Purdue Extension Martin County Blast January 31, 2022

Purdue University, Indiana Counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution

2022 Martin County 4-H Handbook NOW AVAILABLE!
Check out the handbook online at https://bit.ly/martin4h22handbook

4-H Grows Knowledge Event 4-H Leaders Professional Development
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 8:15 AM-2:00 PM EST at Cloverdale High School
This is a FANTASTIC opportunity to gather with 4-H-loving folks from across the state and learn ways to strengthen your club, project, and, therefore, YOUR county’s 4-H program. 
More info: https://bit.ly/4HGrowsKnowledge2022
Register at: https://bit.ly/4HGrowsReg

Virtual 4-H Volunteer Café Series 2.0 Program
Learn how to creative a positive environment and inclusive experience in all 4-H mission areas.
All sessions 6:30 – 7:30 pm EST
February 28 – “How to” Livestock Workshop
March 8 – Civic Engagement
April 19 – “Clubs can be fun”
Register for the free, virtual sessions at https://bit.ly/VolCafe2021  Please call 812-295-2412 if you need any assistance in gaining access the sessions.

Teens as Teachers
Do you know a teen leader who would be a great mentor to others in their community? Teens as Teachers is an opportunity for teams of 3-5 youth and one adult mentor to learn how to be teachers and subject matter experts of a topic of their choice, and are empowered to deliver programming to their community. This training is for youth in grades 8-11. In addition to studying the subject matter of their choice, youth will learn fundamentals of hands-on learning, ages and stages of youth development, public speaking, and lesson planning.

The program will begin with onsite check-in at 6:30 PM (ET) on Friday, February 25th and will conclude at noon on Sunday, February 27th. 

Registration fee for the Teens as Teachers program is $85 for youth; $50 for adult mentors. Scholarships are available for Martin County youth!   Registration deadline is February 11, 2022.

To learn more about the specific workshop tracks being offered, visit: purdue.ag/teensasteachers. Please note that due to the ongoing pandemic, masks will be required while inside during Teens as Teachers.

BE a Camp Counselor! Deadline to Apply EXTENDED to March 4th
All youth freshman to senior grades, are invited to apply to be a camp counselor at the Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Perry, & Pike 4-H Camp!  Camp is June 13, 14 & 15, 2022 at Santa Claus Campground, Santa Claus, Indiana!

Being a camp counselor provides a variety of benefits, including:  It is FUN!
Invaluable skill-building
New friends
Great skill building for scholarships, employment & college!
A resume builder
A break from the normal
Mentor younger youth
Surrounding yourself with positivity
No prior camp or camp counselor experience required
No out of pocket camp counselor financial cost: your expenses are paid for by sponsors and/or other ways on your behalf.
More Fun!
Beautiful camp facilities

Steps to be a camp counselor:

1. Enroll in 4-H. If you have not enrolled in 4--H, visit https://in.4honline.com/ and reenroll for the current If you need help paying the $20 enrollment fee please email heldd@purdue.edu or call 812-295-2412.
2. Completethe camp counselor application at https://v2.4honline.com which says “Camp Counselor Daviess Dubois, Martin, Perry & Pike” under the events tab on your 4honline profile.
3. Complete your enrollment & application no later than Friday, March 4, 2022.
4. Focus on being the best in your camp counselor role!
5. Commit, attend & display the competencies needed and also taught at the camp counselor trainings.

2022 4-H Camp for Campers! SAVE THE DATE!
Youth in grades 3, 4, 5, & 6 are encouraged to hold the following dates for 2022 4-H Camp!  June 13, 14 & 15, 2022. 

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHVD2)
Please see the note the following quarantine in reference to the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHVD2) from the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA).  A recent case of RHVD2 - rabbit disease was confirmed in Louisville, KY. The ARBA has issued a 125-mile radius quarantine, which means no one in that zone will be allowed to show at any ARBA show until the quarantine is lifted which right now will be Feb 15, 2022.

At this time all 4-H County Rabbit programs, should practice the quarantine protocol regardless of the proximity to Louisville out of precaution.   Until further information is available, 4-H Rabbits should not be moved from place to place for meetings, workshops, etc.  Please respect this quarantine for your own county rabbits safety and that of others. More information can be found at https://www.in.gov/boah/species-information/rabbits/

Indiana 4-H & Martin County 4-H Animal Details & Forms
Everyone interested may access 4-H animal details at https://extension.purdue.edu/4-H/projects/animal-identification.html to learn more and access forms for the 4-H year. The Purdue Extension Martin County Office is happy to help with access points and can print forms upon your request.  SAVE THE DATES of Thursday, April 28^th for livestock tagging, TAG DISTRIBUTION FOR SWINE, and Friday, May 13^th for Poultry Blood Testing & Rabbit Tattooing at the Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds. 

