2 news Bites


—coMPileD By Kathleen M. Dutro PuBlic relations teaM


graIN bIN safety certIfIca-


tIoN caN preveNt bIN-relateD INjurIes—A Purdue Extension farm safety specialist urges farmers to stop working alone in grain bins and en- tering them with unloading augers running. Knowing the risks of


working with stored and flowing grain is the first step in preventing entrapments, said Steve Wettschurack, cer- tified farm accident rescue instructor. “Many farmers get in the


habit of doing grain bin chores a certain way and can push their limits every time they repeat a task,” Wettsch- urack said. “You never know when you are going to push it too far, resulting in an ac- cident.” In 2010, there were 51


reported grain entrapments in the United States, up from 38 cases in 2009. Twenty-six of those were fatal. It’s because of these dis-


turbing statistics that Purdue Extension offers grain bin safety workshops through- out Indiana to help prevent entrapments and to prepare first responders in case of emergency. Twenty-two workshops have been held since the program’s incep- tion in June 2010. Some workshops have


already been scheduled; for a list or for more information contact Wettschurack at 765- 714-4557 or swettsch@pur- due.edu. A community or or- ganization can also arrange


to have its own workshop by contacting Wettschurack. A minimum of 30 participants is required. Registration fee for each workshop is $65. Participants receive a safety certificate upon completion. “Participants do not al-


ways have an agriculture background,” Wettschurack said. “Getting them up to speed helps them under- stand not only how a grain bin works, but how to better save a life.” (Purdue 3/13/11)


DaIry group Names New


executIve DIrector—Indiana Professional Dairy Producers has named Doug Leman of Francesville as its new a new executive director. Leman is a former dairy


farmer and former IPDP president. He also served on the lieutenant governor’s ag task force, where he got to know many of the ag indus- try leaders. Leman, who will be


working out of his home, as- sumed his post on April 1. (IPDP 3/10/11)


arthrItIs aND agrIculture


coNfereNce to be helD IN la- fayette—People interested in learning about the causes, prevention and treatment of arthritis in rural populations have the opportunity to at- tend the Arthritis, Agriculture and Rural Life Conference May 11-13 at Purdue Uni- versity. The conference at the


Beck Agricultural Center will feature keynote speakers, workshops and networking opportunities. Topics will in- clude gardening with arthri- tis, rural women with rheu- matoid arthritis, prevention in farm youth, health educa- tion, ergonomic workshops and solutions for enhancing the quality of life for arthritis sufferers. The event also will in-


clude an on-site session at the Purdue Animal Sciences Research and Education Center. Participants will visit dairy, swine, grain storage, machinery and other facili- ties, where they can see first-


ADMINISTRATIVE/FINANCE TEAM President ....................................Don Villwock Vice President ...............................Randy Kron Second Vice President ................Isabella Chism Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer ..Mark Sigler Executive Secretary ....................Beverly Torpe Administrative Assistant .................. Jill Shanley Receptionist .....................................Kim Duke Office Manager & Meeting Planner ..Kay Keown Professional Dev. Program Dir. .... Julie Volbers-Klarich Controller ..................................... Elaine Rueff General Fund Accountant .............Tiffanie Ellis


DISTRICT DIRECTORS Larry Jernas (1) Kerry Goshert (2) Kendell Culp (3) Steve Maple (4) Dave Wyeth (5)


April 4, 2011


Scott Trennepohl (6) Jeff Gormong (7) Mark Bacon (8)


Philip Springstun (9) Robert Schickel (10)


LEGAL AFFAIRS TEAM Director & General Counsel ..Mark Tornburg Administrative Assistant ...........Maria Spellman Staff Attorney ....................... Sara MacLaughlin Staff Attorney .......................... Justin Schneider


