We provide research-based agricultural education and resources to support producers, landowners, and residents across Benton, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo and Warren counties.
Our Educators
Our Programs
Private Applicator Recertification Program (Parp)
A Private Pesticide Applicator is anyone who applies pesticides to property they own, rent or otherwise control for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity. Any private applicator wishing to buy and use restricted-use pesticides must be certified by passing the Core exam. Once certified, the private applicator must attend at least three training programs that offer PARP credit within each five-year period.
Master Gardeners
The Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program is designed to help educate the public about gardening through the use of trained, certified volunteers. The program allows participants to grow by providing them with training in horticulture principles. They, in turn, agree to share their knowledge and help others succeed.
on farm research trials
Purdue Extension offers optional support to farmers conducting on-farm research trials—such as fertilizer timing, sulfur use, or biological products—by assisting with trial design, implementation, scouting, drone imagery, and soil or plant sampling, with flexible, à la carte involvement.
Enhancing the value of public spaces
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces (EVPS), addresses public spaces and their role in enhancing the quality of place by helping regions, communities and neighborhoods plan and prepare for a sustainable future. The Indiana-based curriculum is designed for use by decision-makers and local leaders with oversight and management of community public spaces, such as parks boards and plan commission members, public officials and their staff and members of organizations that provide services, programs or management of public spaces.
Succession Planning
Planning for the future of a family farm can be a big and sometimes difficult process. Purdue’s Succession Planning Team works with Indiana farm families to help them prepare for the future and keep their family farm business going for generations to come. Through regional workshops, introductory presentations, and personalized farm family visits, the team provides practical information, resources, and support to help families navigate the succession planning process.
Our Services
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Master Cattleman & Beef Basics
The Master Cattleman Program builds on this foundation through 11 weeks of interactive, discussion-based classroom instruction tailored to participants’ needs. Certified producers can expand their networks with Indiana beef producers, industry professionals, and Purdue Extension while gaining access to exclusive field days and continuing education opportunities. The Beef Basics Program is designed for producers with less than five years of experience or those interested in exploring the beef industry, though all are welcome to attend. Led by Extension educators, specialists, and industry experts, the program offers instruction on beef cattle fundamentals, including behavior, facilities, health, genetic selection, forages, nutrition, and reproduction.
Beginning Farmer
The Purdue Beginning Farmer program seeks to support new farmers determine their mission and vision through statewide programs, projects with partnering agencies, and targeted farm events to build more robust networks across Indiana.
Primary Contact
Succession Planning
Planning for the future of a family farm can be a big and sometimes difficult process. Purdue’s Succession Planning Team works with Indiana farm families to help them prepare for the future and keep their family farm business going for generations to come. Through regional workshops, introductory presentations, and personalized farm family visits, the team provides practical information, resources, and support to help families navigate the succession planning process.
Becoming the Employer of Choice
This program is geared for current and future farm managers/owners looking to improve their human resource management skills. The program includes interactive sessions for managers to increase management awareness and ability. These sessions aim to build skills in a wide variety of human resource management topics important to farm businesses. Learn from other farmers and managers to take home effective and practical approaches to human resource management on farms.
Grow Your Farm Operation
Purdue Extension offers interactive educational programs designed to help beginning and next-generation farmers strengthen their farm management skills and grow successful operations. Participants learn about farm planning, financial management, marketing, precision agriculture, pest management, best management practices, communication, and succession planning. Through expert guidance, practical strategies, and networking opportunities, these programs help farmers make informed decisions, navigate challenges in agriculture, and build a foundation for long-term farm success.
Enhancing Your Land Lease
Purdue Extension offers educational resources for landowners interested in exploring additional leasing opportunities to increase income and improve land management. Topics include incorporating conservation practices into leases, pasture leasing, and hunting leases. These options can help landowners enhance existing agreements, explore new revenue streams, and make informed decisions about managing their property.
Primary Contact
Scott Monroe, jsmonroe@purdue.edu
Diversified Farming and Food Systems Team
Food Safety
Food safety at Purdue Extension focuses on teaching people how to handle, prepare, cook, store, and serve food safely to prevent foodborne illnesses. Through educational programs and resources, Purdue Extension helps individuals, families, and food service workers learn important practices such as proper handwashing, preventing cross-contamination, maintaining safe food temperatures, and cleaning and sanitizing food preparation areas. The goal is to help people make informed decisions and keep food safe for everyone to enjoy.
Primary Contacts
Purdue Field Days
The Purdue Agricultural Centers (PACs) will be offering public field days, workshops, and other events. These events provide educational opportunities for commodity producers, crop/livestock advisers, and others seeking knowledge in crop production, farm management, land use, and other issues.
