invasive weeds on their property or in their community and learn what can be done to stop their spread.  The training will culminate in planning and completing a service project that includes surveying invasive weeds in the community.

For more information, contact Purdue Extension-Orange County at (812) 723-7101.


Harrison County Cattlemen's Field Day
The Harrison County Cattlemen’s Association would like to invite you to a field day, September 8th, 2012, at Chad and Paige Baker’s Farm, J-Max Cattle, in Laconia, IN. The field day will begin with registration at 9:00 AM EDT at the Laconia cattle backgrounding operation followed by a tour of the facilities.

There will also be an extensive discussion on mortality composting as an alternative to sending animals to the rendering plant. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Dale Rozeboom from Michigan State University, who works to provide statewide and national leadership in food animal production and environmental sustainability.

Lunch will be served after the morning tour, including beef cooked by the Cattlemen’s Association members. The afternoon session will include presentations that qualify for private applicator license credits as well as CCH credits.

The fee to participate in this day is just $10 and includes your meal and lots of information and contacts about cattle production. If you would like private applicator credits, it’s an additional $10 (don’t forget to bring your license with you!). The deadline to register is August 24th, after this day a late fee of $5 will be added. Contact the Harrison County Purdue Extension Office to register for the event at 812-738-4236 or mulery@purdue.edu . The day is also sponsored by Harrison County Farm Bureau, Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District, Purdue Extension Services, Jacobi Sales, Chinn’s Equipment, Deere County, and Farm Credit Services. Purdue University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. If you need special assistance to participate in this program, please contact the extension office prior to the program.


Grazing 102
September 14, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
September 15, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
(all times EDT)

Southern Indiana Purdue Ag. Center
11371 E. Purdue Farm Rd.
Dubois, IN

Registration Fee - $65 per person ($30 per person for each additional person from the same operation, share reference materials)

This program is geared towards anyone involved in grazing that wants to understand some of the fundamentally important concepts to make a Management Intensive Grazing program work in their operation. 

A flyer and registration form is available here.  For more information, contact Margie Zoglmann at (812) 547-7084 or mzoglmann@purdue.edu 

Upcoming Events - Purdue Master Gardener Course to be Offered this Fall

If you enjoy gardening and enjoy “Helping Others Grow”, make plans to take part in this fall’s Purdue Master Gardener Course in Spencer County.   

The Purdue Master Gardener Program is a volunteer training program which offers an extensive course in horticulture in exchange for a donation of volunteer hours to help teach others what you have learned. 

The course will be held on twelve consecutive Monday evenings from 6:00-9:00 PM, beginning September 10, at the Spencer County Youth and Community Center in Chrisney, IN. 

Participants will be exposed to a wide range of subjects including soil and plant science, diagnosis of plant problems, pesticide safety, composting, and culture of vegetable, flower, landscape, and fruit plants.   

A $125 per person supply fee will be charged to cover such items as reference materials, mailings, name badges, and refreshments. Couples or two family members who wish to take the course together and share reference materials can register for $200 per couple. Registration deadline is August 31.    

If you'd like an application to join our new team of volunteers or have questions about the program, please contact Nicholas Held at the Spencer County-Purdue Extension Office at (812) 649-6022 or nheld@purdue.edu.  Applications are also available online.

Upcoming Events - Cooking Up a Food Business in the Home Kitchen

Do you have a great recipe or product you love to make? Do you wish you could turn that into a home-based business? As a result of a recently passed law by the Indiana General Assembly allowing certain foods to be produced in the home kitchen and sold at farmers’ markets and roadside stands, this is now an option. Purdue Extension of Spencer County is hosting a three-part webinar series, “Cooking up a Food Business in the Home Kitchen”, that will address the opportunities and limitations of a home-based food business as well as safe food handling and preparation practices for the home kitchen. 

The sessions will be held on consecutive Tuesday mornings from March 20 to April 3 at the Spencer County 4-H Fairgrounds in Chrisney from 9:00 – 10:30 AM. The cost of the program is $20 per person for the three-session series or $8 per person per individual session. Early bird registration deadline is March 16. After the deadline, registration cost is increased by $10 per person. In addition to live, on-site viewing, participants have the option of viewing live or recorded sessions from home via a high-speed internet connection. The registration cost and deadline remain the same for at-home viewing. 

