Indiana Forage Council

04/09/2026

03/03/2026

It's not too late to join the IFC annual meeting during the meet & greet at the Southern Indiana Grazing Conference March 12!

Join us in Southern Indiana for the 2026 Grazing Conference—tips, talks, and fun for pasture pros!

02/19/2026

From Bale to Blacktop: Preventing Hay-Related Road Hazards (An Indiana Forage Council Webinar)

Transporting hay on public roads changes the whole dynamic of forage production. At first glance, transporting hay and straw should be an easy task—bale it, stack it on a trailer, and move it from one point to another. However, pulling hay on the road (even for just a few miles) is anything but easy.

Join us February 23, 2026 Time: 6 - 8 PM EST

We will discuss straps, slow-moving signs, hitch pins, and tires. All are part of what it takes to safely transport hay from the field or barn to its destination.

Featuring:
Dr. Fred Whitford
Clinical Engagement Professor, Purdue Extension
Director, Purdue Pesticide Programs

For more Info and register: https://ag.purdue.edu/events/department/agry/2026/02/from-bale-to-blacktop-preventing-hay-related-road-hazards-an-indiana-forage-council-webinar.html

12/19/2025

🚜 Calling Indiana Forage & Alfalfa Producers! 🌱

Have you noticed alfalfa weevil control not working like it used to? You’re not alone.

There have been reports across the region that pyrethroid insecticides may be losing effectiveness against alfalfa weevil, a key pest for alfalfa producers every year. To better understand how widespread this issue may be, researchers at the University of Minnesota are conducting a survey—and Indiana voices are needed.

Even though Indiana isn’t a major alfalfa-producing state, the experiences of our growers matter and will help guide future research and management recommendations.

📝 Please take a few minutes to complete the survey:
👉 https://z.umn.edu/alfalfapestsurvey

Your input helps ensure Indiana is represented in this important conversation.

Thank you for supporting research—and wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!

12/13/2025

A great opportunity!

AFGC is keen to announce that the AFGC 2026 Annual Conference has been approved for a Rancher’s Resilience Grant. The approved amount is $740. To apply go to this link, https://loom.ly/pgOzBFg. The deadline to apply is December 21, 2025.

To register, view the agenda, or for more information about AFGC 2026, go to this link, https://cvent.me/7LK1Y9.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to AFGC 2026 in Asheville, NC January 12-15!

09/30/2025

Congratulations to our Board of Director member Brock (and Laura) Kiesler on your award!!

Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Young Farmers & Ag Professionals award winners!

Cody and Samantha Otten of Tippecanoe County, Megan Espinda of Henry County, and Brock and Laura Kiesler of Floyd and Washington counties are the winners of Indiana Farm Bureau’s top awards for Young Farmers & Ag Professionals – the Rising Star, the Excellence in Agriculture and the Achievement awards.

Learn more about our winners by clicking the top release at INFB.org/NewsReleases

09/19/2025

Hauling hay isn’t just about getting from field to barn. The new Purdue Pesticide Programs publication shows how to safely secure bales, cut risks on the road and protect your bottom line. Download here:https://ag.purdue.edu/department/extension/ppp/resources/ppp-publications/_docs/ppp-1571.pdf or from the Education Store: https://edustore.purdue.edu/ppp-157.html

09/16/2025

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations. The program, titled Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, is open now for applicants.

This program includes row crop fields, pastures, hay and specialty crops located within Indiana’s portion of the Mississippi River Basin. Eligible landowners will be prioritized by acreage enrolled (i.e., 100 acres or less), fields that have never been soil sampled and fields that haven’t been sampled regularly (i.e., within the last four years). Further prioritization may be implemented based on ISDA’s workload capacity. This program excludes hobby gardens and private lawns.

Interested landowners can sign-up online at ISDA’s website or by reaching out to Nutrient Stewardship Program Manager, Ophelia Norman at [email protected].

Sign-ups begin Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and ISDA is accepting registrations until Friday, October 17, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.

This program was made possible thanks to ISDA, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance (IANA), Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) members, farmers, and crop advisors.

09/09/2025

08/14/2025

We look forward to you joining the Diverse Corn Belt and Partners IN Food and Farming as they host a Diversified Hay Production Field Day and Farm Tour at our own Brock Kiesler's Family Farm on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 1-6 PM EST.

We'll see equipment demonstrations, here from experts in hay production, and review hay production financials.

To Register, please visit: bit.ly/HayTour.

07/08/2025

Today is National Cow Appreciation Day!!

Share your favorite Cow photo in celebration!