Hoosier Ag Today

During the National FFA Convention last week in Indianapolis, FFA members had the chance to meet with representatives from more than 300 colleges and ag businesses. One of the universities that may have attracted the most attention throughout the event was Purdue. “A lot of people think [Purdue] is just about farming or teaching about crops, but then they realize we have so much more,” says Hannah Kramer—who’s not only a Wildlife major with Purdue University, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources—she’s also a Purdue Agriculture Ambassador. So, when FFA members stopped by the Purdue booth at the expo, Hannah was there to share why Purdue may be a good fit for them. Purdue University Purdue Extension Purdue University Agricultural Economics Purdue University Agricultural & Biological Engineering Purdue ABE Ambassadors National FFA Organization

Some rain later this week might put a pause on harvest progress, but those in West Central Indiana might be done by then. “I think we're probably 95% wrapped up on both corn and soybeans,” says Pioneer Seeds agronomist Ben Jacob. He adds that it’s time to start thinking about replacing nutrients after another year of solid yields. There are some tough decisions ahead, and those decisions start with soil sampling.

Hoosier Ag Today founders, Gary Truitt and Kathleen Stubbe Truitt, presented two Indiana 4-H Foundation Achievement Scholarships at the foundation luncheon on Saturday, October 26. Anneke Dunker, a junior at Terre Haute South High School, received the Communication scholarship from Truitt Communications and Consulting. In addition, Isaac Pohl, a graduate of Gibson Southern High School, received the Stubbe Truitt 4-H Scholarship Endowment for Leadership.

To quote the late Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher and long-time broadcaster Joe Nuxhall, Indiana’s farmers are “rounding third and heading for home” when it comes to this year’s harvest. 77 percent of Indiana’s corn for grain and 87 percent of the state’s soybeans have been harvested according to USDA. Across the entire U.S., the percentages are ahead of Indiana—with 81 percent of U.S. corn and 89 percent of the nation's soybeans are harvested.

Containing the spread of foreign animal diseases was one of the topics during the Tri-National Agriculture Accord hosted last week by the NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. The meeting brought together state and provincial ag leaders across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. “African Swine Fever is [nearby] in the Dominican Republic,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “So, if we're able to find the funding, we're going to do a significant table-top exercise that includes all three countries and identify what gaps need to be filled, where are there inadequacies, and what more can we all do on that fateful day if it ever does hit one of our countries.”

Indiana Republican Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith won the nomination for LG at the state's Republican Convention back in June, and since then, many have called him “polarizing” for some of his views and opinions. “Yeah, I'm labeled as polarizing. I don't think I am. That's not who I am," said Beckwith. "Anyone who knows me knows that I'll give you the shirt off my back. I build consensus. I don't care where you are in the ideological spectrum. If we can work together, we're going to find a way to do that. Now, the media will label me this because I don't put up with some of the nonsense of today's culture.”

The National FFA Organization has announced their Officer Team for 2024-25 during the final session of the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Students from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, California, Georgia and Wisconsin were elected to represent the six National FFA Officer positions for the next year. #FFA24 #FFA2024 #FFA

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Hoosier Ag Today's Eric Pfeiffer chatted with Eastern Hancock FFA members Maddox Gunn, Haedyn Keith, and Jayden O'Neal during the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indy this past week to ask why they became members of Indiana FFA. They also talk about their career plans and how FFA is shaping their paths toward the future. #FFA24 National FFA Organization Indiana State Department of Agriculture Indiana FFA Organization Eastern Hancock Schools Eastern Hancock High School

For the third year in a row, we are experiencing an unwelcome three-peat with low water levels along the Mississippi River system, which is creating a bottleneck for the movement of grain shipments during the harvest season. "For each foot of draft reduction on the river, an individual barge is loaded with 7,000 fewer bushels (200 tons) of soybeans. Depending on the location in the river, tow sizes are being reduced from 10-15% at minimum and upwards of 30-40%," according to Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

The Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indiana University Bloomington Football and Purdue University Football all share something in common. Each of their home venues offer concessions cooked in high oleic soybean oil. “This is a great opportunity to showcase a product grown here in Indiana,” said Kevin Cox, Chair of the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and a farmer from Brazil, Indiana. “High oleic soybean oil is a healthy and nutritious alternative to traditional vegetable oils. I couldn’t be more proud, as an Indiana farmer, to promote this success story and to show the state’s soybean farmers the value their checkoff brings.”