Longstanding farming families honored at the Statehouse
Indiana is very proud of its rich agricultural heritage and
the family farms that carry on that tradition. The Indiana State Department of
Agriculture honored 39 of those farm families on April 7 with the Hoosier
Homestead Award.
The ceremony took place at the Indiana Statehouse and
recognized families that have owned the same farm for 100 years with a
Centennial Award, for 150 years with a Sesquicentennial Award and for 200 years
with a Bicentennial Award. Notably, the Bicentennial Award was presented to one
family during April’s ceremony.
While all of these farms have no doubt changed dramatically through the years, one thing has not changed—the families’ commitment to agriculture and stewardship of the family farm. Many of the families at the ceremony were represented by past, present and future generations of farmers.
Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and ISDA Director Ted McKinney acknowledged the hard work these families and their ancestors have poured into their farms. Indiana would be a lesser place were it not for its agricultural roots.
Click here to view photos from the ceremony, or here to learn more about the Hoosier Homestead Award.
Fresh Thyme joins the Indiana Grown community
It's no secret that people want to know where their food comes from, and they want to support local. This is especially true in Indiana. Fortunately, Indiana Grown continues to make that possible by forging new relationships and connecting consumers with locally-sourced agricultural products.
Recently, Lt. Governor Crouch announced the initiative's latest retail partnership with grocery chain Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, which will bring dozens of Indiana Grown members’ products into stores throughout the state. The products will be highlighted using banners, shelf and display signage throughout the store, helping Hoosiers identify and purchase products that are grown, produced or processed in Indiana.
Among many benefits, this partnership allows Indiana
Grown members the opportunity to grow their distribution and increase sales
while educating consumers about the wide range of agriculture goods made right
here in Indiana. It also makes it easier for
Hoosiers to buy local and support their neighbors.
We truly believe everyone has a chance to share in the success of Indiana Grown, whether it’s a large or small operation, high-tech, low-tech, traditional or non-traditional, and we are always enjoy celebrating our new partnerships, like Fresh Thyme.
Visit www.indianagrown.org for more information.
Legislative Wrap-Up 2017
The
Indiana General Assembly has finished its business for 2017, and we wanted to
provide a brief update on a few key pieces of legislation that will impact the
agriculture industry.
House Enrolled Act
1001
The state biennial budget passed this session includes funding for the Indiana
Grown initiative, which is managed by ISDA. Indiana Grown, without its own
appropriation until now, will receive $250,000 over the next two years to help
Hoosier growers, producers and food and agriculture-related businesses promote to consumers and
gain market access in retail outlets, restaurants and more. The initiative has grown to
over 750 members in its first two years.
ISDA
will also receive additional funding for the Division of Soil Conservation
dedicated to conservation efforts in the Western Lake Erie Basin. The soils division will use these funds to encourage more conservation practices such as
no-till and cover crops which reduce runoff into our waterways.
House
Enrolled Act 1002 A legislative priority for the Holcomb administration, HEA
1002 provides a transportation infrastructure funding plan that will generate
money for both state and local roads. The
law will increase the tax on gas, diesel and specials fuels up to 10 cents
(indexed annually), and shift all sales tax on gas to roads. The plan is
estimated to generate over a billion dollars by 2024, with about $900 million
being used for state roads and $340 million for local roads. The law also
includes an annual registration fee of $15 per standard vehicle, $150 for an electric
car and $50 for hybrid vehicles.
House Enrolled Act
1237
This law makes changes to the Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund, which protects grain
farmers in the event of
a licensed grain buyer or warehouse failure. While most are technical
in nature, some of the main changes include clarifying whether or not a
producer is a participant in the fund and extending the duration of coverage
provided by the program from 12 months to 15 months.
Senate Enrolled Act 515
This law clarifies that certain purchasers of agricultural equipment are
exempted from paying sales tax. It also adds a sales tax exemption on components
of a drainage water management system being used for crop production. This
includes drainage tubing, drainage tiles, water flowgates, and control valves,
designed to facilitate controlled water drainage on agricultural land.
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