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Martin County Program Required for Livestock Exhibitors by July 1^st
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. All youth who exhibit livestock are required to be certified annually. Certification can be obtained at an in-person class or via the online modules. 

In Person Martin County Opportunities: 

When: Monday, April 25, 2022 or Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 4 PM.

Where: Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds / Community Learning Center, 2666 US Hwy 50, Loogootee. 

Details:  Space is limited and registration is required. If there are no registrants 48 hours before classes, the class will be cancelled.  For more info contact Dena Held heldd@purdue.edu

How to register:  Register at https://yqcaprogram.org/ and log in using your 4HOnline email and password.

All youth in Indiana exhibiting an animal (Swine, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Rabbits, and Poultry) at a county or state fair must have completed a Quality Assurance Certification, by July 1, 2021 for Martin County exhibitors.

Junior Pork Day
Save the date for March 26^th for the Junior Pork Day at Creighton Hall – Purdue University.  The full schedule will be available soon.

Junior Pork Day is a special 1-day workshop held annually at Purdue University to provide 4-H swine members and their families with current information and hands-on learning to spark their interest in the swine industry. During this educational workshop, participants rotate individually through a series of stations that test their skills in the areas of swine evaluation, parts identification, and other areas of the swine industry.

Virtual Showpig Conference
*Free Virtual Showpig Conference will be offered on Saturday, February 12^th.  This event will spotlight selection, nutrition, showmanship and networking from several friends of the Indiana 4-H program.   Those interested in attending can register and find out more at https://showpigconference.com/

*Please note there are options to upgrade the experience for an additional cost if families are interested, but the day event is free.

Forage Forum Fridays
Join Purdue Extension as they host Forage Forum Fridays on Fridays at Noon EST for great in-depth forage topics!
Feb 11, 2022: Farming with a 4-Wheeler-Tools for farming on small acres
Feb 18, 2022: Forage harvest equipment maintenance
Feb 25, 2022: Livestock Production Labeling
If you have never registered for the Forage Forum Friday series, visit: https://tinyurl.com/ExtFFF

Tensions of Farm Succession: Free Webinar
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST
Deadline to register: February 18, 2022
Register at: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9nKp0Gbn5kf20Rw
For many farms, transferring the farm to a next generation is the ultimate legacy goal, especially when transferring within the family. But it’s not all rainbows and roses. Farmers focus on the technical details of transferring assets, much like machinery repair: if you put the right nut with the corresponding bolt ... voila, you have a plan. But succession planning involves humans, with corresponding emotions. Research around farm succession has identified several “tensions” that can cause stress during the planning process. Those areas of tensions include:

• Financial concerns
• Control
• Change
• Inheritance distribution
• Communication

If farm families/farm partners can identify their potential tensions and approach the plan with their tensions in mind, they can avoid some of the common “stalls” or pitfalls many farms face. This webinar will discuss these tensions and ideas on how to address them, including the value of a facilitator to help navigate potentially stressful but necessary conversations.

Martin County Purdue Extension Giving Link
Purdue Extension works with residents to build vibrant communities, strong families and profitable businesses by providing programming to residents in the following four areas:

• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Community Development
• Health and Human Sciences
• 4-H Youth Development

If you would like to help make a difference and further programming in Martin County, you may now make donations online to Purdue Extension Martin County at: https://bit.ly/donationextensionmartincounty

ServSafe Manager Class and Certification Exam
The ServSafe Class and Certification Exam fulfills Indiana requirements to become a “Certified Food Protection Manager” (formerly called Certified Food Handlers). Exams are available in a variety of languages and classes are offered in English and Spanish in our area.

The class and proctored examinations are offered at a variety of dates and locations. Training with Exam or Exam Only options for those who self-study are available. For a list of upcoming class dates visit:  www.purdue.edu/servsafe/workshops

Management Considerations for Tar Spot in Indiana
By: Darcy Telenko

In Indiana, tar spot has been an annual concern since 2018 when growers experienced 20-60 bu/A loss. This past season favorable weather conditions led to another severe epidemic where there are reports of fields experiencing 50% reduction in yields across the Midwest. Tar spot has continued to spread and has now been confirmed in 82 of 92 Indiana counties, 14 states, and Ontario Canada. As to say tar spot is a disease has become the number one topic in corn during our winter meetings.

Therefore, I am going to share some points on what we have learned and how to plan for this disease in 2022 and beyond.

My first question to a grower is how severe tar spot was on your farm in 2021? Did you find a few lesions or was it severely blighted and covered with stromata? In our research trials in central Indiana (West Lafayette), we saw limited tar spot impact. I can find the small black spots (stroma of the fungus), but it has yet to get above 1% severity. Gray leaf spot was our bigger concern. There were extremely dry/drought conditions across central Indiana in 2021 – where lack of water was a bigger concern than disease. If tar spot was not severe on your farm you won’t get a return on investment (ROI) to manage it, but be aware, on the lookout, and prepared to make in-season decisions should the environment become favorable.

