Harvest season is here; share tips to help Hoosiers know how to safely navigate around farm equipment on the roads

Harvest season is officially underway for Indiana?s 94,000 farmers, which means more slow-moving farm equipment will be on Indiana?s rural roads and highways. To keep Hoosiers safe this year, state agencies are asking motorists to be alert and patient as they share the road with farm equipment this fall.

In 2022 four vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in one death, according to the?National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

• Be alert. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
• Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated ?No Passing Zone? or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
• Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
• Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

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USDA and Indiana expand their successful conservation partnership

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Indiana announced the expansion of the Indiana Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) ? broadening the program from 65 counties to the state?s entire 92 counties and increasing the acreage goal to 100,000 acres.? The expansion will include 27 additional watersheds in the state.

The purpose of the Indiana CREP is to improve water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient runoff and enhance wildlife habitats. Currently, it has more than 22,000 acres of agricultural land enrolled in 11 designated watersheds in the Wabash and White River systems, including the Tippecanoe, Upper White River, Highland/Pigeon, Upper Wabash, Middle Wabash-Deer, Middle Wabash-Little Vermillion, Middle Wabash-Busseron, Lower Wabash, Lower White, Lower East Fork White and the Upper East Fork White watersheds.

The administrator for the USDA?s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Zach Ducheneaux, and ISDA Director Lamb met earlier this month to formally sign the program?s expansion into action in Pierceton, Ind.

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Chesterton farmers market wins Indiana?s Ultimate

Farmers Market Challenge

Indiana Grown?and the?Indiana Farmers Market Community of Practice (INFMP)?announced the winner of Indiana's Ultimate Farmers Market Challenge as Coffee Creek Farmers Market in Chesterton, Ind.

This was the second year for this contest and was a chance for customers across the state to vote for their favorite hometown farmers market to encourage local engagement and statewide recognition.

Click below to read the full release

National Association of State Departments of

Agriculture (NASDA) in Indianapolis

Last week the?National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) hosted its Annual Meeting at the Westin in downtown Indianapolis. The event brings together the commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories to discuss ag policies that impact the U.S. ag industry.

This year?s event was co-hosted by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) alongside the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The meeting featured plenary sessions with thought leaders on panels talking about agriculture economics, emergency preparedness and more. This event allows department of agriculture directors, secretaries and commissioners from around the U.S. to network, build relationships and share ideas on challenges and opportunities.

ISDA?s very own Cathy Weeks was selected as the 2024 NASDA Douglass-Irvin Administration Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions within a state agency resulting in improved administrative efficiency and impact. Weeks has been instrumental in the planning of the 2024 NASDA Annual Meeting, a collaboration between the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Weeks? meticulous planning not only contributed to NASDA's Annual Meeting, but also strengthened the department?s reputation and relationships with other state agencies and stakeholders as she worked to meet the needs of her department and the broader agricultural community.

Click below to view all the news from the meeting

ISDA International Trade September activities

Indiana promoting pork, poultry and more in Vietnam In September, ISDA participated a trade mission to Vietnam organized by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. The trade mission, which visited both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, organized more than 500 business-to-business meetings between US suppliers and importers from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. ISDA was joined by Weaver Popcorn Bulk and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) on the trade mission. ISA also sponsored two culinary competitions to promote US pork and poultry products to Vietnamese consumers.

ISDA hosts Japanese farmer delegation ISDA coordinated with the USDA FAS International Climate Hub to host a delegation of Japanese officials, researchers and farmers in September. The tour aimed to foster US-Japan cooperation on climate-smart agriculture and to highlight farming and production practices that have been successful in Indiana. The delegation also heard from National FFA and Indiana FFA on engaging youth with the agriculture industry.

Foreign Ag Diplomats attend NASDA Annual Meeting While the 50 State Departments of Agriculture descended on Indianapolis for the Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, ISDA also organized meetings and agricultural tours for visiting foreign embassy representatives. The delegation consisted of 23 top-level ag diplomats from 20 embassies based in Washington D.C. While in Indiana, the delegation met with ISDA leadership to discuss state policy, soil conservation programs, export opportunities, and attended several site visits of farms, animal production facilities, and food processors.

Sept. 3: Shop local at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds featuring Indiana Grown products and members
Find the full release?here

Sept. 11: Harvest season is here; Dept. of Ag shares tips to stay safe around farm equipment on roads
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Sept. 18: USDA and Indiana Expand Their Successful Conservation Partnership
Find the full release?here

Sept. 19: Chesterton farmers market wins Indiana?s Ultimate Farmers Market Challenge
Find the full release?here

Sept. 23: Free soil sampling program available for Indiana farmers
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Oct. 12: National Farmer Day

Oct. 14: Columbus Day?
ISDA office closed

Oct. 23-26: 97th National FFA Convention & Expo
Find more information here

Indiana FFA Assistant Director of Youth Development - Indianapolis, IN
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