Farms & Agribusiness
Production Economics
2012 Indiana Farm Custom Rates
A 4-page publication reporting the results of a 2012 survey of Indiana farmers, farm owners, farm custom operators, and professional farm managers on custom rates for farm machinery. included are rates for land preparat...
A Choose-and-Cut Pine and Fir Christmas Tree Case Study
Choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms often are part-time family businesses. With sometimes several members of a family involved, it can be difficult to record and place a value on the time and costs required to establish,...
Animal Manure as a Plant Nutrient Resource
Manure is no longer a liability; it is an asset to be stored and applied in a way that maximizes nutrient value. Land application of animal manure provides a hedge against the high price of commercial fertilizers. Thi...
This publication discusses when corn is most susceptible to hail damage, determining yield loss due to stand reduction and defoliation, determining direct ear damage, bruising and stalk damage, and estimating total yie...
Before you sign: 7 tips for entering carbon markets
Should your farm entity participate in a carbon market? In this publication, a Purdue University educator advises that farm managers should get answers to seven questions before signing up. ...
Building a Sustainable Business
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses brings the business planning process alive to help today's alternative and sustainable agriculture entrepren...
Comparable Costs of Various Energy Sources for Irrigation Pumping
This publication provides the comparative costs of various energy sources for irrigation pumping and other factors that must be considered in selecting a particular energy source....
Corn Stover for Bioenergy Production: Cost Estimate and Farmer Supply Response
8-page publication providing cost estimates for harvesting corn stover for bioenergy production...
Cost of Good Sanitation Practices for On-Farm Grain Storage
One key to grain quality is to put clean grain in bins that are free of insects. This 5-page publication explains what it takes to ensure clean bins and how much time and what costs are involved....
Determining a Value for Corn Silage
Pricing silage crops can be much more challenging than pricing grains. This publication outlines methods for determining prices for various types of silage and includes a Web link to Purdue's Corn Silage Crop Calculator ...
Disaster Payments for Low-Quality '92 Indiana Corn
This grain quality fact sheet has information about applying for 1992 disaster assistance for low quality corn grown in the Midwest....
Drought and Nutrient Management Considerations for Dairy Farms
Drought can affect dairy farms long after the dry spell is over. That is especially true when it comes to the manure applied to crop fields and the rate at which it is applied. This publication offers tips for fertilizin...
Economic Factors of Drainage Related to Corn Production
This publication discusses the likely effects of drainage improvements, the yield value of those improvements, the factors determining the economics of drainage, and how to calculate returns to a drainage investment. T...
Economic Impact of the Equine Industry to Indiana
The equine industry in Indiana has a very real impact on the economy. The more than 34,000 operations house 160,000 horses, generate 9,221 jobs, and generate more than $207 million in economic impact in the state of Indi...
Economics of Tall Fescue Sod Production in the Midwest
This publication uses the Purdue Sod Financial Calculator to analyze the costs and returns associated with growing turf-type tall fescue. It helps sod growers understand capital needs as well as financial risks. Pairs wi...
Effects of Uneven Seedling Emergence in Corn
This publication discusses why corn emerges unevenly, describes research that measured how much uneven emergence reduces corn yields, provides recommendations for managing uneven emerging stands, and gives suggestions ...
Feeding Distillers Grain to Young Dairy Heifers
Distillers grain is a popular livestock feed because of its availability and the cost of alternative feed grains. This publication looks at how best to incorporate distillers grain into the diets of post-weaned dairy hei...
Figuring Rent for Existing Farm Buildings
Outlines several factors owners and potential renters of farm buildings must consider in determining equitable rental rates. Provides worksheets for figuring building value and cost of providing a building. ...
Forages and Feeding Dairy Cattle During Drought Conditions
Drought conditions create numerous challenges on a dairy farm, including slow regrowth of pasture, hay and crops to be ensiled, reduced yields, lower forage quality and increased production costs. This publication looks ...
Indiana Agricultural Statistics App (iOS)
The "Indiana Agricultural Statistics" app has information about Indiana's entire agricultural industry. This publication satisfies the growing need for accurate, reliable and unbiased information and data. The data i...
Indiana Organic Grain Production: Cases to Consider
This 9-page publication summarizes advice and themes from seven Indiana farmers involved in organic grain production. It looks at their five farm operations, which were at different points in the organic transition proce...
Managing Your Beef Herd: Highlighting Key Determinants of Success in Preconditioning
Publication providing beef cattle producers information on preconditioning, a management practice for preparing calves for a successful feedlot experience. Covers team building, weight gain, herd health and nutrition and...
Opportunities for U.S. Pork in China and Implications for U.S. Hog Producers
This 4-page publication explains the future opportunities for U.S. hog producers and the steps they will have to take in order to meet the Chinese market's increasing demand for pork....
Profitability of Hybrid Striped Bass Cage Aquaculture in the Midwest
This 6-page publication discusses the profitability of hybrid striped bass cage aquaculture in the Midwest....
This 7-page publication discusses the profitability of indoor production of Pacific white shrimp in Indiana....
Projected Costs and Returns Associated with the Production of Kentucky Bluegrass
Turfgrass is a major specialty crop in the US. In the Midwest, production has been dominated by Kentucky bluegrass. This publication, the first in a forthcoming series, uses data from Indiana and Iowa to assess the econo...
Should I Quit Dairying Because of the Drought?
Dairy farmers considering shutting down their operations following a drought should carefully weigh the pros and cons of exiting the dairy industry. This publication walks dairy farmers through the decision-making proces...
Small-Scale Livestock Enterprises: Goat Enterprise Budget
This 4-page publication explains how to use the Purdue Comparative Decision Support (PCDS) matrix and the PCDS2 profit/loss analysis tool to generate an enterprise budget for a small-scale goat operation....
Stepwise Guide to Prepare for Dairy Farm Energy Audit
This publication outlines steps that farmers should take before, during and after a dairy farm energy audit conducted by the Purdue Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. Such audits are necessary if seeking ...
Supplementing Young Grazing Dairy Heifers with Lick Tubs: A Case Study
Lick tubs offer dairy producers a nutrient supplement option for their pasture-raised young heifers. This publication explains what lick tubs are and provides findings of a lick tub study conducted by Purdue University r...
Swine Wean-to-Finish Buildings
A wean-to-finish building is an all-in-one nursery, grower, and finishing building for swine production. These buildings are one of the newest ways that swine producers have devised to remain competitive in a increasin...
The Economics of Harvesting Corn Cobs for Energy
This 8-page publication presents the results of research on the economics of harvesting corn cobs for energy. It addresses the associated, additional costs of harvesting cobs and whether or not harvesting cobs generates ...
The Economics of Timber Stand Improvement
Information in this publication covers the financial aspects, including projected costs and revenues, of a well-managed timber stand improvement program. It also provides methods for calculating projected costs and re...
Types and Uses of Nitrogen Fertilizers for Crop Production
The purpose of this publication is to answer questions concerning types and uses of nitrogen fertilizers for crop production. It is hoped that the information presented will help Hoosier farmers more accurately assess ...
