I-74 Ag Strategy 2023

Indiana’s I-74 Business Corridor, in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Association and Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD), published the Interstate 74 Regional Agriculture Strategy in 2023.

The document and work plan serve as a new roadmap to guide the region’s businesses, farmers, entrepreneurs, and leaders to create a stronger agricultural economy to meet the needs of today and prepare for the changes of tomorrow.

The I-74 Ag Strategy was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration along with local match from economic development organizations in the region’s six counties: Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Ripley, Rush and Shelby counties, and City of Batesville.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND VIEW THE FULL I-74 AG STRATEGY DOCUMENT (PDF)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND VIEW A SHORT BROCHURE ABOUT THE I-74 AG STRATEGY (PDF)

Through data analysis and company interviews, the I-74 Corridor Ag Task Force identified the following key strategies:

Develop a strong labor force for the ag industry.
- Develop programs to increase a pipeline of next generation ag workers that include a work ethic pro-gram, the development of Ag Education Centers in more schools, and the use of a workforce database for ag and seasonal workers.
- Develop a program to help various cultures acclimate into the workforce and community.

Promote and expand the food supply chain to better connect with consumers.
- Expand opportunities for farmers to sell their products to schools through workshops on product diversification
- Work with beginning farmers and military veteran farmers to improve the local, small scale, and niche food supply chain.

Increase production and value-added processing of crops and livestock.
- Expand the distillery and whiskey industries, and wood mill working in the region.
- Increase crop and livestock diversification, regional meat processing, hemp processing, cold storage warehousing capacity, and the availability of commercial kitchens and co-packing facilities.

Improve the region’s transportation, broadband, and energy infrastructure.
- Improve rail infrastructure and road capacity, in-crease the number of drivers with CDLs, and make broadband more accessible across the region.
- Evaluate solar and biomass energy as opportunities for farm diversification.

Enhance the regulatory and policy environment for agriculture and agribusiness.
- Encourage the development of local and state incentives and improve the regulatory environment and permitting processes for ag and food processing.