Indiana FFA Students competing on the national stage

This week the sea of the blue jackets returns to downtown Indianapolis for the?96th National FFA Convention & Expo. During the Convention,?100 Indiana FFA members from across the state will compete in a variety of career and leadership development events.

Students will be competing in career development events such as Environment and Natural Resources, Forestry, Veterinary Science and Floriculture. Others will be competing in leadership development events such as Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Agricultural Issues Forum and Creed Speaking.

Click below to read more and find a full list of competing chapters.?

International visitors pay off big for Hoosier businesses

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana?s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the?Indiana State Department of Agriculture?hosted a Turkish hardwoods trade mission to the Hoosier state earlier this month.?Indiana?s hardwood industry exports were valued at over $167 million in 2022 and eight Turkish companies were excited to experience this robust industry firsthand.

The trade group visited hardwood manufacturing facilities from across the state, from loggers in Paoli, to timber buyers in Spencer, to hardwood manufacturing in Logansport, Akron and Columbia City. Their trip began in Louisville, Ky. and ended in Chicago.

Click below to read more about the visit.

2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Technical Assistance

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is piloting the opportunity for potential?Specialty Crop Block Grant?(SCBG) applicants to receive feedback and guidance from ISDA staff about potential SCBG project ideas prior to submission of applications in the spring of 2024. Submission of a Concept Proposal is an option and therefore not required as a prerequisite to submit a SCBG application.?

The USDA SCBG Program offers federal funding annually to state departments of agriculture to support their specialty crop industries. Eligible projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Indiana, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops.

Click below to learn more about SCGB grants and how to submit a concept proposal.

USDA Foreign Ag Service Administrator Whitley visits Indiana

Daniel Whitley, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Ag Service, enjoyed some time on the farm while visiting Indiana earlier this month.

While visiting Lamb Farms in Lebanon, ISDA Director Lamb and Administer Whitley spoke about popcorn and row crop production, soil health, commodity exports and the importance of expanding and maintaining relationships with our trade partners.

Inflation Reduction Act Section 22006 Assistance for Distressed Borrowers Stakeholder

USDA is currently accepting and reviewing individual requests for assistance from borrowers who took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct farm loans and those who missed a recent installment or who are unable to make their next scheduled installment. Learn more and submit a request for assistance here. All requests for assistance must be received by Dec. 31, 2023. ?

Oct. 18: International visitors pay off big for Hoosier businesses
Find the full release?here

Oct. 25:?Indiana FFA Students competing on the national stage
Find the full release?here

Export opportunities for value-added feed ingredients

suppliers in 2024

Food Export-Midwest is hosting a series of Buyers Missions (business-to-business meetings with international buyers) focusing on value-added animal feed ingredients. These Buyers Missions give Indiana suppliers a venue to expand or initiate export sales in target markets. Early registration for each Buyers Mission is currently $175.

• Buyers Mission at International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, GA ? Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2024
• Buyers Mission at World Pork Expo (WPE) in Des Moines, IA ? June 5-7, 2024
• Buyers Mission at World Dairy Expo (WDE) in Madison, WI ? Oct. 1-4, 2024

Indiana companies can also attend a focused trade mission to Bogota, Colombia to meet buyers interested in value-added feed and pet food ingredients. This activity is Branded Program eligible, which allows companies to apply for up to 50% reimbursement for international marketing expenses.

• Focused Trade Mission to Colombia for Value-Added Feed and Pet Food Ingredients

Questions? Contact International Trade Director, Drew Sherman for more information.

Manufacturing Readiness Grant
Find more information here

Rural Energy for America Program (R.E.A.P.)
Find more information here

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
Find more information?here

Nov. 7: General Election Day
ISDA office closed

Nov. 10: Veterans Day
ISDA office closed

Nov. 23: Thanksgiving
ISDA office closed

Nov. 24: Lincoln's Birthday
ISDA office closed

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