Indiana CCA News
Indiana CCA Newsletter January, 2000
1999 was an interesting year, to say the least. Parts of the state were under water last Spring, most of the state suffered drought in the summer, and we all had excellent harvest weather. Yields were all over the board. Most farmers had some fields that did very well, and some that were poor. It just depended on planting date, soil type, and when and if they got rain.
Last Fall, a lot of lime and fertilizer was applied, and conditions were excellent for deep tillage. Soil testing was also high. The government LDP program helped take some of the sting out of low commodity prices, so most farmers came out OK. I think a lot of people in the fertilizer, chemical, and seed industry were a little surprised by the strength of Fall sales.
Mark your calendar for March 14 and 15. The 2000 American Society of Agronomy North Central Branch is holding its annual meeting at the headquarters of Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc., at Johnston, IA. This is near Des Moines. Every topic on the program should be of great interest to Indiana CCAs. CEUs have been requested.
Topics will include: Implementing Nitrogen Diagnostic Tools Agronomic and Environmental Phosphorus Management Insuring Nitrogen and Crop Management Practices Narrow-Row Corn Economics and Equipment Considerations Genetics Issues and Trends Turning Data into Decisions Global Warming: Potential Impact of Crop Management
Poster sessions presented by both industry and university will be available for viewing, both days. Also, a tour of Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc. biotechnology and seed quality labs and John Deere and Company's cotton harvester plant will also be offered. (Space is limited to the first 50 who register.)
For more information, check the ASA web site at www.agronomy.org or call the ASA office. (608) 273-8080
For additional CEU opportunities, check the Indiana CCA web site through the year. (www.inagribiz.org, then link to IN CCA) We're really going to try to keep CEU meeting announcements more up to date. Part of the problem just comes from being new at this web site "thing", and part of the problem is that many people/companies that apply for CEU credits do it just before or even after the program. Also, many of the CEU applications we process are for "in-house" company training and not open to the public. Regardless, we'll keep you as up to date about opportunities as we possibly can.
Board Business Since the birth of the Indiana CCA program, the Indiana Plant Food and Ag Chem Assn. (IPFACA) has been kind enough to act as the agent and office for our organization. When you call Indiana CCA, you get their office, and they follow up on all requests. They have done this at minimum cost to IN CCA , and they have done a very good job. We owe a big thanks to Cress Hizer, Bryce Biddle, Joy Melnyk, and Connie Thomas-McDonald at the IPFACA office.
Unfortunately, IPFACA doesn't think they are properly staffed to continue with the present arrangement. As a consequence, we are in the process of entering into an agreement with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Assn. (IFCA) to act as our agent. They already do this for the Illinois CCA, so this will not be a new process for them.
The Indiana CCA web site will still be housed with the IPFACA, and we will continue to joint sponsor educational programs, such as the Purdue Diagnostic Clinic sessions and Indiana Agribusiness University, prior to the Indiana Expo. The only change you should notice is that when you call the office, the phone will be answered in Illinois. We plan to set up a special 800 number, just for your use. CEU applications will be mailed to Illinois, but still reviewed by the Indiana CEU review committee.
We really don't expect that these changes will affect how Indiana CCA functions. There will be a 90 day transition period before everything is switched over.
New Board Members At the last board meeting it was decided to expand the board to include more CCAs, to give a larger voice in the affairs of the program. Six new positions were approved, three representing S. Indiana and three N. Indiana. Representing S. Indiana are Scott Cain, Cain's Soil Service, Greenfield, Mike Schitter, Royster Clark, Jasper, and Mark Schutz, Knox County Co-Op, Oaktown. Representing N. Indiana are Jeff Nagel, Land O' Lakes, W. Lafayette, Melissa Tyson, Edd's Supplies, Shipshewnana, and John Freeland, Senesac, Inc., Otterbein. All six represent retail fertilizer and chemical dealerships. Also new to the board, filling expired positions, are Kevin Stoy, Stoy Farms, Steuben County, representing Indiana farmers, and Eugene Flaniingam, Bruceville, representing Indiana crop consultants. Thanks to Don Lamb, Lebanon, and Jim Moffitt, Ft. Wayne, who previously represented Indiana farmers and consultants on the board.
Indiana CCA Survey Attached is a brief survey we would like you to fill out and return. The board has some ideas that we hope will serve the CCA members, and completing this survey will help prioritize options. One of the key things we are thinking about is directly notifying you about meetings and sending information direct to you via e-mail. Please take a few minutes to help us out. We need your input to better serve you.
FYI-EQIP For Your Information…. We've gotten feedback from NRCS that some of the nutrient management plans in EQIP applications, filled out by Indiana CCAs, do not have enough information and detail, and/or do not really address the issues that the EQIP program is trying to address. If you are an approved "third party vendor" for the EQIP program, please review the materials covered in your EQIP training session before completing any applications. If you need additional guidance or have questions, please call your local NRCS office. Remember, it is an honor for NRCS to recognize Indiana CCAs as qualified to be third party vendors for EQIP. We need to live up to their expectations.
Kim Polizotto, Chairman Indiana CCA
Indiana CCA Survey
Have you ever visited the Indiana CCA web-site? _______Yes _______No
Do you have e-mail access? _______Yes _______No
Would you be interested in having important notices, CEU opportunities and CCA newsletters e-mailed directly to you? _______Yes _______No
If so, please give us your e-mail address __________________________ (This will be use for CCA purposes only and will not be sold or given out for any other use)
Would you be interested in CD-Rom or other programs which would allow you to get CEUs at Home or your office? _______Yes _______No Via the internet? _______Yes _______No
How much would you be willing to pay per CEU for this type of program? _____$10-$20 _____$20-$30 _____$30-$40 (The intent would be to keep costs as reasonable as possible. We just need to know what the upper limit would be, to see if developing these types of programs is feasible.)
What can we do to add value to your certification? __________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any other suggestions or recommendations to improve the program? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: _______________________________________
Please return before March 1 by fax to: (317) 687-9650 or mail to: Indiana CCA 101 West Washington St. Suite 1313 East Tower Indianapolis, IN 46204
