<b>By MEGGIE I. FOSTER<br>
Assistant Editor</b> </p><p>

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — When Midwestern farming comes to mind, row crops, commercial livestock or even specialty crops may top the list, but Jim Roudebush with the Rural Entrepreneur Network (REN) hopes to introduce producers to a slightly alternative option in agriculture: Raising freshwater shrimp.<br>
“Shrimp can be raised from start to finish in about three months (from early June through early September) and only a few acres are needed,” he explained, adding that “shrimp farming is an excellent business to supplement income.”<br>
Roudebush and two guest speakers who are well-known technical experts in the industry, Jerry Pellman and Tim Connor, will discuss opportunities in the Hoosier shrimp business during the second annual Indiana Shrimp Conference Feb. 9 in Martinsville.<br>
“This event is designed for anyone interested, with a rural property, who wants to augment their income,” said Roudebush, who regularly explores alternative income options for rural landowners. “We have two speakers on board to present at this conference who are actual shrimp farmers, and they will provide tremendous perspective on the industry and talk about their experience raising shrimp.”<br>
In addition to presentations by Connor and Pellman, the conference will include a visit to a nearby shrimp farm, feature a panel discussion and a professional video on the big picture of shrimp farming in the Midwest.<br>
“During this event, we will discuss how to make it in this industry, what the cost is, how to dig a pond, provide oxygen to the shrimp, how to harvest and marketing strategies,” detailed Roudebush, adding that producers can profit up to $5,000 per pond.<br>
“We’ll also talk about how to raise Tilapia on top of the pond in cages above the shrimp (which tend to be bottom-dwellers). This is something Jerry Pellman from southern Indiana is doing – raising two crops on just one pond.”<br>
The event – cosponsored by REN, the Indiana Shrimp Alliance, Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Morgan County Purdue University extension office and the Hoosier Heartland RC&D – will begin promptly at 9 a.m., with a breakfast preceding the event at 8:30 a.m. at Prichard Park in Martinsville.<br>
For more detailed information or to pre-register by Feb. 1, contact REN at 317-290-3250. Cost to register is $15. Registrations received after Feb. 1 will cost interested individuals $25.<br>
REN is a not-for-profit organization supported by a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs through the Hoosier Heartland RC&D Council.