Planting season roadway safety

Planting season is underway for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers. With the warm weather and sunshine, Hoosier motorists will also see more large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana’s rural roads and highways.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police and Hoosier Ag Today want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on roadways this spring.

Click below to read the full release, find safety tips for motorists and watch Director Lamb's video PSA.

ISDA awarded over $1 million in funding for gulf hypoxia zone

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Division received $1,713,333 from the US EPA through the Gulf Hypoxia Program created under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states in their nutrient reduction strategy efforts.  This funding will complement and contribute to the efforts and success of the Indiana State Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This strategy represents the state’s commitment to reduce nutrient runoff from point sources and non-point sources alike, to ultimately improve water quality in Indiana lakes, streams and rivers, and downstream in the Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, and Great Lakes.

Click below to read more about this funding.

USDA announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program
signup for 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through May 26, 2023.

Among CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique working lands program, allowing producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while conserving grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity as well as healthier soil.  

Click below to read more.

USDA Farm Service Agency's new revenue-based disaster and pandemic assistance programs 

In January, USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced two new revenue-based programs designed to assist producers who experienced revenue losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) offer a holistic approach to disaster assistance and provide economic support for producers who bear the financial brunt of circumstances beyond their control.

With a June 2, 2023, deadline to apply for both programs, Indiana FSA wants to clear up confusion about how to apply, what documents are required for participation, insurance requirements and related misinformation making its way across the countryside.

Click below to learn more.

April 10: Motorists should remain cautious on rural roads this Spring; share the road with farm equipment
Find the full release here

April 19: Dept. of Agriculture receives over $1 million in funding for gulf hypoxia zone
Find the full release here

Agricultural Trade Mission to The Netherlands

Indiana State Department of Agriculture joined USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, as well as representatives from 9 state departments of agriculture and 27 U.S. companies on an agricultural trade mission to the Netherlands in April. Participants conducted business-to-business meetings with potential buyers, received market briefings from FAS and trade experts and participated in site visits to relevant agribusinesses and port infrastructure. The Netherlands is known as a "gateway to Europe" for U.S. exporters. The centrally located country has tremendous port and rail infrastructure and unequaled experience in importing agricultural ingredients and food and beverage products into the E.U.

Director Lamb hosts India Delegation

In April, a ten-member delegation from Arunachal Pradesh, India visited Director Lamb's farm and composting business.  The delegation also visited Poland Dairy (Boswell, IN), Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Inc. (Whitestown, IN), and Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN). The Arunachal Pradesh representatives included the Minister of Industry and Commerce, and senior leadership for the Department of Industry, Department of Horticulture, Department of Textile, Handloom, & Handicraft, Department of Sericulture, and the Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development & Financial Corporation Limited.

Regional Food System Partnerships
Find more information here

Farmers Market Promotion Program 
Find more information here

Local Food Promotion Program
Find more information here

Community Connect Program
Find more information here

Value-Added Producer Grants
Find more information here

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems
Find more information here

Grain Compliance Auditor | Bloomington, IN
Find more information here

Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs | Indianapolis, IN
Find more information here

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