Drought had little impact on Christmas tree prices
That Christmas tree you plan to go out and buy this weekend should be similar in price to last year, if not the same price.
Environment
Articles
USDA chief: Rural America becoming less relevant
Tom Vilsack, former Democratic governor of Iowa, told farm belt leaders this past week that he’s frustrated with their internecine squabbles and says they need to be more strategic in picking their political fights.
Yogurt bares all, but container is recyclable
Company descended from Ball Corp. making recyclable glass packaging for product typically found in plastic.
Monarch turns to natural gas to run trucking fleet
In a sign of the rising popularity of natural gas engines, the Indianapolis-based distributor of alcoholic beverages will make 85 of its 105 trucks run on natural gas by 2015.
Regulator approves Duke Energy probe settlement
Duke Energy formalized deals Monday that ended separate investigations by North Carolina regulators and the attorney general into whether the utility misled officials before a merger that made it the country's largest electric company.
Indiana experiencing surge in wind power market
Indiana has a wind resource of 148,228 megawatts, the 15th biggest in the country, according to industry trade group the American Wind Energy Association. And its growing.
Crews face deadline on central Indiana wind farm project
Construction crews are hustling to beat a Dec. 31 deadline to get 125 turbines in operation for a wind farm that is eventually planned to reach into four central Indiana counties.
Indiana manufacturers struggling with fuel economy standards
Automakers and suppliers are pumping more money into research and development at a time many of their sales departments struggle with a slowing global economy.
Drought no obstacle to record income for U.S. farms
Even after the worst drought in a half-century shriveled crops from Ohio to Nebraska, U.S. farmers are having their most-profitable year ever because of record- high prices and insurance claims.
Transit, runoff bills on environmental group’s legislative wish list
But with a legislature that could be unreceptive to environmental policy, HEC is also guarding against an unwinding of existing laws.
Green BEAN Delivery expands with second farm
The locally based purveyor of organic produce is leasing 50 acres in Ohio to serve its customers in that state, Indiana and Kentucky.
Lilly Endowment gives Indiana nature trust $10M grant
The grant announced Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources brings to $30 million the amount of funding for the initiative to acquire more wilderness land to mark the state's 200th birthday in 2016.
Gift lets land trust preserve 109 acres in Johnson County
A $200,000 gift from the Dr. Laura Hare Charitable Trust will help the Central Indiana Land Trust acquire 109 forested acres in southwest Johnson County.
Hoosier Environmental Council’s job no easier with Pence administration
Group plans full-time presence at Statehouse to guard against governor, Republican legislature rolling back environmental protections.
Farm fatalities fall in Indiana; no children die
A new Purdue University report says farm-related deaths in Indiana fell to 16 last year and none involved children for the first time in 13 years.
Dry cleaners moving to ‘perc’ alternatives
One of the region’s largest dry cleaning companies recently washed its hands of perchloroethylene, the dry cleaning chemical at the heart of about 170 cleaner site cleanups statewide.
Container makers want to restore fizz to state’s recycling fund
The money, long ago diverted by Gov. Daniels to the state’s general fund, would help reduce landfill waste and lower manufacturing costs.
Farmland prices going up in much of Indiana
A September study by Purdue University found farmland prices were as much as 18 percent higher than in 2011, and some appraisers say they continue to go up.
Lawmakers question Abound loan, citing quality issues
House Republicans want more information about a $400 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Energy Department to Abound Solar Inc., citing reports that significant “technological difficulties” with the company’s solar panels were known before the aid was approved.
Lieutenant governor hopefuls to debate environmental issues
The Hoosier Environmental Council is hosting Thursday night's debate at the Indiana History Center in downtown Indianapolis. The group says Democratic nominee Vi Simpson and Libertarian candidate Brad Klopfenstein both have agreed to take part.