State officials Pledge Support for Expansion of the Pork Industry

State officials Pledge support for Expansion of the Pork Industry

The Indiana Pork Business meeting held on Monday featured Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch’s first address to the state pork industry. She outlined plans for better broadband communication and for common sense regulations. Crouch told the state’s pork leaders that the Holcomb administration wants to grow the pork industry and has a plan to help producers achieve their goals, “A plan to build our infrastructure, provide great government service, grow our economy, fight the drug epidemic, and continue to create a 21st century workforce.”

Crouch addressed environmental legislation moving through the General Assembly that would clarify the role of IDEM and permitting rules for CFOs, “Our administration recognizes the importance of legislation that codifies the Indiana Department of Environmental Management regulations concerning CFOs. This will clarify the law for both producers and for IDEM to insure that those regulations are consistent, fair, and uniform.” She added this will eliminate confusion for regulators so they do not make arbitrary decisions regarding a farming operation. The Lt. Governor also pledged that providing broadband connectivity is something that needs to happen in all 92 Indiana counties “to drastically improve education, healthcare, economic development, and producer access to the marketplace.”

Later in the meeting, ISDA Director Ted McKinney said economic development efforts by the state will continue including offering funding for expansion of pork processing units in the state.

The Business meeting also featured updates on checkoff funded programs, promotion plans for 2017, awards, and the election of new Indiana Pork Board members and National Pork Board members. On Monday evening, pork producers mingled with lawmakers at the annual Taste of Elegance, an event that promotes pork and advocates for policies that benefit pork producers.

 

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