USDA awards grants to Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — A program through the USDA has granted Indiana organizations $600,000 for conservation work. The Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture received the grant from the INfield Advantage program.
The program allows farmers to collaborate and collect data to streamline and optimize management practices. The grant will allow the program to expand to include certified crop advisors, ag retailers and co-ops.
“The INfield Advantage program shows how great partnerships can be in agriculture, and this program is something we are very proud to work on with our partners and Indiana farmers,” said ISDA Director Bruce Kettler. “This funding will ensure that our Hoosier farmers are able to connect, learn more about their farms and receive personalized and field-specific data.”
Funding will be specifically used to provide farmers with soil health assessments, soil chemical tests and tissue samples during nutrient management trials.
“Indiana’s soybean and corn checkoffs are charged with conducting research and educating farmers about the best practices for producing a crop,” said ISA Board Chairman David Rodibaugh, who is a soybean farmer from Rensselaer, Ind. “Our INfield Advantage program provides very good information that farmers can apply to their own farms to improve their bottom line in a more earth-friendly manner.”