Indiana farmers planted 970,000 acres of cover crops in 2017, according to a recent survey. Cover crops are now the third-most planted crop in the state, next to corn and soybeans.

“With the late harvest and heavy rains farmers experienced last fall, seeing close to one million acres of cover crops growing is no small accomplishment and worth celebrating,” said Jill Reinhart, acting state conservationist for Indiana’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “This year’s data shows that Indiana once again sets the bar, nationally, when it comes to incorporating conservation on the farm.”

According to NRCS, cover cropping has many benefits including increased organic matter, improved soil biology, as well as better water infiltration and water-holding capacity. This practice also prevents nutrients and sediment from running off the farm, keeping them out of nearby waterbodies and streams.

As a result of the cover crops planted last fall, more than 2.9 million pounds of nitrogen, 1.4 million pounds of phosphorus and 1.2 million tons of sediment were prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways. That’s enough sediment to fill 12,000 train cars stretching 113 miles long, the survey claims.

“Farmers continue to recognize the importance and are finding value in planting cover crops,” said Bruce Kettler, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). “Keeping more nutrients on the land, not only improves soil health and water quality, but also a farmer’s bottom line.”

Dan Sutton, of Sutton Farms in Lowell, Ind., first planted cover crops in 2008 and started seeing results the following year.

“We found in 2009 a pretty good yield increase on those cover cropped acres,” Sutton said. “That turned a light bulb on, and we said, ‘Hey, let’s look into this more and see what we can do with it.’”

For the past several years, Sutton has tried to plant cover crops on 100 percent of his 1,300 acre farm. Although he’s encountered challenges along the way, he believes that the benefits to his soil and the environment outweigh the risks.

In addition to cover crops, the survey also measures trends related to crop residue, which is the organic material left in the field after harvest. Crop residue further reduces sediment and nutrient runoff by protecting the soil from fall, winter and spring rain events. A no-till system leaves the most residue.

The survey shows that Indiana farmers left their crop residues undisturbed on: 67 percent of soybean acres, 63 percent of corn acres, 46 percent of small grain acres and 20 percent of specialty crop acres.

The cover crop transect survey is a collaborative effort between NRCS, ISDA, Indiana’s 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Earth Team volunteers and other members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, who team up to conduct a visual assessment of cropland county by county. The goal of the survey is to help document a more complete story of Indiana’s conservation efforts.

To learn more about the survey, visit www.in.gov/isda/2383.htm, or to find transect data for your county, visit your local Soil and Water Conservation District office at www.in.gov/isda/2370.htm.

On April 16, 2018, members of the Washington County Drug Team assisted the Indiana State Police with arresting Larry Janes, age 67 of Columbus, Indiana.

The arrest resulted in the seizure of a large amount of methamphetamine, approximately 1/4 of a pound in weight along with a large amount of currency. Investigators believe the methamphetamine was to be distributed in Washington County. 

Janes is being held in the Jackson County Jail and has been charged with Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 Felony and Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Level 6 Felony.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Tommy Dale Allman, a white male 78 years of age is officially missing. His height is 5’7” and he weighs 240 pounds. He has balding gray hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen driving a silver 2007 Buick Lucerne with a Florida license plate of MAK724. Tommy Dale Allman was travelling to visit family and was last heard from this morning at 7:33 am when he was enroute from Scottsburg, IN to Columbus, IN.

If anyone sees Tommy Dale Allman or the vehicle he is driving, please call 911, your local police or the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg at 1-812-246-5424.

Tommy Dale Allman does not qualify for a Silver Alert because of the medical exception. He is considered to be in danger by police because of no contact.

On Saturday, April 28th, 2018 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the 15th nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative.  The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.

Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment.  This program is for liquid and pill medications.  Needles, new or used, will not be accepted for disposal.  This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Once again, the Indiana State Police are pleased to partner with the DEA, and as in the past, the drugs may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post.  The event will be on Saturday, April 28th, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.   

Also, the Indiana State Police will host a drop off site on Friday, April 27th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. inside the Indiana Government Center North public entrance off of Robert Orr Plaza in Indianapolis.  This is between the government north and south buildings, immediately west of the State Capitol building.

To locate the state police post closest to your home or business, click this link for Indiana State Police on the Map.
To find other locations in Indiana or across the U.S. that are participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click this link to the DEA.

The Drug Take Back events are the safe, popular and responsible way for the public to legally and dispose of prescription drugs. No questions asked.

Senate Enrolled Act 217, authored by State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem), and sponsored by Rep. Woody Burton (R-Whiteland), was ceremonially signed into law yesterday by Gov. Eric Holcomb. This bill is aimed at identifying students who may be affected with dyslexia, and getting them the resources and accommodations necessary to be successful in school and beyond. Holcomb and Houchin were joined for the signing by students with dyslexia and their parents from around the state.

“Studies estimate that up to 20 percent of the population is affected at some level with dyslexia,” Houchin said. “We cannot afford to let any of our students struggle through school, and potentially their lives and careers, without doing something – especially when we know teaching methods that work.”

SEA 217 requires school corporation and charter school reading plans to include indicators to screen for dyslexia risk factors. If a student is determined to be at-risk for dyslexia, the school shall administer a simple dyslexia screening test, which will identify whether they need referred for further testing and a diagnosis. It also requires schools to use specific response to intervention processes if a screener indicates certain characteristics of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is categorized as a specific learning disability related to reading.  Students who have dyslexia and related conditions will struggle to identify and match letter sounds with letters, have difficulty with phonics, and will struggle to read. It affects reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension.  These students are typically very bright, and can excel with the right interventions.  Without an intervention, these students could unnecessarily face a life-long struggle with reading.  Houchin said, “Though dyslexia is inherited and cannot be cured, SEA 217 will ensure we are giving our students the best possible chance to succeed.” 

SEA 217 also requires each school corporation and charter school to employ at least one authorized reading specialist trained in dyslexia, no later than the 2019-2020 school year, and requires the Indiana Department of Education (DOE) to employ at least one reading specialist trained in dyslexia. School specialists can be current reading specialists trained in dyslexia, or a teacher or tutor who has completed dyslexia intervention training approved by the DOE.

“The changes outlined in SEA 217 will help accurately identify this pervasive issue among our student population,” Houchin said. “It will provide the tools dyslexic students need to achieve their full potential in school and as they grow.”