Farmers? Market featuring Indiana Grown opens at Indianapolis Airport

Earlier this month, SPP America, along with airport officials, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana Grown members, celebrated the opening of the Farmers? Market featuring Indiana Grown at the Indy Airport with a ribbon cutting event.

This is the first airport store in the country to spotlight its state?s agriculture industry. The restaurant will?feature a rotating, seasonal menu that will leverage Indiana Grown members across the calendar year.

Read more about the Farmers' Market featuring Indiana Grown

Grant funds available for specialty crop industry

ISDA is currently seeking project proposals from Indiana?s specialty crop sector for funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program offers federal funding annually to state departments of agriculture to support their specialty crop industries. This year, Indiana?s allocation is $484,966.

Eligible projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Indiana, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops.?

Click below to learn more about this year's funding.

Indiana officials celebrate National FFA Week with

proclamation and resolution

In honor of National FFA Week, seven Indiana State FFA Officers and National Officer, MacKenna Clifton of North Carolina, met in the Statehouse to receive a proclamation and resolution declaring Feb. 18-24 Indiana FFA Week. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the proclamation to name the week FFA Week in recognition of all the work the Indiana FFA Organization, agriculture educators and FFA advisors do to cultivate the next generation of agriculturists for our state. The Indiana FFA Association also received a senate concurrent resolution highlighting the impact of the FFA Organization, which is preparing more than 13,000 members in 90 of Indiana?s 92 counties for the over 250 unique careers in the food, fiber and natural resource sectors. The resolution was led by Sen. Jean Leising, Senate District 42 and Rep. Michael Aylesworth, House District 11.

Click below to read more.

2022 Census of Agriculture deadline extended

The deadline to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture has been extended! The Census?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.

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

Meet Megan Espinda, IDEM Agriculture Liaison

Megan Espinda is the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEM) new agricultural liaison, a position created in 2012 in recognition of the regulated farm community's impact on Indiana's economy and environment. Megan's mission is to establish open relationships with producers and positively influence the future impact of Indiana's agricultural and related industries. She works closely to identify opportunities and issues for confined feeding operations. Conversations with IDEM's Agricultural Liaison are confidential. Megan welcomes the opportunity to talk to farmers, producers, and others with questions or concerns about environmental regulations or programs targeting the ag industry, including areas where IDEM can provide additional services, education or outreach. You can contact Megan at [email protected] or 317-601-1949.

Feb. 8: Federal grant funds available for specialty crop industry
Find the full release?here

Feb. 9: Farmers? Market Opens at Indy Airport features 60-plus Indiana Grown suppliers
Find the full release?here

Feb. 21 : Indiana officials celebrate National FFA Week with proclamation and resolution
Find the full release?here

Export Indiana Accelerator Program (EIAP)

The Export Indiana Accelerator Program (EIAP) is a 12-week, no-cost, annual program offering Hoosier small businesses professional export guidance and leading research resources to create an executable, proactive Export Business Plan. This program is available to both new and existing exporters.

Businesses will leave the program with a strategic approach on where to best position their product in the world marketplace to grow international sales and an executable plan to make it happen.?EIAP is accepting applications until March 17, 2023.

Find more information here.

FEDERAL FUNDING:

USDA Agriculture Innovation Center Grant Program
Find more information?here

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II
Find more information here

Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (PSCSC) Program
Find more information?here

Regional Food System Partnerships
Find more information here

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants
Find more information?here

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development
Find more information?here

Farmers Market Promotion Program
Find more information?here

Local Food Promotion Program
Find more information?here

STATE FUNDING:

Indiana Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Find more information here

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

Mar. 21, 2023 | National Ag Day
Find more information here

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