Registration brochures are available by contacting Purdue Extension-Spencer County at (812) 649-6022 or nheld@purdue.edu. They are also available online.          

 

Upcoming Events - Raising Poultry for Pleasure and Profit

An upcoming course hosted by Purdue Extension will cover the fundamentals of small scale poultry production for current and prospective poultry producers.  The course, “Raising Poultry for Pleasure and Profit”, will be held on Thursday evenings, February 2-March 1, from 5:30-8:30 PM, at the Spencer County 4-H Fairgrounds in Chrisney.  The course will be presented via Adobe Connect webinar technology. 

Topics will include the basics of poultry production, keeping the flock healthy and productive, developing a forage and production system, making a profit, and creating a customer-ready product. 

The cost of the program is $40 per person for the five-session series or $15 per person per individual session.  Early bird registration deadline is January 26.  After the deadline, registration cost is increased by $10 per person.  In addition to live, on-site viewing, participants have the option of viewing the sessions from home via a high-speed internet connection.  The registration cost and deadline remain the same for at-home viewing.   

For more information, please contact nheld@purdue.edu. Registration brochures are available are available here. 

Upcoming Events - Beginner's Course in Commodity Marketing

Purdue Extension in Spencer and Perry Counties is offering a commodity marketing course for local producers.  The program, entitled “Beginner’s Course in Commodity Marketing” is geared toward any producer interested in learning more about grain marketing topics and strategies, regardless of experience.  The three-session course will feature Dr. Corinne Alexander, Purdue Agricultural Economics Specialist, who will cover topics including futures, options, basis, and hedging as well as basic grain marketing strategies.  A panel discussion by local grain buyers will also be included.  The course will be held on Wednesday evenings, February 1, 8, and 15 at the Perry County 4-H Fairgrounds in Tell City from 6:00-8:30 PM CST. 

The cost of the course is $30 per person which includes reference materials and a light supper each session.  Pre-registration is required and is due by January 27.  Registration forms are available online.  They can also be obtained by contacting Purdue Extension-Spencer County at (812) 649-6022 or nheld@purdue.edu. 

Sheep and Goat Webinar Series Presentation Videos Now Available

If you missed the recent Sheep and Goat Webinar Series presented by Purdue Extension but are still interested in the topics presented, you're in luck!  Videos of each presentation are now posted online for viewing at www.ansc.purdue.edu/SP/MG/ .  DVDs of the entire series can also be ordered through the website for $15.  In addition to the videos, supporting reference material, including slide presentations and Extension publications are also available.  For the best video quality, a high-speed internet connection is recommended.   

Upcoming Events - "Getting Started in Vegetable, Fruit, and Specialty Crop Production" Workshop at Hort Congress

Are you interested in growing and marketing fresh fruit, vegetables or other specialty crops locally but are unsure how to get started?  Then plan to attend a special workshop specifically designed to meet the needs of beginning farmers.  Workshop participants will learn what it takes to start and manage a successful specialty crop business.  Extension specialists from Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison will discuss resource assessment, goal setting, financial planning and marketing options.  Growers will also be on hand to share their experiences and answer questions about starting new specialty crop enterprises using a range of different production and direct marketing strategies. 

This workshop is part of the Indiana Horticulture Congress, which will also include more advanced sessions featuring fruit and vegetable production, agritourism, wine and grapes, on-farm food safety, organics, and high tunnel management.  Horticulture Congress is January 17-19 at the Wyndham Hotel in Indianapolis, with the "Getting Started" workshop being held January 17 from 9:00 AM- 5:30 PM EST.  Registration to Hort Congress is required for attendance at the "Getting Started" workshop.  Conference information and registration available here.      

Upcoming Events - Horticulture Congress Will Educate Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The approaching winter season is the perfect time for Indiana specialty crop growers to learn about industry "hot topics" from Purdue University experts.

