Bloomington food bank gets 60K+ eggs
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A Bloomington food bank has received a donation of more than 60,000 eggs as part of a national push to assist people struggling with poverty.

Some of Indiana’s egg farmers donated 5,400 cartons containing 64,800 Grade A, extra-large eggs last month to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Since then, more than half of the eggs have been snapped up by families in need.

Food bank executive director Julio Alonso said eggs aren’t the kind of food that stays on the Bloomington-based food bank’s shelves for very long. He said eggs are full of protein, which is something lacking in the diets of many of the people in the six counties the food bank serves.

The egg donation is part of a nationwide effort between the United Egg Producers and Feeding America to provide 12 million eggs to people in poverty.

DuPont pledges $200K to improve ag comm.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — DuPont announced a $200,000 grant to a University of Illinois initiative between the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the College of Media, designed to address the growing need for effective communications in the fast-changing world of agriculture, food, feed, fiber, bioenergy and rural development.

The grant, from DuPont businesses Pioneer Hi-Bred and Crop Protection, will be paid based on the university meeting milestones in its $2 million goal for the effort.

“Agriculture is undergoing incredible change at the same time dynamic new media is redefining the field of communications,” said Paul E. Schickler, president of Pioneer. “Additional focus and understanding at the intersection of those two trends should bring incredible benefits to farmers and consumers and others throughout the value chain.”

The university plans to enhance its joint agricultural communications program with a first-of-its kind endowed chair in agricultural communications to support teaching and research in the field. The university plans to have at least three teaching positions and include initiatives in environmental and consumer communications.

Education a great benefit at Farm Credit
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When customers grow and learn, so does the organization that serves them.  That’s Farm Credit Services (FCS) of Mid-America’s philosophy, and one of the reasons the farm lender has introduced a program that reimburses educational expenses incurred when young or beginning customers attend and complete business, production, financial management or ag leadership programs that will help them in their farming operations.
FCS’ education reimbursement program is available to customers who are under the age of 35 or have been involved in farming fewer than 10 years. The agriculture lender also offers programs supporting young and beginning farmers, including the reimbursement of Farm Service Agency loan guarantee fees and modification of loan underwriting standards.

Additionally, FCS works with small and part-time farmers to help them invest in diversified businesses that maintain and strengthen the infrastructure of rural communities. For more information about Farm Credit’s Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Programs, go to www.e-farmcredit.com or call 800-444-FARM toll free.

Soy farmers donate books to Ind. libraries

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — This spring, elementary students across Indiana will have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of agriculture, thanks to Hoosier soybean farmers. The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) is donating two books to libraries across the state as a continued effort to educate today’s youth about the role farmers play in feeding the world, with a specific emphasis on the many uses of soybeans.

The books are Awesome Agriculture: Soybeans A-to- Z, which illustrates the many uses of the “miracle bean,” and Soybeans in the Story of Agriculture, which explores soybean production, processing, distribution and marketing. Both books are authored by Susan Anderson and JoAnne Buggey.

To help distribute the books, the Indiana soybean checkoff is partnering with the Indiana FFA to deliver the books to elementary school libraries across the state. Through May, the Indiana FFA State Officer Team is visiting more than 100 schools, where they will talk to students about the vital role of Indiana agriculture and soybeans, while presenting the books to each school’s library.
For additional information on these books or to learn more about requesting a set for your local school, contact the ISA at 317-347-3620.

Over $500,000 approved for Ky. projects

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, approved $522,723 in three agricultural diversification projects across the Commonwealth last month. The following investments were made with Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds:

•Grasshopper Distribution LLC was approved for $33,176 in state funds as a zero-interest loan to continue providing a link between Kentucky farm products and urban markets.

•The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council was approved for $100,000 in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds and $100,000 in state Agricultural Development Funds, for the expansion of research related to switchgrass as a renewable energy source. This project was approved through the board’s Multi-County Agricultural Energy Initiative, which provides incentives for agriculturally related renewable energy projects.

•The County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP) is designed to provide farmers with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify production practices. One CAIP was approved by the board, totaling $286,067 for Ballard County, with Jackson Purchase RC&D as the administrator.

•The Deceased Farm Animal Removal Program serves as an interim measure to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky producers. One program was approved for $3,480 in Clinton County, to be administered through the Clinton County Soil Conservation District.