Indiana officials say the next decade of agriculture in the Hoosier state will be defined by seven priorities, including educating young people to prepare them to work in agriculture.
Leaders from Indiana's agricultural community gathered Monday for an event to unveil a 10-year Indiana Agriculture Strategic Plan.
The plan is a result of nearly 18 months of collaboration between a committee of representatives from Indiana agricultural boards, universities and government organizations.
"Indiana agriculture is special and I mean that," says Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Ted McKinney. "I've had the chance to work with other states and the collaboration and the ability to get along by the different entities in Indiana Ag is something special."
Each of the seven priorities has a designated time frame for completion and list of resources required to realize that priority:
Economic & Community Development
Education & Career Development
Food & Agriculture Innovation
Infrastructure
Leadership Development
Natural Resource, Stewardship & Environment
Public Relations & Outreach
"We've not just admired problems or challenges ahead of us," says Gov. Eric Holcomb (R-Ind.). "We've made room at the table for positions and perspectives and then we emerge with a plan in hand and then we go about executing it."
