State's Ag Director Tours Area Conservation Projects
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Indiana Agriculture Director, Anne Hazlett, toured conservation projects in four northeastern counties July 22 including Kosciusko and Whitley.
Hazlett visited Kosciusko County residents Kent Little and Fred McSherry and ended her day by traveling to a two-stage ditch north of Mentone then finally to J.A. Scott Farms, near Pierceton.
While at Scott Farms, Hazlett listened to a presentation by Jamie Scott, president of the Kosciusko County Soil Water Conservation District, on cover crops and their benefits.
Cover crops increase soil quality, decrease runoff of water into lakes and streams and tends to improve the quality of cash crops according to Scott.
Scott also said talked about the benefits of not tilling farmland.
"We're concnerned with enviormental impact and the footprint of things like the chemicals that are being used," said Hazlett.
Scott said that the main thing used on J.A. Scott Farms is Roundup and that he and many other farmers are alot more aware of the enviormental impact farming has.
It also has a benefit for the farmer.
"If you take care of the soil, the crops you raise will be healthier," said Scott. "The longer you implement these processes the better it is for you."
Scott said the biggest thing holding farmers back from implementing more organic processes is cost.
Scott pointed out a program like Clean Indiana that offers incentives for more eco-friendly farming practices.
After Scott's presentation Hazlett talked about why she decided to tour the different conservation project areas.
"It's been so important to see what we're putting our money into," said Hazlett. "It's important to get out of Indianapolis."
"You get to come and hear people talk about what they're doing to decrease their enviormental impact," said Hazlett.
A potential bill in Washington D.C. that would cap emissions was also on Hazlett's mind. A "Cap and Trade" bill could affect a state like Indiana in several ways."
"It's something Governor Daniels has spoken a lot about and its something we're concerned with," said Hazlett.
"Many states like Indiana use coal. We may have to shift natural gas. That would cause fertilizer costs to go up. Feed costs would go up. Many livestock operations use a lot of energy.
Hazlett traveled to Washington D.C. Monday to discuss with several groups the impact such a bill would have on agriculture.
