<b>By SARA DRYDEN<br>
Indiana Correspondent</b></p><p>

BEDFORD, Ind. — With the increase of production costs and ever-changing markets, farmers are on the lookout for alternatives to traditional crops. Some are turning to niche market livestock farming such as meat goats, bison, and freshwater shrimp.<br>
Ways to Grow and Beyond will be hosting a series of meetings for farmers to discuss the possibility of a multi-species processing plant to aid in these livestock ventures. <br>
The plant would be a federally-inspected facility that could process many different kinds of animals such as deer, goats, lamb, chickens, turkey, pheasants, quail, bison, elk, llamas, rabbits, shrimp and other seafood. It could also process beef cattle and swine.<br>
“The demand is there,” said Kathy Altman, spokesperson for Ways to Grow and Beyond. “We think good things will happen.”
Three regional meetings are scheduled to gain input from producers about their processing needs and their interest in such a facility. <br>
There will be discussion about modifying and updating a current facility or building new.<br>
At the Scott County meeting, plans are being made for a live video-conference presentation. The group will soon announce which county extension offices will be participating.<br>
Interest and demand may determine where the facility is eventually located. Altman said the group is looking at a 100-mile radius of southeastern Indiana.<br>
Another reason for a multi-species processing plant is the growing demand for local product. Altman said with the increase of recalled meat, people are showing preference for local products and want to know the source of the meat.<br>
“There has been a real increase in meat that is locally raised and then sold,” he said.<br>
Ways to Grow and Beyond was originally begun in 1997 to help southeastern Indiana tobacco growers find alternatives to their traditional crop. The program still has much the same mission today, but instead of focusing on tobacco growers, it offers assistance to anybody in 19 qualifying counties.<br>
The organization is overseen by a steering committee with representatives from Purdue University extension, the Purdue New Ventures Team, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, Historic Hoosier Hills and White River Research Conservation and Development, Soil and Water Conservation districts, Indiana Farm Bureau, local governments, the Small Business Development Center, Land Trust and economic development personnel.
Counties participating in Ways To Grow and Beyond are Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur, Floyd, Franklin, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Lawrence, Ohio, Orange, Ripley, Scott, Switzerland and Washington. The meetings are as follows:<br>
•March 20 at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds at 7 p.m., 1261 U.S. Highway 50 West, Bedford. Directions: Southwest of Bedford on Highway 50, 0.5 mile west of the junctions of highways 50 and 37.
•March 26 at the Scott County Courthouse, Conference Room G-24, at 7 p.m., 1 East McClain Ave., Scottsburg. Directions: The courthouse is located one mile east of Interstate 65 on Highway 56 in Scottsburg.<br>
•March 27 at the Southeast Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center (SEPAC) at 7 p.m., 4425 East County Road 350 N, Butlerville. Directions: From North Vernon, take Highway 50 East five miles to  the yellow caution light (one mile west of Butlerville). <br>
At the caution light turn left (north) onto County Road 425 E, continue for 0.6 mile; turn right (east) onto County Road 350 N, continue for 0.25 mile. SEPAC is located on the right side of the road.