The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has been tasked by the Indiana General Assembly via House Enrolled Act 1149 to create an online agriculture portal to assist Indiana’s farmers and agribusinesses in navigating federal and state regulations and finding funding opportunities from state and federal agencies. Indiana is home to over 50,000 farms and agribusinesses, and the agricultural industry is impacted by nearly every state agency. It can be difficult for Indiana’s farms and agribusinesses to find the necessary information regarding federal, state and local regulations and funding availability. The agriculture portal will provide information in one place and reduce the burden on farmers and agribusinesses to find the resources they need. The portal must include the following elements: 1. Links/Connections to relevant local, state and federal agency programs that impact farmers and agribusinesses 2. Searchable database of funding opportunities (state and federal) 3. Connections to Purdue Extension, the USDA, and State Climate office 4. Regulatory checklists that assist farmers and agribusinesses in starting or running their operations 5. Inventory of lost farmland 6. Feedback mechanisms regarding federal regulations and the usefulness of the portal
