Relationships are critical in today’s globally dynamic marketplace. They are the driving mechanism behind so many industries, from agricultural production to international trade, and we could not be successful today were it not for our strong partnerships, especially those internationally.
 
Recently, I led a group of agriculture-focused delegates on an economic development trip to Canada’s Manitoba Province to strengthen Indiana’s global economy by targeting growth in key sectors, primarily agriculture. We participated in business round tables, held meetings with senior government and university officials and toured research facilities. Together, we brought back not only a better understanding of the importance of our trade relationship with Canada, but also how to further develop economic growth between Indiana and Manitoba.
 
To provide some insight, our trade relationship with Manitoba is a two-way street worth $1.1 billion in 2017, which was an increase of 36 percent from 2013. Indiana is the province’s seventh largest trading partner in the U.S., and nearly 190,000 Indiana jobs depend on trade and investment in Canada. Indiana exports more product to Canada than any other country in the world and is home to 70 Canadian businesses – like CN Railway, Dorel Juvenile Group, KIK Custom Products and Magna Powertrain. It is paramount that we maintain our strong trade relationship with Canada and Manitoba, so we can continue to grow our economic footprint.
 
We know Indiana has strong agricultural ties, and Manitoba benefits from the trade and economic growth the industry brings. While there, we signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation to several areas including agricultural research and development, youth education and leadership and trade investment. This agreement lays the groundwork to establishing long-term, cooperative relationships between our two jurisdictions.
 
As a result of the MOU, Indiana and Manitoba will establish working groups, comprised of education, agriculture, business and government leaders, to discuss progress made under the agreement, identify additional areas of growth and, of course, keep those lines of communication open. This ensures a clear path forward and is the first step towards taking our economies to the Next Level.
 
Canada is Indiana’s strongest import and export partner, and we value and appreciate the investments the country has made into our state. We look forward to building on this strong foundation and working together towards a brighter future.
 
We want to keep a good thing growing.

Harvest season is a busy time for our farmers and our rural roadways. To keep Hoosiers safe this year, state agencies are asking motorists to be alert, patient and responsible, as they share the road with slow-moving farm equipment. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, farm equipment vehicles (not including trucks) were involved in 92 fatal crashes across the U.S last year – with six of those incidents occurring in Indiana.

The most common types of farm equipment motorists will encounter on roads include combines, tractors pulling grain carts and large trucks hauling agricultural products.

Recently, Red Gold tomatoes, in partnership with ISDA, awarded two of their growers with scholarships for practicing exceptional stewardship and conservation of their land and natural resources. 

Lievens Bros. owned by Brent, Greg, and Troy Lievens is a fourth generation farm and has been farming for Red Gold for more than 27 years. This year they planted 300 acres of tomatoes for Red Gold to process. 

Over the years Lievens Bros. have incorporated a variety of conservation practices into their farm including, planting cover crops, installing grass waterways and filter strips, maintaining and restoring wetlands and growing vegetative field boarders. 

The McKillip family owns McKillip Farms, and this year they grew more than 270 acres of tomatoes this year for Red Gold. 

McKillip Farms improves their soil's health by planting cover crops and practices conservation tillage. In addition, they also install grass waterways, grass travel lanes for harvest and use grass filter strips in open ditches, which reduces erosion. 

Lievens Bros. of Petersburg, Michigan, was awarded the top prize of $1000 and the option to ship an extra truckload of tomatoes per day during harvest.  McKillip Farms, of Wabash, Indiana, was awarded the second prize and received $500 and the option to ship an extra half truckload of tomatoes per day during harvest.