March is National Agriculture Month

March is National Agriculture Month

Friday, March 8, 2019

National Agriculture Month, celebrated each March, recognizes the vital role agriculture plays across the country and in our local communities.

On March 14, the Agriculture Council of America will sponsor National Ag Day to increase awareness of the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives.

Agriculture has a rich history in Indiana, and it contributes an estimated $31.2 billion to our state’s economy each year. Indiana is also the 10th largest farming state in the nation, with 56,800 farming operations.

Supporting Hoosier farmers continues to be a priority for the Senate Republican Caucus. Below are several agriculture-related initiatives being considered this legislative session.

  • Senate Bill 350 would allow the State Board of Animal Health to purchase insurance to cover any loss or damages caused by a prevalent animal disease incident. This would protect Hoosier farmers whose livestock are susceptible to quickly spreading diseases.

  • Senate Bill 516 would allow those who obtain a license from the state seed commissioner to grow and handle hemp in Indiana. Hemp has a great potential to be a cash crop for Hoosier farmers.

  • Senate Bill 623 would change Indiana’s property tax assessments on large commercial properties to ensure taxpayers are paying their fair share of property taxes. Fairer assessments on commercial property would shift the property tax burden away from Indiana’s farmers and create a better property tax system for all Hoosiers.

For more information on National Ag Day, click here.

For more information on legislation moving through the General Assembly, click here.