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Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) led a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue endorsing Indiana’s bid to host the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Last month it was announced that Indiana made the next round of candidates for the proposed ERS and NIFA relocation out of Washington, D.C. Indiana’s entire congressional delegation, including Sens. Young and Braun, signed the letter.

Congressman Baird released the following statement:

“Agriculture is part of our DNA in Indiana. It is the backbone of our economy, contributing an estimated $31.2 billion to our state, and roughly $4.6 billion in exports. 80% of our land is devoted to farms, forests and woodlands, giving us the tremendous ability and responsibility to help feed the globe.

“Farming is the livelihood of 107,000 Hoosiers with nearly 57,000 operations, almost all of which have been family-owned and operated for generations. It is a lifestyle that moves day in and day out, 365 days a year, and relocating these institutions to our state is the right decision to support the American people. I am proud to endorse The Hoosier State’s bid and it is my hope that ERS and NIFA will soon call Indiana home.”

Click here to view the letter.

The mission of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment and rural America, and to conduct objective research to enhance public and private decision-making. To learn more, click here. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) was established to provide leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-sciences and invest in initiatives that support long-term agricultural viability. To learn more, click here.

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Congressman Jim Baird represents Indiana’s 4th Congressional District. A lifelong Hoosier, he serves as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.