Special Sections

Special Sections

Farmers sitting pretty good — despite economy What follows is a preview of the 2009 crop season for local farmers: ???????????????????????

Okay, maybe there is more certainty to farming than a long line of question marks. But as every farmer knows, each crop season brings a different and wholly unpredictable set of circumstances on the farm. How much rain will we get? And when will we get it?

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March 2, 2009 1 Photo
Beware! Anhydrous thieves A Daviess County business has taken the latest step towards protecting local citizens from ongoing methamphetamine production.

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March 2, 2009
Agriculture positioned to withstand economic downturn Right now, one doesn’t have to look very far to find bad news about the U.S. economy.

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March 2, 2009
Fertilizer prices vary at the retail level, but stabilizing in general WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After reaching unprecedented price levels last year, fertilizer markets are adjusting to a dramatically different economic situation, making it hard for fertilizer dealers to set their prices and causing some farmers to delay their purchases, said a Purdue University specialist.

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March 2, 2009
Hinkles feel fortunate despite devastation Bobby Dale Hinkle can laugh about it now, but there wasn’t much funny about the summer of 2008. Heavy rains peaked with the June 9 flood that devastated their farmland and ruined their house north of Plainville.

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March 2, 2009
U.S. farms increase WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The number of U.S. farms and ranches, which has been declining since World War II, increased by 4 percent to 2.2 million since 2002.

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March 2, 2009
Entrepreneurial success starts with planning, Purdue expert says WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In an economy shedding jobs, some unemployed people might think it’s time to become their own boss. Before they go to work for themselves, they’ve got another job to do: develop their business idea, said Maria Marshall, a Purdue University agricultural economist and rural business development specialist.
March 2, 2009
Farmers had good ‘08, but ‘09 will be challenge Farmers went through floods in 2008, but managed to pull off a good season, with high corn prices. Things aren’t looking that good this year.

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March 2, 2009
Economist: State’s livestock can’t consume all Indiana DDGs WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —Indiana ethanol plants could produce enough of a livestock feed ingredient for Hoosier farmers to feed their animals three times over, a Purdue University study suggests.

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March 2, 2009
Small farms grow along with organic demand MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Rising consumer demand for locally grown, organic produce is fueling a surge in the number of small Indiana farms, boosting their numbers nearly 80 percent over five years, a new farm census report shows.

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March 2, 2009
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