PARP Events
Private applicator permits are current for five years. In that five years, you attend three recertification programs or take the pesticide or fertilizer certification exam. In October of the expiration year printed on the private applicator permit, the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) sends a letter to applicators whose permit expires on December 31 of that year.
Integrated Pest Management
Pest management is one of the signature research areas of the Department of Entomology. Purdue has one of the premier urban entomology programs in the country. The urban entomology research encompasses such subjects as management of general and structural pests, food industry pest management, ornamental pest management, turfgrass pest management, forensic entomology, and vector biology. The Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management is a model for university and industry partnerships. Crop and livestock pest management emphasizes traditional IPM practices such as pest biology, sampling, economic thresholds, cultural and biological control and evaluation of pesticides.e informed decisions about managing their property.
unmanned aerial vehicles (uav)
Purdue Extension is training Agriculture & Natural Resources Educators across Indiana to use UAVs (drones) to help farmers, landowners, and agricultural professionals collect and analyze data more easily. This technology improves precision, efficiency, and decision-making while supporting environmental stewardship and long-term agricultural success.
Primary Contacts
Sarah Hanson, sspeedy@purdue.edu
John Orick, orick@purdue.edu
Master Gardeners
The Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program is designed to help educate the public about gardening through the use of trained, certified volunteers. The program allows participants to grow by providing them with training in horticulture principles. They, in turn, agree to share their knowledge and help others succeed.
Junior Master Gardeners
Indiana Master Gardener Training Workshop is a hands-on train-the-trainer workshop designed to introduce and immerse you in the JMG curriculum in general with a focus on the Level 1 Curriculum, including Learn Grow Eat and Go materials.
Rainscaping Education
Rainscaping includes the use of sustainable landscape design and management practices at both the household and community scales to prevent polluted runoff from reaching water bodies by directing stormwater to be absorbed by plants and soils. Community water quality potentially affected by homeowner landscape management practices could be improved through increased community education and implementation assistance of rainscaping best management practices.
Grass to Garden
Start a Community-based Garden With Purdue Extension, from improving access to fruits and vegetables to educating people on how food is grown, community gardens offer many benefits to the place you call home.
Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference
The Indiana Small Farm Conference has been a leading event for Indiana’s small and diversified farm community, offering continuing education and opportunities for farmer-to-farmer networking. Launched by Purdue University Extension following a 2011 gathering of farmers and stakeholders, the conference has grown to host over 500 attendees, 50 exhibitors, and national speakers.
Indiana Organic Grain Farmer Meeting
The Indiana Organic Grain Farmer meeting increases participant understanding of organic transition, certification, and cropping systems through peer learning and networking. This annual event includes breakout sessions, farmer panels, networking time, and an industry trade show.
Primary Contact
Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner
The Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner course provides forest landowners eight learning sessions designed to introduce them to the biology and management of forests, and the resources and professional assistance they can access to help them form their property management goals and pursue their objectives. Field experiences are integrated into the course to provide in-person, hands-on connections with the biology and management of Indiana forests. Connections made during the course and field tours introduce landowners to the foresters and other natural resource professionals who can help them with the management of their forestland.
Nature of Teaching
The Nature of Teaching includes formal standards-based curricula and informal activity-based curricula all centered around getting youth outside. The three program areas of the formal curricula include: Wildlife, Health and Wellness, and Food Waste. Each program area provides standards-based lesson plans free as a downloadable PDF. Lesson plans are classroom ready for grades K-12.
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces (EVPS), addresses public spaces and their role in enhancing the quality of place by helping regions, communities and neighborhoods plan and prepare for a sustainable future. The Indiana-based curriculum is designed for use by decision-makers and local leaders with oversight and management of community public spaces, such as parks boards and plan commission members, public officials and their staff and members of organizations that provide services, programs or management of public spaces.
Invasive Species
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URBAN AGRICULTURE
Growing food in cities and suburbs can take many forms, from community gardens and schoolyard coops to small farms supplying local restaurants. These efforts can improve food security, support youth and businesses, reduce blight, and strengthen communities.
Helpful Resources
Center for Commercial AGVisit for information on marketing, farmland, insurance, etc.
Purdue Species Information
Visit for information on various species of animals such as cattle, horses, poultry, swine, etc.
Animal Science Extension
Find more Extension links and information on Purdue Animal Science Specialists.
Register for Premise ID
Beginning Farmers
Offers support to new farmers
Purdue Horticulture and Landscaping
Information regarding home yard and gardens, vegetables, fruits, nurseries, etc.
Purdue Turf Management and ScienceVisit for info on Turfgrass
Information on several ways to protect pollinators