Entrepreneur starts hydroponics container farm on vacant urban lot
DeMario Vitalis, a descendant of cotton-plantation slaves and sharecroppers, sees ironic ties between his family’s past and his farm ownership.
Agriculture/Farming
Articles
Zionsville glamping business finds permanent home at WonderTree Farm
Chris Jackson is teaming with former Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith to open the high-end campground next month.
Purdue’s push to commercialize faculty work turns to agriculture
In addition to fueling the economy and driving revenue generating potential for the school and researchers, pushing research to the commercial realm also benefits students.
High-tech indoor farmer AppHarvest starts shipping tomatoes
AppHarvest—an indoor farming company backed by Indianapolis-based Novus Capital Corp. and celebrity Martha Stewart—thinks the agriculture sector is ripe for disruption. And now, its tomatoes are ripe for eating.
Carmel hemp firm moving to Lebanon with five-year, $6.6M expansion plan
Founded in 2018, Agrozen Life Sciences has diversified its offerings to include federally certified laboratory testing and plans to ramp up plant cultivation at its new digs.
Indy-based ag-tech firm plans to create 60 jobs by end of 2024
Founded in 2013, Advanced Agrilytics provides farmers with data and strategies on seeding rates, fertility applications and in-season crop management.
Christmas trees go fast as families head out to farms to cut their own
Christmas tree growers say business is booming, as families seek out safe ways to celebrate the holiday, get out of the house and add some joy to what has been a bummer of a year.
Israel-based agtech firm Taranis moving global headquarters to Westfield
The company announced Thursday that it plans to spend $10.5 million to relocate its global headquarters, expand operations and add 60 employees over the next three years.
U.S. trade policies likely to soften after Biden becomes president
The incoming administration is widely expected to embrace a more multinational approach to U.S. trade policy, moving away from the “America first” strategy embraced by President Trump.
Q&A: A big year for live Christmas trees
Bill Heidenreich is a fifth-generation owner of Heidenreich Greenhouses on the city’s south side and the small business is having the best year he can remember.
Ag firm creates big buzz with bee hive tech
The Bee Corp. has pioneered technology that can count the number of bees in a hive and monitor hive health, which is imperative for various crop growers globally.
Court orders FDA to assess environmental impact of modified salmon
The ruling centers on AquaBounty’s salmon, which are genetically modified to grow faster than normal salmon. After clearing other regulatory hurdles. AquaBounty began growing the fish in indoor tanks at an Indiana plant last year.
USDA approves Indiana’s plan for commercial hemp growing
Previously, hemp growers needed a research proposal and to be associated with a university to apply for a license. Under this newly approved plan, however, farmers can become independently licensed.
Spring freeze shortens fall apple season for Indiana orchards
The sub-freezing snaps—which led to severe fruit damage and significant crop loss—affected roughly 70% of the apple crop, said Peter Hirst, a tree fruit specialist at Purdue University.
Locally based Novus Capital to combine with Kentucky ag-tech firm
Novus and AppHarvest, a developer of large-scale and high-tech indoor farms, announced a deal on Tuesday will result in AppHarvest becoming a public company.
House easily passes stopgap funding bill, averting shutdown
In a sweeping bipartisan vote, the House passed a temporary government-wide funding bill Tuesday night, shortly after President Donald Trump prevailed in a behind-the-scenes fight over his farm bailout.
House Democrats hope to pass funding bill to avert shutdown
A mini-furor over farm subsidies is threatening to delay passage of the measure. It ignited when Democratic leaders left out a key provision for farmers. Democrats from farm country are reluctant to approve the measure without the GOP-backed provision.
Johnson County garden initiative forms to help alleviate hunger
As difficulty accessing food becomes more prevalent throughout Johnson County, and as more and more people take an interest in local food, a group of like-minded residents are banding together to address a growing problem.
USDA plans additional $14 billion for farmers reeling from virus
The federal government said Friday that it will give farmers the additional payments to compensate them for the difficulties they have experienced selling their crops, milk and meat because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Elanco’s big job: Making the Bayer deal work
Now that the company has closed its $6.9 billion acquisition of the German conglomerate’s animal-health division, it must now swiftly and carefully integrate the two sprawling companies in the midst of a pandemic.