The Indiana Horticulture Congress and Trade Show will take place Jan. 17-19 at the Wyndham Indianapolis West, 2554 Executive Drive, Indianapolis. The event includes networking functions and educational workshops dealing with issues such as beginning specialty crop farming, production practices, pest and disease control, marketing, food safety, labor, and production in high tunnels and greenhouses.

"The conference provides three days of educational material to increase the skill levels of fruit and vegetable growers in Indiana and surrounding states," said Jennifer Dennis, Purdue horticulture professor. "Attendees have the chance to learn about trends in the industry from Purdue University Extension educators and faculty."

The trade show is expanding this year to encompass more exhibitors attracted by larger attendance at the Congress, which has surpassed 800 the past two years.

Participants will be introduced to My Local Indiana, a new organization to help consumers find locally grown products while promoting Indiana farms, agritourism, wineries and farmers markets.

Attendees with private applicator permits, which allow growers to use restricted or state-limited herbicides, can participate in the Private Applicator Recertification Program. All permit holders must participate in three recertification programs within five years of receiving their permit. The program will be held 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.18. There is a $10 fee to receive credits.

Special events will include a silent auction to help support fruit and vegetable Extension activities, a screening of "The Greenhorns," a documentary about beginning farmers and an Indiana Wine Grape reception at which attendees can taste Indiana wines while browsing the trade show.

Apple cider producers can participate in the annual cider contest by submitting two, one-gallon jugs of cider by Wednesday morning of the conference. A consumer panel will judge the ciders, and awards will be given to the makers of the three best ciders in the state.

Registration is due Jan. 9. Hotel rooms should also be booked at the Wyndham by that date to receive special conference rates.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.inhortcongress.org

Upcoming Events - Conference to Focus on Midwestern Farm Women

The annual Midwest Women in Agriculture conference should help attendees develop new ideas and perspectives on agriculture to take home to their communities.

The conference will be Feb. 29 to March 1 at the Shipshewana Town Center, 760 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana, Ind.

"We have returning speakers from last year's conference along with new, exciting speakers that should make for a fun time," said Purdue University Extension educator Elysia Berry, a conference organizer. "Attendees vary from those in agricultural professions to those who have been involved in farming their whole lives, to those just getting started, and there is much to learn for all."

One of this year's keynote speeches is aimed toward women who are searching for living their legacies. In her speech "Bury Me With My Pearls," professional speaker Jane Herlog uses a pearl analogy - cultured, uncultured and the power of the seed pearls - to empower women to handle business and personal challenges with grace and humor.

The other keynote speaker, Pam Boocher, senior marketing associate from Elanco, will explore the benefits of modern, efficient technology used in food production in her speech "What Consumers Want: Technology Fighting for a Change to Feed the World."

Other topics covered at the conference will include farm marketing, estate basics, grain bin safety, depression in women and couponing.

The conference fee is $80 for one day or $90 for both if registered before Feb. 15. After Feb. 15, the cost is $115 for one day or $140 for both days. The fee includes lunch on both days and dinner the first evening. Lodging is not included in the registration fee.

There will be a hotel room block available for conference attendees at Amish Country Inn, 800 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana, 260-765-7688. To receive the conference rate, reservations must be made by Feb. 15.

To register or for more information, visit the Purdue University Women in Agriculture website. 


Upcoming Events - Private Applicator Recertification Program

Training sessions for Private Pesticide Applicator permit holders will be held locally at the following locations:

November 29

6:30 PM CST

Warrick County 4-H Fairgrounds

Boonville

November 30

1:00 PM CST

Spencer County 4-H Fairgrounds

Chrisney

November 30

6:30 PM CST

Perry County 4-H Fairgrounds

Tell City

Topics will include:

Fungicide Use on Corn

Dr. Kirsten Wise, Purdue Extension Field Crop Disease Specialist

Soil and Manure Nutrient Sampling and Analysis

Pesticide Record Keeping

= = =

Please remember to bring $10 and your Private Applicator number to the meeting to receive credit. 

For more information, please contact Nicholas Held, Extension Educator, Spencer County at nheld@purdue.edu or (812) 649-6022. 

Additional training session dates and locations can be found at www.btny.purdue.edu/PPP/PARP/ .