The government has decided in order to encourage greater use of the soil bank in 1957, the average payment per acre for wheat will be $20.04, and for corn, $42.66.

At the Centerville auction, there were 936 hogs consigned, with prices ranging between $16-$18 for all weights of butcher hogs.

Melvin Clodfelter, a farm youth from Judson, Ind., has won the state five-acre contour corn production contest. Clodfelter harvested 175 bushels of corn per acre from his five-acre plot.

Ralph Baumheckel was named chair of the Fayette County Agricultural Extension Committee. Other executive committee members are Floyd Powell, Mrs. George Kerrigan, Mrs. H.L. Mustin, Ralph Whitmer, Joe Chance, Clark Metcalf and Earl Branson.

Lawrence Beck of Atlanta, Ind., was named the 1971 winner of the Indiana Ten-Acre Shelled Corn Senior Contest, with a record yield of 224.6 bushels per acre.

Beck, a hybrid seed corn and certified soybean and small grain seed producer, planted his own variety – Beck 90X – last April 26, in 30-inch rows at 25,000 seeds per acre.

Public sale: Having rented my farmland, I will offer for sale farm machinery and equipment, sheep-pony, truck, antiques and household items – Malcolm Geise, Owner, farm located east of Bentonville; Hoyt Vanderbeck, Auctioneer.

Citizens Federal Savings & Loan Assoc. of New Castle, Ind., offering regular passbook savings accounts now earning 5 percent per annum; savings certificates of $1,000 or more, 5.25 percent; $5,000 or more, 5.75 percent and two-year certificates of $10,000 or more, 6 percent.

Robert E. White, a farmer from Carthage, received the Rush County Hall of Fame award at the 26th annual Achievement program. White presently is a member of the Indiana State Fair Board, now serving in his eighth year.

White has been active in many local organizations in Rush County with his wife, Barbara, and their four children. He and his wife currently farm in Rush County.

25 years ago

More than 51,000 acres of popcorn are planted each year in Indiana, making it number one, followed by Nebraska. The two largest popcorn companies nationwide, based out of Indiana, are Orville Redenbacher and Weaver.

Murphy Trailer Sales, Linden, Ind.: 7x20 Feather-Lite, $8,100; 7x20 Gooseneck, $5,100.

Robert L. Thompson, former USDA assistant secretary for economics, will soon be taking office as the new Purdue dean of Agriculture.

Used farm equipment: 1981 AC 7580, 4 WD, CHA, 1,200 hours, $24,500; 1977 JD 4230, CAH, $13,000; Gehl 750 chopper with 2RN & HH, $6,000; NH 402 baler, $2,500; Glencoe 13.5-foot field cultivator, $850 – North Star Hardware & Implement, North Star, Ohio.

Don Villwock was elected president of the Indiana Farm Bureau at its annual convention in Indianapolis. Villwock operates a 2,000-acre farm in Edwardsport and is a graduate from Purdue University with a degree in ag econ. He and his wife, Joyce, have two daughters, Sarah and Betsy.

Metal sale: High Rib, $39/sq. 29-26 ga., white and forest green; $27/sq. 26 ga., aged galvanized; $24/sq., 2-1/2 corr. 29 ga. + rainbow (12-foot length) – Custom Metal, Greenfield, Ind.

Marietta, Ohio, farmers Jamey and Joanna Rauch grow a niche market of herbs for local restaurants. Local chefs like the freshness of the herbs and they can deliver culinary herbs within six hours of being picked, which adds to the freshness and taste of the food in which they are using them.

Used farm equipment for sale: IH 1486, $14,200; JD 444 corn head, $2,900; Kraus 25-foot rock flex disc, $4,250; 1995 Ford Genesis 8970 Super Steer, $65,700; Case IH 1660, $38,500 – Kerkhoff Equipment, West Lafayette, Ind.