By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

SOUTH WHITLEY, Ind. — On June 12, the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency revoked the buyer-warehouse license for Nutritional Research Assoc., Inc., doing business as Whitley Feeds Division in South Whitley.

According to Sarah Simpson, the agency’s interim director, the action was taken immediately following an administrative hearing in which it was determined the company had failed to comply with legal requirements.

“The Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency took possession of the grain on hand and has been at the elevator working with the firm’s management to verify obligations to farmers,” she said, adding that the agency is also working with area farmers and other elevators to make feed available to those who need it.

Simpson said a claims hearing took place in the South Whitley area immediately following the administrative hearing. Prior to the hearing, she said the agency notified all known affected farmers and a public notice was published in two local newspapers.

Any interested parties who failed to attend the June 12 hearing had until June 22 to send claims information to the agency.

As of June 20, Simpson said the agency had received 13 claims from the 50 parties notified.

She did not know if all 50 still had accounts at Whitley Feeds, described on its website as a feed dealer and wholesale manufacturer of specialty and show feeds, pet supplies and foods, concentrates and supplements.

A call to Whitley Feeds last week confirmed that the mill is still operating. “We’ll mix feed if the customer brings his own ingredients,” an unidentified spokesperson said.

The action did not surprise one former customer who discontinued storing grain at Whitley Feeds several years ago.

“We saw what was coming,” the client said, but declined to elaborate or to be identified.

For Don King, who once hauled feed for Whitley Feeds, it’s a sign of the times.

“There will be a lot more of those things happening,” he said. “It’s hard to operate a small-scale business these days.”

Anyone with questions about the firm’s license revocation can direct them to Simpson at 317-232-1360.