By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Herald Bulletin
MUNCIE — Money doesn’t grow on trees — it’s out in the fields. For every $1 invested in agriculture, up to $4 goes back to the local economy.
But even though it might seem like farms in Indiana roll out as far as the eye can see, the farming economy here is wilting.
“It wasn’t that long ago that we had twice as many hog farms as we do now,” Greg Preston, director of the USDA’s Indiana statistics service, said. “Overall (in Indiana) farm numbers have fallen.”
Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration wants to reverse the trend. By harnessing the money-making power of everything from biofuel to health food, officials are hoping to revitalize Indiana agriculture, and, in turn, the state economy.
Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman presided over a four-hour agricultural summit at Ball State University.
Nearly 300 farmers, business people and economic developers came from east central Indiana to brainstorm ideas on how to grow the farming business.
Farming is an important part of the economy in Madison County. The tomato processing firm Red Gold, for example, is the third largest employer, with 1,100 full-time employees.
But, like the rest of the state, the industry is in trouble. According to the USDA’s Preston, in 2002, without government payments, net profits dropped more than 10 percent.
Bill Savage, economic development director in Elwood, wants to change that. Savage, who attended the summit, wants to attract an ethanol-producing plant, which makes fuel out of corn, to Elwood.
His vision is right in line with the Daniels administration. The number of ethanol plants increased from one to 18 over the last year, and Skillman said the new goal is 40.
“Indiana happens to be very well positioned,” Dr. Ron Meeusen, head of BioCrossroads, a private life sciences development firm, said. “We’ve got the basic resources and a solid manufacturing base.”
Besides fuel creation from corn and soybeans, state farming leaders are touting hardwoods and livestock, and not just to feed the country’s ever-growing demand for the meat.
“We are on the verge of agriculture becoming a significant contributor to the state’s energy supply,” Agricultural Director Andy Miller said.
Believe it or not, within the next 10 years, scientists may be able to create energy from animal manure.
“Agriculture has got to be a large part of this state’s economic comeback,” Miller said.
For Savage, it’s a new way of saying what he already knows.
“This is a return to our roots,” he said. “It’s already in our system in Elwood.”
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