ISDA and Indiana?s Family of Farmers

Celebrate National Agriculture Day

This year, National Ag Day was held on March 22, and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the organizations of Indiana?s Family of Farmers invited all Hoosiers to celebrate! Agriculture is a huge business in Indiana. Indiana is the eighth largest agricultural exporter in the nation, the tenth largest farming state and it contributes an estimated $31.2 billion to Indiana?s economy. We have more than 94,000 farmers in Indiana, with just over 54,000 farming operations. In 2017, Indiana farmers cultivated just under 15 million acres of farmland.

Click below to read the full release.

Director Kettler testifies on Farm Bill 2023 in Washington D.C.

Bruce Kettler, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Second Vice President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture?testified?before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research today.

Director Kettler?s remarks addressed the importance of completing the farm bill, states? co-regulatory role with the federal government and farmers? challenges in accessing specialty crop block grants.

Click below to read the full release and Director Kettler's testimony.

Indiana Connectivity Program

The Indiana Connectivity Program aims to connect residents and businesses that lack access to broadband internet service with service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to those locations.

Owners of residential and business locations unserved or underserved (access to actual speeds less than 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload) can apply for consideration by entering their information into the Next Level Connections portal to initiate their interest in receiving broadband internet service.

Click below to learn more.

March 22:?ISDA, Indiana?s Family of Farmers Celebrate National Agriculture Day
Find the full release?here

March 29:?NASDA Vice President expresses importance of completing the farm bill and states? role in federal policymaking
Find the full release?here

USDA Provides Additional Funding Available through the Local Agriculture Market Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced additional funding for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). In 2022, LAMP will receive a total of $97 million in competitive grant funding to help local and regional food entities develop, coordinate and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets and local food enterprises. Of the $97 million, LAMP?s Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) will receive $57 million, and the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) will receive $40 million.

Find more information about USDA funding opportunities here.

FEDERAL FUNDING:

Local Food Promotion Program
Find more information here

Regional Food System Partnerships
Find more information here

Farmers Market Promotion Program
Find more information here

Value Added Producer Grants
Find more information here

Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, Phase 1
Find more information here

Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance
Find more information here

Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, Phase 1
Find more information here

Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
Find more information here

Federal State Marketing Improvement Plan
Find more information here

Acer Access and Development Program
Find more information here

Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II
Find more information here

Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG)
Find more information here

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative
Find more information here

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 Small Business Funding Portal
Find more information here

STATE FUNDING:

Indiana State Trade and Export Promotion (IN-STEP)
Find more information here

Manufacturing Readiness Grant
Find more information here

GENERAL FUNDING:

Food Export Midwest?
Find more information here

FULL-TIME?OPPORTUNITIES?

Economic Operations Specialist
Find more information here

Grain Compliance Auditor, Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency |?Washington, IN
Find more information here

Grain Compliance Auditor, Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency |?Lafayette, IN
Find more information here

April 1: Hoosier Homestead Ceremony
Find more information?here

April 4-8: Stand Up 4 Grain Safety?Week
Find more information?here

April 15: Good Friday
ISDA offices closed

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