By STAN MADDUX

Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb cited a need to modernize traditional sectors of the state’s economy, such as agriculture, during his Jan. 9 annual State of the State address.

He said the purpose of doing so is to sustain the momentum of what he described as an already “strong and diverse economy” to position Indiana better for the future. Holcomb said he also wants to add to the competitive advantage the state has built in areas like aerospace and life sciences.

The Governor offered no further specifics in his speech.

Dr. Chris Hurt, a professor in agricultural economics at Purdue University, said one upgrade badly needed for agriculture is expanding broadband access to rural areas not covered or with slow internet service. It’s a problem earmarked for solving not just in Indiana but across the country, so lower-populated areas can better compete with more urban areas, which traditionally have better access to ample broadband capacity.

“If a customer has to wait three minutes for your website to load, they’re probably never coming back. It levels the playing field for everybody,” Hurt said.

Holcomb also revealed the $250 million Next Level Indiana Trust Fund will start being tapped into during the first quarter of this year. The fund, established in 2016, has been earmarked for providing better access to high-speed internet and other 21st century forms of communication across the state, including rural areas.

“We’ll begin to make strategic investments to build and support more innovation and entrepreneurship in the state,” said Holcomb.

Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron gave high marks to the Governor for his commitment to improving the state’s communication infrastructure and roads, and adding a fourth port in the southeastern part of the state.

“Even where I live, it’s kind of marginal broadband,” said Kron, who raises corn, soybeans and wheat north of Evansville.

He said farming makes up too much of the economy here to be overlooked, and he feels Holcomb recognized that in his address to the state legislature. “All of those things are key and important to us, so we’re excited about his comments and looking forward to moving Indiana ahead, and agriculture moving to the next level, too.”

Hurt said Indiana produces more corn than it consumes, so a fourth port in the Lawrenceburg area would help reach other markets with surplus crop.

The close to $6 billion Holcomb outlined as being available for roads and bridges the next two years is also important for agriculture in terms of moving product and controlling equipment maintenance costs, said Hurt.

He explained becoming even stronger in life sciences is also good for agriculture here because of the work involved in areas such as increasing yields, drought-resistant crops and converting farm commodities like corn into ethanol and other products. The result is job creation from having more product to offer prospective new customers – including those in other countries.

“Agriculture as economic development is, I think, one of the strategies the state of Indiana has used, and I think it makes a lot of sense,” said Hurt.