Judge rules against residents in suit over hog smell
A judge has ruled state law protects four large hog farms from lawsuits filed by residents of an eastern Indiana county who complained about waste and foul smells from their operations.
Agriculture/Farming
Articles
Ag-gag laws facing federal court challenges
The years-long fight between farm organizations and animal rights activists over laws prohibiting secretly filmed documentation of animal abuse is moving from state legislatures to federal courts as laws in Utah and Idaho face constitutional challenges.
Indiana county planning to start aquaculture park
A central Indiana county is working on plans for a 60-acre aquaculture park in hopes of attracting more business connected with fish production.
Agriculture industry seeks to create right to farm
In the nation's agricultural heartland, farming is more than a multibillion-dollar industry that feeds the world. It could be on track to become a right, written into law alongside the freedom of speech and religion.
Sundown Gardens moving from Carmel to Westfield
Longtime Carmel garden center Sundown Gardens is transplanting its operations to Westfield, where it’s planning an outdoor showroom and an agritourism-focused retail area.
Housing developer hopes farm hooks new residents
A growing number of housing developers thinks farms, rather than golf clubs, are the perfect hook to lure residents. The first to experiment with the concept in central Indiana is Mike Higbee of Central Greens LLC, with his Seven Steeples Farm on the site of the old Central State Hospital.
Surge in craft breweries strains hops supply
Hops, used as a flavoring agent, are in high demand by microbreweries that need the crop to give their pale ales and other varieties more taste than what’s found in traditional mass-market beers.
Senators: Administration must support biodiesel
The Obama administration is considering changes that would significantly reduce the required amount of biodiesel in the United States. Industry groups, farm state lawmakers and others have called on the administration to reconsider.
Indiana Grown Commission now accepting applications
The IGIC was created by a law signed by Gov. Mike Pence on March 27. The legislation creates a commission that oversees the programs that market and promote Indiana-produced agriculture.
Indiana farmers make progress planting corn crop
The new report says that while many farmers took advantage of warmer, drier conditions in the past week to kick off their planting work, others held off because cool, wet weather is in the forecast for the next several days.
Pork packer planning to produce 98 positions at Indiana plant
Indiana Packers Corp., which makes Indiana Kitchen bacon, said it will spend $2.3 million on a 56,500-square-foot facility on 5.9 acres about 45 miles from Indianapolis.
Beck’s, partner developing multi-hybrid planter
Farming can be a tough row to hoe, but Hamilton County-based Beck’s Hybrids is reaping the benefits of improved technology. The company also is working on two projects to help its customers succeed.
Study: Fuels from corn waste not better than gas
A $500,000 study paid for by the federal government and released Sunday in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Climate Change concludes that biofuels made with corn residue release 7 percent more greenhouse gases compared with conventional gasoline.
Farmers off to slow start planting corn crop
As of Sunday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says, just 3 percent of the U.S. corn crop was sown, half the dismal pace of last year.
Anderson businessman pays $7.9M for prime farmland
More than 800 acres of prime farmland in Delaware and Madison counties sold during open bidding on Tuesday for $7.9 million.
Pence renews talks over $2.1B fertilizer plant
Indiana economic development officials have renewed talks with Pakistan-connected developers who want to build a major fertilizer plant in southwestern Indiana, one year after the state withdrew its support for the project over national security concerns.
Indiana seed commissioner seeks federal hemp OK
Although the Indiana Legislature approved a measure allowing hemp to be grown in the state, the state still needs permission from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Beck’s plans $60M expansion, 100 more workers
Indiana-based Beck’s, the country’s largest family-owned seed company, said the expansion will include research labs, greenhouses, office space, and seed-processing facilities and equipment.
Beck’s Hybrids planning to expand headquarters operation
The growing family-owned seed company had been working with Hamilton County officials on incentives. An economic development announcement with state officials is planned for Wednesday morning.
Indiana county OKs farm’s plans for fish feed mill
An eastern Indiana county has narrowly approved a fish farm's plans to build a feed mill as part of a $30 million expansion supporters say will help turn the area into an aquaculture hub.