Putnam County Fair website

http://www.putcofair.org/ is the website for all of the Putnam County Fairgrounds information in Greencastle, Indiana.  It includes a calendar and booking information.

Agriculture Production loans

Putnam County Agriculture Extension

LOANS FOR THE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
FSA has a number of loan programs available to assist applicants to begin or continue in agriculture production. Loans are available for operating type loans and/or purchase or improve farms or ranches. While all qualified producers are eligible to apply for these loan programs, the FSA has provided priority funding for members of socially disadvantaged applicants. A socially disadvantaged applicant is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of his or her identity as members of the group without regard to his or her individual qualities. For purposes of this program, socially disadvantaged groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
FSA loans are only available to applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements and are unable to obtain the needed credit elsewhere.

Crop Insurance Webinar

Purdue to host free webinar on crop insurance

Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture will be hosting a free webinar tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. ET for anyone interested in learning more about the crop insurance decisions facing corn and soybean producers for 2014. The webinar will also provide a brief overview of the new farm bill and what it means for the future of crop insurance. Click here to register.

Conservation Legacy Award Winner

Hoosiers Honored as ASA Regional Conservation Legacy Award Winner

March 3, 2014
Andy Eubank

Mark and Phyllis Legan of Coatesville, Ind., received the American Soybean Association’s Conservation Legacy Award for the Northeast Region at last week’s Commodity Classic in San Antonio. The program is sponsored by BASF, Monsanto, the United Soybean Board and Corn and Soybean Digest, and recognizes soybean farmers across the country for their outstanding environmental and conservation practices, while maintaining profitable farming operations.

“With an efficient livestock operation operating hand-in-hand with the farm’s soybean and barley operations, the Legans’ farm is a great case study in the variety and diversity of individual farms within our industry. Mark and Phyllis have done a wonderful job making use of the nutrients generated by their livestock and returning those to the soil in their fields,” said ASA President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser. “What’s more, the Legans are first generation farmers, and have brought a unique perspective to their work that will undoubtedly help other first generation operators do the same.”

The Legans’ operation is both 100 percent no-till and 100 percent cover cropped, which Phyllis says enhances soil biological activity and improves organic matter. The Legans also utilize the manure from their large-scale hog operation as a nutrient for integration into their soil. Through drainage tiling, cover cropping, man-made wetlands and other methods, the Legans are also invested in smart water management on their farm as well.

“Conservation means using our land and water resources, but leaving them in as good or better shape than when we were entrusted with them,” says Mark. “At the same time, we are living and working at a productive, sustainable farm and leaving it in good shape for future generations.”

ASA presented the award to the Legans on Friday during the association’s annual awards banquet at Commodity Classic in San Antonio. Nominations are open for the 2015 Conservation Legacy Awards Program online at www.SoyGrowers.com/Award-Programs.

Source: ASA