95th National FFA Convention & Expo

Nearly?70,000 FFA members and guests gathered in Indianapolis for the?95th National FFA Convention & Expo!?The National FFA Convention & Expo is all about growing the next generation of leaders, and it was an honor to host them in our city. While in town, students participated in captivating sessions, engaged with fellow members, businesses and universities and competed in career and leadership development events on the national level.?

Click below to learn more about the convention.

Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Webinar

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and partners are hosting a webinar for stakeholders and producers that focuses on the new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program. FSCSC will provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023. The webinar will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET and will be recorded. Please register in advance of the webinar HERE. Webinar topics include: FSCSC overview and eligibility requirements Overview of Food Safety Certification Requirements for Specialty Crops by USDA?s Agricultural Marketing Service and Toolkit Overview for GAP and Food Safety Plan Quality Management Systems by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Additional resources The FSCSC application period for 2022 runs through January 31, 2023, and the application period for 2023 will be announced at a later date.

Click below for additional information.

Hoosier Dairies Eligible for Grant Funding

Hoosier Dairy farmers, manufacturer's, and processors can apply now until November 10 at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) for a new round of?Dairy Business Builder grants?through the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin ? Madison (CDR).

The reimbursement grants of up to $100,000 each aim to support small- to medium-sized dairy businesses in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, enhancing dairy byproducts and creating or enhancing dairy export programs. Competition is open to dairy farmers and processors in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas and Wisconsin.

Click below to learn more about the grant.

Ensure you are counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture!

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. For America?s farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future and their opportunity.

USDA will begin mailing out surveys during the month of November- be on lookout and be counted!

Click below to learn more about the?2022 Census of Agriculture and ensure you are counted.

October 17: Indiana FFA represented in National Officer Candidate Process
Find the full release?here

The money, which has been allocated from the ?Inflation Reduction Act,? is being used to provide assistance to borrowers of farm loans administered by the USDA?s Farm Service Agency whose operations are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Learn more about this funding?here.

FEDERAL FUNDING:

Dairy Business Builder Grant Program
Find more information?here

Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
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:

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grants
Find more information here

Food Export Midwest?
Find more information here

Assistant Director - FFA Career & Leadership Development?|?Indianapolis, IN
Find more information here

Division of Soil Conservation - Resource Specialist?|?Huntington, IN
Find more information here

Division of Soil Conservation - Resource Specialist?|?Kokomo, IN
Find more information here

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