Indiana, Manitoba officials sign agriculture agreement

Indiana officials have entered into an agriculture and economic development partnership with their counterparts in the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and state agriculture Director Bruce Kettler met with Manitoba officials on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding.

The document is not legally binding, but government officials are nonetheless pledging to work closely, particularly on matters of trade, agriculture research and investment.

State officials say trade between Indiana and Manitoba has increased nearly 36 percent since 2013.

Crouch is part of an Indiana delegation that will be spending several days in Manitoba to visit agricultural sites and hold round table discussions.