More News Category

Home
More News Category

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) submitted an inventory of lost farmland report to the Legislative Council. In 2023, the Indiana General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act 1557, which tasked ISDA to complete an inventory of lost farmland in Indiana from 2010-2022.

ISDA determined through the inventory of lost farmland that there has been an overall reduction of farmland acres of approximately 1.5-2% from 2010-2022. This represents a loss of approximately 350,000 acres. The results show that agricultural land was most likely to be lost in areas around the edges of cities and suburban areas. The primary cause of reduction in farmland was due to residential use.

“Agriculture is, and always has been, the lifeblood of the Hoosier state,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Data is critical for all levels of government when making decisions that may affect our rural communities and food security.”

ISDA used two sources of data – (1) parcel data from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) and (2) the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Data Layer (CDL). Both datasets have different qualities that make them desirable for attempting to discern both the quantity of land use change and the causes of land use change.

“The inventory of lost farmland was an opportunity for ISDA and legislators to gain access to reliable data, where up until now, we could only make assumptions,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “This information is important to have for policy development as we work to balance economic growth, food security and the preservation of agricultural land, because we know when agriculture is strong, Indiana is too.”

Despite the loss in acreage, yield data from USDA NASS shows that Indiana’s production of its cash crops has increased. In 2012, Indiana produced over 597 million bushels of corn for grain, and in 2022 yielded over 1 billion bushels. Indiana produced nearly 219 million bushels of soybeans in 2012 and saw that number increase to over 326 million in 2022.

ISDA outlined several recommendations within the report to the Legislative Council, including that legislation be passed directing ISDA to update the inventory of lost farmland every five years, starting in 2029 for a report to be published in 2030.

To view the full 2010 to 2022 report or narrative, click here or visit isda.in.gov.

Write a comment

Following is the schedule of events for the 194th Annual Pekin 4th Of July Festival:

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

7:00 a.m. til 10:00 a.m. ............. Breakfast at the Pekin Park Shelter House by Main Street Meats
8:00 a.m - 10:00 am.............. Registration for 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament at the Basketball Court
10:00 a.m................................... 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament Starts (until the last game finishes)
at the Basketball Court
8:00 a.m. til 12:00 p.m. ............. Set up for Craft Vendors/Flea Market, Food Vendors, and Rides
Homeland Security and Health Department Inspections
5:00 p.m. til Fireworks .............. Food Court Open
5:00 p.m. til Fireworks .............. Craft Vendors/Flea Market Open
5:00 p.m. til Fireworks .............. Bluegrass Rides Open , DJ Eric by the Stage
5:00 p.m. til 8:00 p.m. ............... Sign-ups for the Watermelon and Corn on the Cob Eating Contest at the Pekin Community Betterment Organization Booth
5:30 p.m. ..................................... Dessert Auction Begins
Immediately after the Dessert Auction Recognition of the reigning Firecracker and Dynamite Winners
7:00 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. ............. Juice Box Heroes perform on the Pekin Park Stage
8:30 p.m. til 9:00 p.m. ............... Intermission for the Juice Box Heroes and Dessert Auction with Sam Hurst
10:00 p.m. ................................... Fireworks by Straight Shooters

THURSDAY, JULY 4

7:00 a.m. til 10:00 a.m. ..................... Breakfast at the Pekin Park Shelter House by Main Street Meats

8:00 a.m. ............................................ Parade line-up at Eastern High School

10:00 a.m. .......................................... Parade-Tisha Coles, Coordinator with Family and Friends

Theme- 2024 - "Celebrate Days Gone By"

Grand Marshals - Steve Burnett and Gary Nale

12:30 pm. ........................................... Invocation by Dr. Jeremy Goen-Pekin Church of Christ Minister

Presentation of “Colors” and Pledge of Allegiance led by Dr. Jeremy Goen

Star Spangled Banner- Allison Hein

Reading of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence - 2024 Eastern High School Valedictorian- Glenn Gosnell

Back Home Again in Indiana - Allison Hein

Welcome Patrons - Taylor Humphrey-Arnold, Pekin Community Betterment Organization President

Grand Marshals Induction

11:00 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. ..................... Food Court Open

11:00 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. ..................... Craft Vendors/Flea Market Open

11:00 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. ..................... Bluegrass Rides Open, DJ Eric by the Stage

1:30 p.m. ............................................ Dollars for Scholars of Eastern High School on the Pekin Park Stage

2:30 p.m. ............................................ Prince and Princess Contest on the Pekin Park Stage

- Darlene Hall, Coordinator

Immediately following the Prince and Princess Contest- 2nd Annual Watermelon Eating Contest and

2nd Annual Corn on the Cob Eating Contest

4:00 p.m. ............................................ Queen Contest on the Pekin Park Stage -Darlene Hall, Coordinator

5:00 p.m. ............................................ 2024 Queen Crowning Announcement

Immediately following - Gun Raffle drawing

Immediately following - Special Thanks and Closing by Taylor Humphrey-Arnold, President PCBO 2024

Write a comment

Here is an opportunity for you to make a lifelong friend from abroad by hosting an exchange student for 3, 5, or 10 months! Enrich your family with another culture. Now you can host a high school exchange student (girl or boy) from Belgium, France, Germany, Ukraine, Scandinavia, Spain, Japan, Italy or other countries. Single parents, as well as couples with or without children, may host.

Contact Amy at 1-800-736-1760 (Toll-free), visit host.asse.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to select your student.

Write a comment

The Campbellsburg Country Festival Kickoff event will take place on Saturday, July 20, from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Campbellsburg Ball Park.

The Festival Committee will be selling food at the concession stand at the ballpark, such as hot dogs, drinks, and popcorn. Brother B's Ice Cream truck will also be present. Craft and commercial vendors will be there. The Salem High School Guitar Club will be playing from 8-9:30 p.m., with fireworks by Straight Shooters ending the night. There will be a chance to enter into raffles with proceeds going to the Campbellsburg Festival Committee to ensure a great 30th Campbellsburg Country Festival this September. The big raffle is a package from West Baden Springs Hotel for a 1-night stay and breakfast for 2. We are accepting craft and commercial vendors through July 12.

If there are questions about setting up a booth, please contact Whitley Clements at 812-620-9967 or Kayce Johnson at 812-620-6118, or join the Campbellsburg Country Festival group on Facebook.

The Campbellsburg Ball Park is located at 174 East Vine Street, Campbellsburg, IN 47108.

Write a comment

This is the last chance to register for the Indiana State NFA weekend trip on Aug. 3-4, 2024. The National Fire Academy (NFA) is offering four courses to improve firefighters' knowledge and skills. The weekend provides a unique opportunity for all members of the Indiana fire service to receive a great educational and networking experience facilitated by some of the best experts in the field.

The Indiana Fire & Public Safety Academy is covering the bus transportation from Plainfield, Ind., as well as the meal ticket and lodging. This means your journey to the NFA in Maryland will only require your time. The Academy wants to ensure that this experience is as convenient and affordable as possible for you.

Register now to ensure this will be a fun weekend experience that leaves you with a positive outlook. All Indiana firefighters should take advantage of this incredible experience. Registration is open until July 24, 2024.

Here are the class offerings and how many seats we still need to fill:

EMS Functions in ICS (W0166) – 16 seats available
Leadership in Supervision: Creating Environments for Professional Growth (W0646) – 6 seats available
Leadership in Supervision: Perspectives in Thinking (W0647) – 18 seats available
Wildland Urban Interface: Firefighting for the Structural Company Officer (W0610) – 14 seats available