A new online portal to help farmers in Indiana will be available soon thanks to a bill Governor Mike Braun signed into law.
“This bill will create a one-stop shop for Hoosier farmers to navigate state and federal agencies. That’s a navigation that’s more complicated than ever before,” said Braun at a ceremony on Tuesday when he signed the bill.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has to set the portal up. Among other things, the portal would have to include a searchable database of grants, regulatory checklists, technical support and a way for farmers to submit comments on current or proposed regulations. It also requires a report and survey on lost farmland every five years beginning in 2029.
Braun says it’s all about helping farmers get everything they need so they can be successful.
“This will be a powerful tool for those farmers,” said Braun.
The portal will also track lost farmland, collect public comments on federal regulations affecting Indiana’s rural economy, and gather user feedback from farmers to improve the portal and government services.
The bill is the first of this legislative session to receive the governor’s signature. This is something Braun has called a legislative priority for his administration.
3 comments
I support all efforts to help farmers as all my grandparents farmed. I support their right to sell their land for use as solar farms IF they protect the land under the solar panels. Please insist that the panels are not pieced together with lead. Demand by contract or law that the materials used in construction not contain lead or any other materials known to be toxic to humans or animals. One day the panels will come down and the land returned to another use. Let us not poison future generations. If any elected officials are reading this, I would appreciate a reply.
I like your sentiment, but you cannot make a solar panel without toxic materials. Lead is an issue, but it’s not the only issue. There are toxic substances in those panels by their very nature.
Land used for solar farms can never be reclaimed.
And make sure that the projects do not impact their neighbors…including set backs and the requirement for new distribution lines. Don’t forget the draw down plan for defunct sites; the bankrupt or sold installers will not be there, they will have taken the money and run.