If the farm saw severe tar spot, I suggest a few things for next year.

1. Watch the tracking map to know when the disease is first active in Indiana. I will worry about the disease staring early if we have a wet June and July like we did in 2021. Otherwise the disease won’t appear to mid- to late- July. (https://corn.ipmpipe.org/tarspot/ or https://extension.purdue.edu/fieldcroppathology/)
2. Download the Tarspotter app to help with determining if the weather conditions are favorable for tar spot to develop in your fields. (https://ipcm.wisc.edu/apps/tarspotter/)
3. Scout, scout, and continue to scout your fields.
4. Make informed fungicide decisions. Only in 2021 did our research trials show a benefit of two application at V10/V14 with a follow up application 3 weeks later. We have seen severe disease every season in Porter County – yield impact will all depend on when the disease starts. In 2019 and 2020, we DID NOT see a benefit of a second fungicide application, that is why it is important to monitor and scout.
5. As for a fungicide timing window VT-R2 has consistently provided good protection with a single application program.
6. We need to make an informed decision on our fungicide use not only for ROI, but also for fungicide stewardship to make sure we aren’t increasing risk for fungicide resistance to develop.
7. No, it will not be cost effective to apply fungicide every year. I suggest being flexible and it is important to understand how severe the disease was on your farm. Moisture plays a significant role in how fast tar spot develops.

A summary of what we have learned thus far.

Tar spot will continue to be an issue in Indiana

• Severity level will be a function of the hybrid, weather, and when epidemic initiates earlier vs. later in the season.
• The 2021 epidemic was problematic, because tar spot started in some fields before tasseling.
• Fungus driven by weather – a wet July in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020.
• Varying levels of tar spot occur across region due to weather

The tar spot fungus can overwinter in the upper Midwest

• We now have high inoculum levels in many locations.
• Weather is key (water and irrigation management).
• Rotation may help a bit, not a sole solution.
• Tillage may help reduce or delay onset of disease (reducing residue).
• Tar spot inoculum (spores) can travel long distances.

Some hybrids are more resistant than others

• Strong hybrid resistance can be overcome by a favorable disease environment.

Fungicide application can reduce tar spot severity

• Product is important, use multiple modes of action (QoI + DMI or QoI + DMI + SDHI) (See resources for details on fungicide efficacy)

Timing very important

• Application needs to occur close to the onset of the epidemic
• Number of applications and optimal timing are going to vary by year.
• Tarspotter isn’t perfect, but a valuable tool to help make the decision, and optimize, fungicide applications
• If just spraying once and not interested in prediction, VT-R2 has been most consistent timing in Indiana.

Understand your farm – what disease(s) are most of concern in each field.

What you can do?

1. Assess your risk – is the disease endemic in your area? Did you find it in your fields in 2021? If so, how severe did tar spot get at the end of the season?
2. Talk to your seed salesmen about hybrid resistance.
3. Scout and monitor your fields throughout the season.
4. Use these tools if you have fields at high risk and are going to apply fungicides.
   • Fungicide efficacy tables and Extension research reports (see links below)
   • Use the Tarspotter App to monitor for conducive weather conditions
   • Follow the map to learn when tar spot is active new your county https://corn.ipmpipe.org/tarspot/
5. Leave check strips if you try a new management strategy.
6. Don’t forget about the other diseases – new and established (gray leaf spot, southern rust, ear and stalk rots, etc.).

Celebrate Agriculture!  Martin County Ag Day: 

March 19, 2022  8:00 am - 11:00 am EST Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds

All Americans need to understand the value of agriculture in their daily lives. Below are just some of the key reasons why it's important to recognize & celebrate Ag Day each year:

1. Increased knowledge of agriculture and nutrition allows individuals to make informed personal choices about diet & health.
2. Informed citizens will be able to participate in establishing the policies that will support a competitive agricultural industry in this country and abroad.
3. Employment opportunities exist across the board in agriculture. Here are few Ag Careers:

• Agribusiness Management & Marketing
• Invasive Plant Management
• Agricultural Research & Engineering
• Food Science Processing
• retailing
• Banking
• Education & Extension
• Landscape
• Architecture
• Urban planning
• Farm planning
• Energy

Civic Engagement through Indiana 4-H Opportunities: 4-H Day at the State House 2-1-22

Martin County youth Lillie Bauer, Kyleigh Courter, Madison Fischer, Abigail Fischer, Olivia Harker and Caroline Walker joined delegates from across the State of Indiana on February 1^st at the Indiana State House. The visit included tours and teaching of how our three branches of government work together to form our State Democracy.