PUBLIC POLICY TEAM Director .........................................Kent Yeager Administrative Assistant ...................B.J. Fields Administrative Assistant ...........Wanda Hunter State Government Relations ..............Bob Kraft Livestock Development Specialist ....Greg Slipher Government Finance & Tax Specialist .....Katrina Hall Industry Relations ..........................Bob Cherry Political Education Specialist ......Pete Hanebutt Policy Specialist .......................Tiffany Obrecht


hand the daily stresses that affect individuals with arthri- tis in the rural workplace. Extension educators, oc-


cupational and physical ther- apists, nurse practitioners, ergonomists, members of state departments of health, farm business representatives and others are encouraged to attend. Registration fee of $165


includes meals, reference material and tours. A dis- count rate will be offered to students. Registration infor- mation is available at www. arthritis-ag.org/arthritis-con- ference/arthritis-conference. aspx. The conference is spon-


sored by the USDA National AgrAbility project, the Indi- ana chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and Purdue’s Breaking New Ground Re- source Center. More infor- mation on the conference is available at www.arthritis-ag. org. (Purdue 3/3/11)


farmers, raNchers heaD-


INg south amerIca—A group of farmers and ranchers, all members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Trade Advisory Committee, headed to South and Central America on March 28 with the goal of building relation- ships and showing support for pending free trade agree- ments with Colombia and Panama. The farmers and ranchers were to meet with officials from U.S. embas- sies and agricultural leaders in Brazil, Colombia and Panama, in addition to visit- ing farms. “These agreements are


important to U.S. agricul- ture,” said Chris Garza, trade specialist with AFBF. “We are currently losing market share in Colombia and could potentially start to lose mar- ket share in Panama as well. Passage of these trade agree- ments will prevent that and hopefully reverse what we have already lost.” The two agreements represent almost $1 billion worth of addi- tional agricultural exports for U.S. agriculture. (AFBF 3/25/11)


PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM Director & Editor .....................Andy Dietrick Administrative Assistant .................Charla Buis Publications Managing Editor ....Kathleen Dutro Multi-Media Specialist ..............Mike Anthony Marketing & PR Specialist .............Mindy Reef


ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM Director ............................................. Kim Vail Program Assistant .....................Kathryn Rogers Program Assistant ..........................Tina Nunez Administrative Assistant ..........Bridget Johnson Women’s Program Coordinator ... Joni Wallman Member Services Coordinator .........Anna Todd Leadership Development Coordinator .....Chris Fenner Outreach Projects Coordinator .... Courtney Rude


the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, when it returns from recess. Farm Bureau strongly supports the bill and is seeking co- sponsors. The House Committee


©iStock photo/ Beau Meyer


oatmeal tops the lIst of


2011 breakfast treNDs—Oat- meal captured the top spot in the Food Channel’s list of 2011 breakfast trends. Find out why in the April issue of Foodie News (http://foodi- enews.posterous.com/), published by AFBF’s public relations department. The issue also includes feature stories on food foraging, ko- sher foods, spelt and rooftop gardening, in addition to a guest column from Blue Dia- mond Almonds. (AFBF 3/24/11)


house to coNsIDer bIll


eNDINg overlappINg epa per- mIts—The full House is ex- pected to take up H.R. 872,


on Transportation and Infra- structure approved the leg- islation by a vote of 46-8 in late March after the House Agriculture Committee had passed it by unanimous con- sent.


Introduced by Reps. Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio and Joe Baca, D-Calif., the bill would eliminate the bur- densome and overlapping permit requirements result- ing from the National Cotton Council v. EPA (6th Circuit 2009) case. H.R. 872 would amend the Federal Insecti- cide, Fungicide and Roden- ticide Act and the Clean Wa- ter Act to clarify that CWA permits are not needed when a pesticide is applied in accordance with a FIFRA- approved label. (AFBF 3/23/11)


neWs In BRIeF


Jim Rink, director of Farm/Crop/Commercial/Rural for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, demonstrates the dangers of flowing grain to Justin Garrett and Dallas Payne, both of Indian Creek FFA, during an FFA leadership meeting in Danville, Ind., on March 17. The mini- grain bin is part of a farm safety display that Rink has been taking on the road to Farm Bureau meetings and other gatherings this year, teaching farmers about farm dangers. In addition to the grain bin, the display includes an interactive farm display and a demonstra- tion of the importance of rollover protection in tractors that uses toy tractors and eggs. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro


REGIONAL MANAGERS Wayne Belden (1 & 3) Greg Bohlander (6) Jennifer Chandler Gish (9) Andrew Cleveland (4 & 6) Janice Deno (3) David Gottbrath (10) Amy Hutson (5) Susan Lawrence (2) John Newsom (1 & 2) Steve Palmer (4) Kermit Paris (8) Keegan Poe (5 & 8) Brad Ponsler (10) E.B. Rawles (7) Bryan Whistler (7 & 9)


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Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Phone: 1-800-327-6287 or (317) 692-7776 E-Mail Address: askus@infarmbureau.org


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