Planting season is here; remain alert to large

farm equipment on Indiana roads

Planting season is here 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, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch?and?Hoosier Ag Today?want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on rural roadways this spring. While the term ?farm equipment? encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

Click below to read more and find a list of safety tips.

Indiana shows strong conservation and water quality

improvement trends

The Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) announced its 2021 soil health and water quality accomplishments. The ICP works with Hoosier landowners to provide technical or financial assistance for the implementation of conservation projects. In 2021, landowners supported by the ICP installed more than 31,500 new conservation practices.? The Indiana Conservation Partnership report showed that over the last year landowners helped prevent nearly one million tons of sediment, over 1.9 million pounds of nitrogen and?991,446 pounds of phosphorus from entering Indiana waterways.?Cover crops and no-till practices implemented with ICP's assistance sequestered an estimated 42,000 tons of soil organic carbon, which is the equivalent to the carbon emissions of more than 30,000 cars.

Click below to read more about the partnership's accomplishments.

20 Indiana wood manufacturers recognized

on ?North America?s Largest? list

Twenty wood manufacturing firms from Indiana have been included?on the?2022 FDMC 300?list, which ranks the largest cabinet, furniture, millwork, store fixture, office/contract and component producers in North America. Jasper-based?MasterBrand Cabinets?ranks No. 3 overall and is the largest on the list from Indiana.? Companies on the list are ranked according to annual sales. Three other Indiana firms rank among the top 35 companies on the list: Kimball International Inc. lands at No. 21, OFS Brands Inc. holds spot No. 31 and Genesis Products is No. 34.

Click below to read more and find a full list of Indiana's largest wood manufacturers.

Rob Hays Memorial Hoot Scoot 5K

The Rob Hays Memorial Hoot Scoot 5K is an annual fundraising event hosted in memory of Rob Hays, former Executive Director of the Indiana FFA, and an avid runner. #RunLikeRob

There are two ways to participate:

• You can participate in the virtual 5K by walking, running, or wheeling ? anywhere, anytime from May 14 to May 21.
• You can participate in the in-person 5K at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Kentland, IN on May 21 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Registration for either option is $40.

Funds raised through the event will go toward the Rob Hays Memorial Fund.

Click below to learn more and register.

April 1: 69 farming families honored with the Hoosier Homestead Award
Find the full release?here

April 6: 20 Indiana wood manufacturers recognized on ?North America?s Largest? list
Find the full release?here

April 21: Planting season is here; remain alert to large farm equipment on Indiana roads
Find the full release?here

April 28:?Indiana shows strong conservation and water quality improvement trends
Find the full release?here

USDA Provides Additional Funding Available through the Local Agriculture Market Program

Purdue University recently launched the Food Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing Institute (FEMI). The goal of the institute is to assist in the processes of bringing a food or beverage from an idea to commercialization.?FEMI?s capacity will range from assisting beginner entrepreneurs working to get off the ground up to large corporations interested in exploring equipment capability or the inclusion of groundbreaking research.

Learn more about the?Food Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing Institute 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

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

Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan 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?|?Indianapolis, IN
Find more information here

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

International Trade Director?|?Indianapolis, IN
Find more information here

May: Mental Health Awareness Month
Find mental health resources?here

May 3: Primary Election
ISDA offices closed

May 30: Memorial Day
ISDA offices closed

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