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.