INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — So the snowbirds have flown south and you’re stuck in Indiana? Take heart - there are plenty of conferences and seminars designed to educate, inform and get you thinking of greener pastures.

Last year’s hurricanes not only devastated homes, businesses and entire cities, it also separated residents from beloved pets. Horse owners can learn how the national animal ID program can be helpful in similar situations at the 2006 Indiana Horseman’s Conference on Jan. 21 at the Marten House and Lilly Conference Center in Indianapolis.

All topics this year are new, with a focus on current problems that have affected horse owners within the last year. Speakers include Purdue Extension specialists, veterinarians and representatives of the Indiana Horse Council (IHC) and State Board of Animal Health. Topics include pasture maintenance, how horses learn, managing parasites, trail riding, shoeing a horse, emerging diseases, barn safety and alternative medicine.

Registration is $80 and includes the Self-Guided Horse Facility Analysis by Betsy Greene, one of the conference presenters. Registration forms are available online at www.four-h.purdue.edu/horse or by calling Purdue at 765-494-8433 or the Indiana Horse Council at 317-692-7141.

New ideas for green thumbs
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Concurrent sessions for four special interest groups will give Hoosier green thumbs plenty to talk about at the 2006 Indiana Horticultural Congress and Trade Show. The event is Jan. 23-25 at the Adams Mark Hotel near the Indianapolis airport. The registration desk will be open at 8 a.m. Monday and Wednesday and at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The four sessions scheduled for Monday are the Agritourism Workshop, Indiana Wine Grape Symposium, Indiana Vegetable Growers Workshop and the Organic Certification Workshop. The Indiana Farm Market Assoc. will meet with the agritourism group on Monday and begins its session on Tuesday.

Registration information is available by calling Danielle Sheese at 765-494-1301 or visit the website at www.hort.purdue.edu

Organic dairy discussion
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The seventh annual Indiana Dairy Conference will be Jan. 27-28 at the Indianapolis Marriott on the city’s east side.

A preconference session begins at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 with Bill Burdett, D.V.M., speaking on Providing Good Health Care Coverage for Valuable Dairy Cows While Not Unduly Risking/Impacting the Insured.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 27. Breakout sessions include a grazing panel, nutrient-driven production, dairy health programs, cow management, competing in the dairy industry and opportunities in the organic dairy industry.

The evening banquet features Ron Fuhrmann, president of the Indiana Professional Dairy Producers, and entertainment by Tim the Dairy Farmer.

Saturday morning sessions include updates from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health; building a new barn vs. renovating an old one; and developing leadership.

Registration is $110 per person for the first registrant of a farm or family or $85 per person if a member of the conference’s sponsoring organizations. Additional persons from the same farm or family are $50 each.

Send registration including names of attendees, address, phone and check payable to Indiana Dairy Conference to Myron Moyer, 11594 Ted Davis Road, Greensfork, IN 47345.

Go organic, young man
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Organically grown food is one of the fasting growing segments in agriculture. A beginning organic farming program is set for Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pfendler Hall on the Purdue University campus.

Participants can attend on campus or at one of the IP video sites at extension offices across the state. Check the Purdue Extension calendar at www.ces. purdue.edu/anr/calendar.html for sites.

The workshop will discuss the economics of organic farming, organic markets, organic certification, organic soil management, crop pest management and organic livestock production.

For more details, contact Jon Cain, 317-745-9260 or joncain@purdue.edu

Extend the grazing season
SALEM, Ind. — Cliff Schuette of Breese, Ill., has learned to match types of forage to different seasons to extend the grazing season of his cattle to year-round.

He will share his experiences at the Indiana Forage Council’s annual meeting and seminar on Feb. 16 at Cornerstone Hall in Salem. A producer panel with Paul Hirt of Decatur County, Roger Dale Robinson of Orange County and Norbert Schaefer of Jefferson County will discuss how different annual crops can be used to make the total pasture system more cost effective.

The IFC annual meeting begins at 4:30 p.m., supper is at 6 p.m. and the seminar begins at 7 p.m. Meeting attendance isn’t require for the supper and seminar. Cost is $7 for IFC members and $10 for non-members. Preregistration is required. Call Lisa Metts at lmetts1@purdue.edu

Tour cooperative kitchen
MADISON, Ind. — The Ohio River Valley Farm Marketing Conference, Feb. 21-22, will focus on new market opportunities and development, and marketing for value-added agriculture. Registration begins at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at Clifty Falls State Park.

A shuttle will take participants to the Venture Out Business Center in Madison, site of a new cooperative kitchen for food retailers. Kitchen tours will be given along with a Food to Table Showcase, a wine and cheese reception and regional cuisine.

The VOBC also serves as an incubator for start-up businesses, organizations and institutions in a nurturing environment through the amenities, counseling and services offered to tenants.

Wednesday sessions at the park include starting certified kitchens, making sense of certification, anticipating differing demographics, marketing alliances, home processing and farmers working together.

Early registration - before Feb. 6 - is $40 and includes three meals and all activities. Late registration is $50.

For details or to register, contact Sharon Ellison at 317-290-3100 ext. 429, Sharon.ellison@in.usda.gov or Deb Conley at 317-232-8771, dconley@icdc.coop

Sheep symposium
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — The 2006 Sheep Symposium and annual Indiana Sheep Association meeting will be Feb. 25 at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds.

The symposium begins at 10 a.m. and includes lunch and an evening banquet.

Topics include facilities for sheep, wool or no wool and anthelmintic resistance in goats. There will be an update from the In-diana Board of Animal Health, USDA and American Lamb Board. Activities include a trade show, crafts, nutritional information and a Sheep and Goat Help Desk.

For details, call Natalie Haynes at 317-402-3628 or executive@indianasheep.com

Published in the January 18, 2006 issue of Farm World.