Indiana State Department of Agriculture

Hoosier farmers planted an estimated 1.58 million acres of overwinter living covers, according to the Indiana Conservation Partnership's conservation transect survey.

This year's survey data also estimated that 1.79 million tons of sediment was prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways by implementing conservation practices!

Overwinter living covers, such as cover crops and small grains, provide environmental benefits that include increasing organic matter, improving water infiltration, and adding living roots to the soil for more months of the year.

Visit the link below to read more about the conservation transect survey.

🔎: https://events.in.gov/event/hoosier-farmers-committed-to-soil-conservation-87

Join Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Grown, Purdue Agriculture and Indiana Department of Health for a webinar on June 26 regarding House Enrolled Act 1424.

See the post below for the link to register and for more information on the webinar.

Are you a homesteader or small farm vendor? Starting July 1, House Enrolled Act 1424 will deregulate the sale of certain homemade foods, meat products and produce sold directly to consumers.

To help those impacted by the new law, INFB has partnered with Purdue, Indiana Grown and the Indiana Department of Health to host a webinar providing guidance and resources.

Register for the free webinar at bit.ly/4oz0E7C

ISDA District Support Specialists recently held the Board Leadership Program: Lead from the Inside Out workshop, which brought Soil and Water Conservation District staff and board members together to explore personal preferences and personality traits, and how those tendencies show up every day at work or in personal lives.

Using personality assessments and guided discussions, participants dug into what energizes them, what challenges them, and how their natural responses influence the way they navigate work and life. The goal of the workshop was to strengthen self awareness and promote appreciation and collaboration with others.

When we understand ourselves, we’re better equipped to support one another, adapt, and face uncertainty with confidence.

The Indiana State Nutrient Reduction Strategy (SNRS) was recently updated!

The SNRS is an effort to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff from point source and nonpoint sources, to ultimately improve our own lakes, streams and rivers, and downstream in the Mississippi River, Gulf of America, and the Great Lakes.

Visit the link below to learn more about the objectives and the importance of the strategy.

https://www.in.gov/isda/divisions/soil-conservation/indiana-state-nutrient-reduction-strategy/

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has implemented new animal-movement requirements consistent with USDA's playbook to prevent the spread of New World screwworm, following detections in Texas and New Mexico.

Visit the link in their post below for more information on the requirements:

Indiana has new animal entry requirements in response to the finding of New World screwworm in TX and NM.
Entry requirements, which apply to all livestock, poultry and pets, are consistent with USDA's playbook.

Checkout the summary in the Animal Health Advisory on our website: https://www.in.gov/boah/indiana-entry-health-requirements/new-world-screwworm
Click on the NWS link on the home page.

A big visit happened in Hebron yesterday!

Hosted at Mixdesign, Inc, ISDA and a group of Hoosier agricultural producers were pleased to welcome U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden for a productive roundtable discussion.

The conversation covered several key topics, including international trade opportunities, improving access to locally grown foods, current and past USDA programs, and the current landscape of commodity and input prices.

We appreciate Deputy Secretary Vaden’s continued engagement with Hoosier producers and for the opportunity to collaborate on issues that matter deeply to our agricultural community. Thank you for the visit and the continued partnership!

Applications are now open for our AgriVision Award!

This award is open to any Indiana resident and to all sectors of the agriculture industry! Any person or organization may submit a nomination.

As the highest agricultural honor award by the state, it will be presented and celebrated at the Indiana State State Fair during the Celebration of Agriculture. Applications CLOSE on July 1.

To make a nomination or to learn more about the award visit the link below:

🔎:

AgriVision Award AgriVision Award ISDA Programs & Initiatives Current: AgriVision Award The Lieutenant Governor's office and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture envision Indiana to be a “global center for food and agricultural innovation and commercialization.” In the spirit of this vision, the departme...

Our annual photo contest is now live! Check out the link below to submit your best agriculture images. Applications close June 30, so don't wait!

Submit your photos here ➡ www.in.gov/isda/programs-and-initiatives/indiana-state-department-of-agriculture-photo-contest/

📸: Setting of Summer
Overall Winner of the 2025 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest
Taken by Forrest M. Willey - Jackson County, IN

Recently, ISDA supported Indiana businesses exhibiting at the Sweets & Snacks Expo!

The Sweets & Snacks Expo is a business-to-business event for the confectionery and snack industries. Open only to those in the sweets and snacks trade, the show is unrivaled in new product launches, business-building solutions, and innovations in merchandising. It hosts over 16,000 attendees with over 1,000 exhibitors and have more than 80 countries being represented at the show.

Do you or someone you know need help obtaining a Harmonized GAP certification?

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is thrilled to partner with Purdue’s Safe Produce Indiana to launch a Harmonized GAP Cost-Share Certification Program. This initiative helps Indiana growers reduce the financial burden of obtaining Harmonized GAP certification, supporting on farm food safety and expanding market opportunities.

Scan the QR code to express interest in this certification program. For additional details or questions, please contact Dr. Amanda Deering ([email protected]) or Caroline Patrick ([email protected]).

Direct link: https://forms.office.com/g/0T8BEzZQkj