See you at the Indiana State Fair!

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is excited to once again be a part of the 15 greatest days of summer this year at the Indiana State Fair. The fair runs Aug. 2 ? 18 and is closed on Mondays. We encourage all fairgoers to stop by and say hello at any of ISDA's locations on the fairgrounds.

Normandy Barn | Building Hours: 9:00 a.m. ? 9:00 p.m. ET everyday

Explore all things Indiana Agriculture inside Normandy Barn and Garden Center! Be sure to check out the newly added solar panels on the side of the barn.

Pathway To Water Quality | Hours: 9:00 a.m. ? 9:00 p.m. ET everyday

The Pathway to Water Quality, managed by the Indiana Conservation Partnership, is a model watershed that shows how land ?sheds? excess water and what that means to you.

FFA Pavilion | Building hours: 9:00 a.m. ? 9:00 p.m. ET everyday

Join the Indiana FFA State Officers at the FFA Pavilion every day for mini golf and a petting zoo.

Indiana Grown Marketplace | Building hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET everyday

Shop locally grown, raised, processed and/or packaged products daily in the Indiana Grown store. The Indiana Grown State Fair Marketplace will offer fairgoers the opportunity to shop over 400 unique products from nearly 100 local Indiana Grown members.

Click below to find more information regarding the 2023 Indiana State Fair.

ISDA completes Indiana?s inventory of lost farmland study

In 2023, the Indiana General Assembly passed?House Enrolled Act 1557, which tasked ISDA to complete an inventory of lost farmland in Indiana from 2010-2022.

ISDA determined through the inventory of lost farmland study that there has been an overall reduction of farmland acres of approximately 1.5-2% from 2010-2022. This represents a loss of approximately 350,000 acres. The results show that agricultural land was most likely to be lost in areas around the edges of cities and suburban areas. The primary cause of reduction in farmland was due to residential use.

Click below to read the full release and find the full study

Conservation record broken by Hoosier farmers and landowners for third year in a row

For a third year in a row, Hoosier farmers broke their conservation record and are now planting over 1.7 million acres of cover crops and living covers on Indiana farmland. This significant milestone underscores the increasing adoption of cover crops by farmers, driven by their multiple benefits for soil health, water management and overall farm productivity.

Click below to read the full release

Shop local products at the Indiana Grown Marketplace during the Indiana State Fair

The?Indiana Grown Marketplace at the Indiana State Fair will allow fairgoers the opportunity to shop from 407 products representing over 90 Hoosier businesses in one location.?Shoppers will find a variety of products like sauces, cookies, fudge, teas and popcorn. Also available are body care items like handcrafted soap, natural bath bombs, laundry detergents, lotions and more.

The storefront solely features products grown, processed, packaged or produced in Indiana with product samples available to taste each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m.

Click below to read the full release and plan your visit?

Clark Smith will lead state?s grain buyers division

Clark Smith has been hired to serve as director of ISDA's Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency. As director of the agency, Smith will be responsible for managing staff and overseeing the agency?s statutory obligations, which include approving new license applications and the auditing of Indiana?s commercial grain operations. A southern Indiana native, Smith was raised in Brownstown, IN. He and his wife now manage and oversee a family Angus cattle herd near Greenfield, IN. Smith attended Indiana University for his bachelor?s degree and graduated from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University in 2019 with a Master of Business Administration focused on marketing and data analytics.

Click below to read the full release

Effective bio-security practices that will protect your cows,

employees and neighbors

The Indiana Board of Animal Health has issued some very simple and effective biosecurity practices that can be implemented to help reduce the risk of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza on Indiana dairy farms. Fortunately, Indiana has not had a confirmed case in dairy, and we want to keep it that way. Click here to view the tips.??

ISDA attends trade mission to Indonesia with Indiana Soybean Alliance

ISDA International Trade Manager Megan Bixler recently returned from a trade mission organized by the Indiana Soybean Alliance to promote soybean exports to Indonesia. Indonesia is a leading global consumer of soybeans, primarily due to the prevalence of tempeh and tofu in local diets. ?With the largest and fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia, continuing to develop this trade relationship with Indonesia will be beneficial for Indiana soybean farmers," said Bixler. "The demand for U.S. products in Indonesia is anticipated to increase in response to the country?s growing population and emphasis on food security.? The delegation met with importers, government officials and foreign agricultural service staff in Indonesia to identify opportunities and address challenges for Indiana exporters.

July 1: Indiana?s inventory of lost farmland 2010-2022
Find the full release?here

July 11: Clark Smith will lead state?s grain buyers division
Find the full release?here

July 16: Conservation record broken by Hoosier farmers and landowners for third year in a row
Find the full release?here

July 22: Indiana's Ultimate Farmers Market returns in July
Find the full release?here

July 23: Shop local products at the Indiana Grown Marketplace during the Indiana State Fair
Find the full release?here

Indiana Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP)
Find more information here

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
Find more information?here

Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
Find more information?here

Indiana FFA Deputy Director | Indianapolis, IN
Find more information here

Resource Specialist | Boonville, IN
Find more information here

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