Bloomington, Ind. — The Bloomington City Council recently passed an urban agriculture ordinance, which will become part of the city's new Unified Development Ordinance.  In short, the ordinance, which was passed unanimously, defines "urban agriculture" and "community garden" and lists them as permitted activities in all residential zones within the city.

"Getting (the ordinance) into the zoning code was a major victory and will no doubt help promote local food production and food security," said John D. Galuska, one of the supporters. He also expects efforts to get Mayor Mark Kruzan to sign an official proclamation in support of urban agriculture.

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West Lafayette, Ind. -Every five years the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts a census of farms, farmers and their crops.

Here are some findings from the 2007 census, which was released earlier this month.

A few of the many things the 2007 Census of Agriculture shows is adecrease in mid-sized farms, an increase in organic production, an increase in small farms and an increase in the average age of the farmer.

"The category of farms that have 2,000 acres or more actually increased by 30 percent from the previous census (2002), where as farms that are fewer than 50 acres - specifically farms that have one to nine acres -have actually gone up 79 percent," said Greg Preston, director of U.S.Department of Agriculture's National Ag Statistics Service office in Indiana.

There are 287 Indiana farms comprising 14,143 acres that grow certified organic crops. LaGrange County ranks first in organic production in Indiana with 34 farms and 1,457 acres. A follow-up survey will be sent out to organic producers in the next few months to gather more information.

"We think that's not only a reversal of trend but maybe a transition as we see more and more farms in the smaller categories across the state."Preston said.

To boost income, the owner of a middle-sized farm has to decide whether to increase farm size, find off-farm supplemental employment or decrease the size of the farm and try a different kind of farming, such as specialty crops and direct marketing, Preston said.

Crop sales in Indiana had a market value of more than $5 billion, while state livestock sales had a market value of around $2.9 billion. Indiana's total market value of agricultural products for 2007 was more than $8 billion, a 73 percent increase from the 2002 census. The nation's total market value of agricultural products was $297 billion, up 48 percent from 2002.

The top three corn-producing counties in Indiana include Jasper, Whiteand Knox. The top three soybean-producing counties in Indiana are Knox, Montgomery and Benton. Posey, Knox and Gibson counties are the three Indiana counties that grow the most wheat.

Formore info: Purdue News.

© Gimmestock

Many of Tuttle's longtime customers recall purchasing apples out of the back of Roy's pickup truck for $1.20 a bushel in the 1940s. Over the years, the old dairy barn has been converted into a year-‘round farm store, where more than 80,000 people visited during 2007.  

Crops have been expanded to include a full line of spring flowers, as well as summer vegetables. “We have diversified over the years to meet the needs of our community and the changes in the industry,” said Mike Roney, owner and grandson of Roy Tuttle.

More than 500,000 bushels of apples have come from Tuttle's apple trees over the last 80 years. Today the orchard grows 22 varieties on 4,750 trees. The orchard is still owned and operated by the third and fourth generations of the Tuttle family.           

Tuttle's cider received a top U.S. award in 1992. A new strain of the Stayman Winesap apple tree was also developed on the orchard in the 1970s, which holds a U.S. patent.      

The public is invited to the Anniversary Orchard Festival will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 6, 2008. Enjoy u-pick apples, corn maze, tours on the farm, antique tractors, view memories of the last 80 years and celebrate with the family. For more information,  www.tuttleorchards.com.