Ind. Code ch. 15-11-2

Ind. Code ch. 15-11-2
in effect

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-1 Indiana state department of agriculture established

Sec. 1. The Indiana state department of agriculture is established. [Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-9-2-1.] As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.120-2008, SEC.26.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-2 Director's authority

Sec. 2. The director is the chief executive and administrative officer of the department. [Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-9-2-2.] As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-3 Duties of the department

Sec. 3. (a) As used in this section, "biomass" means agriculturally based sources of renewable energy, including the following: (1) Agricultural crops. (2) Agricultural wastes and residues. (3) Wood and wood byproducts, including the following: (A) Wood residue. (B) Forest thinning. (C) Mill residue wood. (4) Animal wastes. (5) Animal byproducts. (6) Aquatic plants. (7) Algae. The term does not include waste from construction and demolition. (b) The department shall do the following: (1) Provide administrative and staff support for the following: (A) The state fair board for purposes of carrying out the director's duties under IC 15-13-5. (B) The Indiana corn marketing council for purposes of administering the duties of the director under IC 15-15-12. (C) The Indiana dairy industry development board for purposes of administering the duties of the director under IC 15-18-5. (D) The Indiana grain buyers and warehouse licensing agency under IC 26-3-7. (E) The Indiana grain indemnity corporation under IC 26-4-3. (F) The division. (2) Administer the election of state fair board members under IC 15-13-5. (3) Administer state programs and laws promoting agricultural trade. (4) Administer state livestock or agriculture marketing grant programs. (5) Administer economic development efforts for agriculture by doing the following: (A) Promoting value added agricultural resources. (B) Marketing Indiana agriculture to businesses internationally. (C) Assisting Indiana agricultural businesses with developing partnerships with the Indiana economic development corporation. (D) Soliciting private funding for selective economic development and trade initiatives. (E) Providing for the orderly economic development and growth of Indiana's agricultural economy. (F) Facilitating the use of biomass and algae production systems to generate renewable energy. (6) Carry out the department's duties under IC 23-15-12. [Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-9-2-3.] As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.120-2008, SEC.27; P.L.71-2009, SEC.3; P.L.95-2010, SEC.2; P.L.109-2015, SEC.35; P.L.97-2017, SEC.2; P.L.9-2018, SEC.1; P.L.14-2026, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-4 Promotion of E85 fuel

Sec. 4. The department shall work with: (1) automobile manufacturers to improve awareness and labeling of E85 fuel; and (2) the appropriate companies to include E85 fuel stations in updates of global positioning navigation software. [Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-9-2-4.] As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.109-2015, SEC.36.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-5 Rules

Sec. 5. The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to carry out the duties, purposes, and functions of the department. [Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-9-2-4.5.] As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-6 Policy; promotion of agricultural business

Sec. 6. (a) The general assembly declares that it is the policy of the state to conserve, protect, and encourage the development and improvement of agriculture, agricultural businesses, and agricultural land for the production of food, fuel, fiber, and other agricultural products. The Indiana Code shall be construed to protect the rights of farmers to choose among all generally accepted farming and livestock production practices, including the use of ever changing technology. (b) The department shall promote the growth of agricultural businesses by doing the following: (1) Assisting agricultural businesses with the permit process required to conduct business in Indiana. (2) Serving as a liaison between agricultural businesses, state agencies, and local units of government. As added by P.L.120-2008, SEC.28. Amended by P.L.25-2014, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-7 Confidential records

Sec. 7. The department may keep records submitted to the department by a livestock producer under a voluntary certification program confidential. As added by P.L.120-2008, SEC.29.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-8 Annual report

Sec. 8. Before November 1 of each year, the department shall submit an annual report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. As added by P.L.130-2018, SEC.78.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-9 Online portal

Sec. 9. (a) As used in this section, "user" includes: (1) a rural community; (2) a farmer; (3) an agribusiness; or (4) any other individual or entity using the online portal established under this section for the purposes described in subsection (d). (b) The department shall establish an online portal on the department's website. (c) The department shall administer the online portal. (d) The purposes of the online portal shall be to: (1) assist users in the successful navigation of agricultural or related topics among various federal and state agencies; (2) provide a single source for users to access agricultural or related federal and state funding opportunities; (3) provide a searchable data base of available federal and state grants with information on eligibility and deadline criteria; and (4) provide regular updates to reflect changes in federal and state funding opportunities. (e) The online portal shall include links that will facilitate the navigation of the websites of various federal and state agencies, including the following: (1) The United States Department of Agriculture. (2) The United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. (3) The United States Environmental Protection Agency. (4) The department of environmental management established by IC 13-13-1-1. (5) The Indiana state board of animal health established by IC 15-17-3-1. (6) The office of state chemist (and by virtue of office, the state seed commissioner under IC 15-15-1-26) established by IC 15-16-2-24. (7) The office of community and rural affairs established by IC 4-4-9.7-4. (8) Any other federal or state agency, the interaction with which would be helpful to users. (f) To accomplish the purposes described in subsection (d), the online portal shall do the following: (1) Provide a series of regulatory checklists for users that are considering diversifying into new markets to assist users in: (A) the navigation of agricultural and related regulations; and (B) the avoidance of punitive enforcement actions before they arise. (2) Assist users in collaborating with: (A) the Purdue University cooperative extension service; (B) the state climate office hosted by Purdue University; and (C) the United States Department of Agriculture; to create a one stop venue that will help connect users with responsive data visualization tools and technical assistance programming. (3) Provide a one stop venue where users may gather information regarding, and apply for, available federal and state agricultural and related funding opportunities. (4) Include a link to provide users with ongoing updates on the status of land that was identified as lost farmland included in the department's inventory of lost farmland, and as reported by the department, under IC 15-11-9-1.1 (before its expiration) or IC 15-11-9-1.3. (5) Include a formal venue to collect comments from the public regarding federal regulations that impact Indiana's rural economy with the goal of assisting the state in providing vigorous advocacy on behalf of the public. (6) Include a formal venue where users may provide to the department reviews and feedback regarding the usefulness of the online portal. As added by P.L.5-2025, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 15-11-2-10 Statewide microfarm zones

Sec. 10. (a) The department shall conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing community or urban microfarm zones statewide. (b) The study conducted under subsection (a) must include the following: (1) A summary of existing studies and literature regarding the feasibility of establishing community or urban microfarm zones statewide. (2) Identification of zoning templates and best practices for community or urban microfarm management. (3) Opportunities for partnerships with the Purdue University cooperative extension service, local health departments, health care providers, and educational institutions. (c) Not later than December 1, 2027, the department shall submit a report to the general assembly, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, with the following information: (1) The findings regarding subsection (b)(1) through (b)(3). (2) A specific finding as to: (A) whether and how community or urban microfarm zones could work in Indiana; and (B) what options are available for future pilot programs or technical assistance. (3) A recommendation for: (A) standards to ensure safety and compatibility; and (B) future legislation to implement community or urban microfarm zones. As added by P.L.71-2026, SEC.1.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/15Fetched: 10/17/2026