LaPorte County farm family honored for 115 years heritage

When Gerald Werner's great-grandfather settled in the rich farm country of Indiana from his native Germany, he planted the seeds of a heritage that continues to bear fruit.

A return to normal weather means normal crop production

Dan Roeske has been in the farming business for 25 years, since he was 19 years old and took over the family's rural Hebron farm in Porter County.

Fewer next-generation farmers grab the reins

Janny and Greg Kleine work for their father on their family's dairy farm in rural Cedar Lake where 100 cows are milked twice daily.

LaPorte student harvests an Apple for her farming essay

INDIANAPOLIS | A LaPorte High School student was awarded an Apple iPad Tuesday for penning the state's best essay explaining how Hoosier farmers nourish Indiana families, animals and the Earth.

Senate OKs changing constitution to add right to hunt, fish, farm

INDIANAPOLIS | A proposed state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt, fish and farm is one step closer to being submitted to Hoosier voters for ratification.

Senate panel OKs constitutional amendment protecting hunting, fishing, farming

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate committee voted 7-0 Monday to ensconce the right to hunt, fish and farm in Indiana's Constitution, despite the lack of any realistic threat to those activities or industries.

IU economists: Subpar growth expected in '13

SCHERERVILLE | The U.S. economy is expected to grow below its potential again in 2013, but that's only if it doesn't take a swan dive off the fiscal cliff, economists from Indiana University and Purdue University said Friday.

Jasper County farmers named to soy bean promoting board

INDIANAPOLIS | Jasper County farmers Kendell Culp and David Rodibaugh have been selected to represent Northwest Indiana as directors of the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

Sheriff, Farm Bureau officials partner to thwart copper thieves

LOWELL | Farmers are going up against heavy metal thieves, and they plan to win with technology and a partnership with the Lake County sheriff.

Price family farm gets the prize

For all but five of their nearly 60 years of marriage, Eugene and Helen Price farmed his family's homestead in Porter County's Morgan Township.*

Griffith man continues reign as Indiana's pumpkin king

INDIANAPOLIS | The man Northwest Indiana thinks of when it thinks of pumpkins is once again best in the state.

'Smart' plants adapt to survive dry conditions

No one's talking about giving intelligence tests, but researchers say they've shown that plants have smarts — the sort needed to help them survive dry times.

Helping communities grow

LOWELL | Lowell Volunteer Fire Department and Tri-Creek Emergency Medical Services recently received a $2,500 donation from Channel Seed on behalf of the Monsanto Fund.

Going against the grain: Local farmers adjust to abnormal temperatures, rain

Kyle Mitsch makes sure his family farm's planter is properly greased while he and his family wait for the fields to dry out from the last heavy rainfall. Their farm is in Eagle Creek Township.

Going against the grain: Local farmers adjust to abnormal temperatures, rain

Mike Mitsch pours a bag of corn seed into the planter earlier this week on his farm in Eagle Creek Township. With recent rain soaking the ground, farmers used the dead time to get things ready for the upcoming planting season.

Produce growers receive schooling on latest information in S'ville

SCHERERVILLE | People's thumbs possibly grew greener by the minute at a local event to boost knowledge about producing vegetables.

Illiana Vegetable Growers School set

SCHERERVILLE | Purdue University and University of Illinois cooperative extension services will sponsor the Illiana Vegetable Growers' School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 5 at Teibel's Restaurant, U.S. 41 and 30. The program will be of special interest to vegetable farmers, including market ga…

Youth essay contest focuses on healthful diet

"The Role of the Farm in a Healthy Diet" is the theme for this year's Youth Essay Contest for eighth-graders, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies.

It's too early to make local harvest predictions

With blue skies overhead, Tom Wietbrock and his family worked together Wednesday to bring in some of their corn crop. On Thursday, they were harvesting soybeans in sun-kissed fields. "The corn was planted late, so it's a late harvest," Wietbrock said.

Too early to predict local harvest quality

With blue skies overhead, Tom Wietbrock and his family worked together Wednesday to bring in some of their corn crop. "The corn was planted late, so it's a late harvest," Wietbrock said. "At best, it'll be an average harvest. At best."