Spotlight Shines on Diverse Growers in County

Montgomery County is well-known for being an agricultural powerhouse in Indiana. We rank in the top ten counties in terms of grain production consistently year to year. We have a great landscape and great soils to produce high-quality crops and livestock. Montgomery County is not only good at just growing corn and beans, though. We have some diversity in our crops and growers. With rising prices and changing health trends, I see more and more people gardening. If you want to see some of these growers and gardens, we have three great upcoming events supported by the Purdue Extension Services in the county.

This Saturday, the Extension Master Gardeners will be showcasing the garden at Nicholson Elementary that they have been managing and working with students at since 2017 as part of the Community Growers of Montgomery County Annual Garden Walk.

Join the Community Growers of Montgomery County Annual Garden Walk at 10 a.m. at Meredith Nicholson Elementary on Lane Avenue, learn about the garden and how they manage it. Then the event will travel to Wabash College to visit their newly installed Prairie Garden. Bring a chair with you, waters will be provided at each site and then the conversations will continue at The Table Spoon from noon-1:30 p.m. for all those who want to participate. If you attend either or both sites, you will meet experienced gardeners and passionate individuals who will answer questions and inspire you to grow more, whatever it may be: flowers, vegetables, or native plants!

To see some more diversified cropping systems, be sure to check out the Montgomery County Forestry Hike on July 25^th or the Diverse Corn Belt Field Day on Aug. 12.

Today, Montgomery County Soil and Water is hosting another event, the Forestry Hike at 6-8 p.m. to learn about timber stand improvement from Purdue Extension Forester Specialist, Lenny Farlee. Then learn from State of Indiana Cooperative Invasive Management (SICIM) Regional Specialist, Amber Slaughterback about invasive species identification and control in a timber and forested area. Meet a local timber grower and learn about their journey in growing Indiana hardwood trees for profit and crop diversification. RSVP is mandatory to Hanna Garriot. Call (765) 362-0405 ext. 3 or email hanna-garriott@iaswcd.org.

For the Diverse Corn Belt Field Day, organic field crops and grazed cattle will be featured at DeSutter Farms in Fountain County and Mills Farms in Montgomery County Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT. Speakers and their topics include: Keith Schilling, Thomas Doyle, and Matthew Streeter with the Iowa Geological Survey, how farm practices influence groundwater; Christian Krupke and Coy St. Clair, Purdue entomologists, diversity of ground-dwelling insects found under different management practices; and Carmen Blubaugh, agroecologist located at the University of Illinois, how farming practices influence weeds, insect pests and beneficial insects. The tours are FREE to attend, showcase unique crop and livestock practices, products, and equipment on five farms in West Central Indiana. Farmers will discuss their operations, and invited speakers will share new findings from studies of diverse operations across the Midwest. Each tour includes LUNCH. Register online or call Summer Brinkman at (219) 866-5741. Brinkman also can be called or emailed at brow1744@purdue.edu if you are in need of accommodations, have special dietary needs, or require an interpreter or translator.

Tricia Herris the Purdue Extension Educator | Agriculture & Natural Resources