W. G. Smith, ag agent in Henry County for 30 years, is to retire. Mr. Smith owns a farm near Spiceland where he lives and is a graduate of Spiceland Academy, and received his B.S. in agriculture from The Ohio State University in 1914. He has additional credits from Earlham, Butler and Purdue universities.

The 203-acre Alva Rhodes farm on New Lisbon Road in Henry County was sold to Joe Myers of New Castle for $82,600. The sale was completed by the Franklyn George law office and total value of the estate, including personal possessions, was placed at more than $100,000.

New state Indiana FFA Officers for the coming year were elected at the recent FFA Convention at Purdue University. They are Keith Mohler, Rossville Chapter, president; Larry Gerkin, Orleans Chapter, sentinel; Rodney Kelsay, Madison-Grant Chapter, secretary; Steve Smith, Hagerstown Chapter, vice president; Keith Mohler; Michael Jones, Turkey Run Chapter, photographer; Michael Smith, Tipton Chapter, reporter; and Craig Schrader, Columbia City Chapter, treasurer.

President Nixon lifted all quota restrictions on meat imports in an effort to remedy a short-term shortage and curb rising meat prices. But he ruled out a freeze on meat and other food prices.

Larry Alsop, operator of the Rushville mill of Rush County Farm Bureau Co-op, advises that the first load of wheat has come in. This first load in the county came in from J.R. Brown in Jackson Township. The wheat was of Arthur variety, testing 13 percent with a weight of 62 pounds.

The Williams family of Knightstown, Ind., exhibited the champion boar at the recent Midwest Combination Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. The champion boar was sold to Neher Acres of Grundy Center, Iowa, for $5,700.

Prices fell approximately 18.5 cents per pound for feeder pigs at the Southeastern Indiana Feeder Auction facilities. The average price per cwt. was $88.89 and the average price per head was $52.54. The average weight for the sale was 59 pounds.

The Woodlan Chapter of Future Farmers of America, Woodburn, was named the Indiana association’s top chapter at the recent FFA Convention at Purdue University. Advisors of the winning chapter are Richard Grubaugh and Ron Hefy.

10 years ago

CountryMark Co-op has added soy-enhanced fuels to its product line for consumers in the agricultural and commercial fuel markets. The full-service refiner is one of the first in Indiana to offer the fuels to consumers through its 113 member cooperatives in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

Wet weather brings fire blight to Illinois orchards. The excessive rain that pounded many farmers last month did not only hurt grain producers, but Midwest fruit tree growers are contending with their own set of problems brought on by the extreme moisture – among them, an epidemic of fire blight. This is a destructive bacterial disease, also called blossom blight, shoot blight, fruit blight or rootstock blight, depending on where the disease strikes in the fruit.

Coyotes were once considered endangered in this state, but are making a strong comeback in northern Indiana. They’re intelligent and have great eyes and noses, and they adapt well to changes in the environment.