Young Farmer Programs Recognized Page 7
County Farm Bureaus Honored for Innovation, Impact Pages 4, 5
INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 State & Nation.............. 3 Around Indiana............ 6 Around INFB................ 8
The Hoosier Farmer
®
A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau
FEBRUARY 23, 2015 Issue No. 63
Tax bill would delay soil productivity factor and increase in farmland base value —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Senate Bill 436 addresses a number of tax issues, but among those of particular interest to agriculture are two provisions that delay implementation of existing statutes. The bill, which as of The Hoosier Farmer’s Feb. 16 deadline was slated to be heard by the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee on Feb. 17, would delay by one year the implementation of the controversial soil productivity factor used in calculating property taxes. But most importantly, according to Indiana Farm Bureau’s Statehouse lobbying team, SB 436 includes a one-year delay of the 2015 base farmland value of $2,050. If this provision passes, $2,050 would be used again for taxes paid in 2016, which would otherwise increase to $2,420. By avoiding an increase of 18 percent, farmers will save about $53 million according to the Legislative Services Agency. A hearing was held on the bill on Feb. 10 but no vote was taken. It was authored by the committee chair, Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek, and it includes a variety of recommendations from the Business Personal Property & Business Taxation Commission that met this past summer. The delays do not solve the problem, but both delays provide time for fiscal leaders in the General Assembly Indiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206
to work with the ag industry to find a solution to the continually escalating farmland base value. Without intervention by the legislature, the base value will continue to increase until 2020, when it is estimated to peak at $3,230. SB 436 also addresses the “farmland to excess acre” assessing problem that has been experienced by many farmers and rural landowners. Basically, the bill directs assessors to use the farmland assessment guidelines adopted by the Department of Local Government Finance in 2011, rather than assessing land not used in row crops with higher value per acre. As the bill moves forward, a better definition of ag use will be needed. Katrina Hall testified in support of the bill which will be amended further and voted on in committee next Tuesday. There was a lot of interest in the amended version of SB 436 due to language aimed at reversing a recent Indiana Board of Tax Review decision. That decision said that big box stores currently in use can be valued like vacant or depreciated ones. As amended, the bill simply requires assessments that are market value in use for specialty buildings, much like the assessment principle of farmland. Unless overwritten, the IBTR decision has the potential to drastically lower the property tax base in most counties – anywhere with a Walmart, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Meijer or similar buildings.
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Berne, IN Permit NO. 43
A group from Jasper County (as well as District 3 Director Kevin Underwood, second from right) visits with state Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek. Indiana Farm Bureau’s Statehouse lobbying team is encouraging county Farm Bureaus to visit their legislators at the Statehouse and back in their districts before April 15. Photo by Wayne Belden
Lake County Farm Bureau members meet with Rep. Rick Neimeyer, R-Lowell, outside the House chamber. Photo by Wayne Belden
Annexation bills heard in House and Senate —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team Two annexation bills are currently making their way through the House and Senate. House Bill 1561 and Senate Bill 330 have both been heard in committee and testified upon by both opponents and proponents, including Indiana Farm Bureau. HB 1561, which INFB’s Katrina Hall opposed during testimony, essentially eliminates landowner rights in a forced annexation. The
bill would remove opportunities for remonstrance in areas where a city or town provides, or proposes to provide, services such as water, sewer, fire, etc. As of The Hoosier Farmer’s Feb. 16 deadline, the bill had not been scheduled for further action. SB 330, which INFB supports, replaces the involuntary annexation process with one that requires an annexing municipality to solicit signatures from landowners who support the annexation. They must have support from 51 percent of landown-
ers in the area to be annexed before they can submit signatures to the local court. Both bills require six months of outreach and the production of a detailed fiscal plan before any annexation can take place. Annexation is one of INFB’s priority issues for this session. Members who would like to keep up with developments on the legislative session may sign up to receive the INFB’s electronic newsletter, The Dispatch, by emailing the public policy team at ppt@infb.org.
2
NEWS IN BRIEF
News in Brief —Compiled by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team
U.S. market share at risk because of ports issue—The slow-
down at the West Coast ports is an issue for anyone trying to ship their goods, but in the Feb. 12 edition of Newsline, American Farm Bureau Federation’s regular podcast, AFBF deputy chief economist John Anderson says agriculture in particular is sensitive to this disruption. “We send a lot of pork to Pacific Rim countries, and slowdowns in shipments to those markets have started to be felt by the industry. You can get away with a slowdown for a while, but when cold storage starts to fill up and production is still coming along and needing a home, it gets to be a real problem,” said Anderson. To listen to the podcast in full, go to www.fb.org, click on “Newroom,” and then click on the link for “Newsline” found along the righthand side of the page. (AFBF 2/12/15)
Agricultural Safety Awareness Program week is first week in March—Agricultural
Safety Awareness Program Week will be celebrated March 1-7 with the theme “Ride Like a Pro Whenever You Go” (emphasizing ATV helmet safety). Check out AFBF’s Health & Safety page and the ASAP Facebook page for updates and additional information as the week approaches. New this year is a Pinterest board with links to ATV safety tips and programs. An ASAP tool kit including a news release, logos, print and web-ready graphics and other resources to help promote the week across social media platforms and in pub-
lications was recently distributed to the Farm Bureau Ag Safety & Health Network as well as state Farm Bureau communicators. (AFBF 2/12/15)
Foundation looking for additions to book list—A one-page nomi-
nation form for suggesting books for the next installment of the American Farm Bureau Foundation’s Accurate Ag Books list is available online at agfoundation.org. Email your recommendations to juliad@fb.org (subject: Accurate Ag Book Nomination). Fax your nomination form to (202) 314-5121. Review copies are appreciated – mail them to American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Book Nomination, 600 Maryland Ave. SW Suite 1000W, Washington, D.C. 20024. (AFBF 2/12/15)
Updated weed control guide for Ohio, Indiana and Illinois now available—The Extension
services of Ohio State University, Purdue University and the University of Illinois have partnered to publish an updated weed control guide to aid crop farmers in choosing an effective weed management plan. The free 2015 Ohio, Indiana and Illinois Weed Control Guide is a quick reference farmers can use in the field to identify and manage weeds. It offers specific tips for several individual crops such as corn, soybeans, popcorn, sweet corn, small greens, forages and grazing pastures. There is also a weed response table which Bill Johnson, a Purdue weed scientist, said will be especially helpful to farmers during preparation for planting season. The guide can be downloaded from Purdue Extension’s The Education Store at www.edustore.purdue.edu. To find the guide, search for its product code, WS-16-W. Printed copies of the
Trade with Cuba important for farmers, even more important for Cubans —By Don Villwock INFB President Almost every day since President Obama announced that the U.S. would resume trade relations with Cuba, some article, pro or con, has flashed across my computer screen. I traveled to Cuba a number of years ago on an agriculture trade mission and consider that trip to be one of the highlights of my life. It was a very short trip to Havana that included visits to a few shops and stores, some intense negotiations with the Cuban minister of commerce and his agency, and a national press conference. We wrapped up the trip at a dinner with Fidel Castro. Most would think dinner with Castro left the biggest impression on me. Not so. It was the visit to one of their grocery stores that burnt an image in my mind that I will never forget. From the outside it was an old grocery, more like a little neighborhood store some of us remember from our childhood days. But what I saw when I entered that store changed my opinion of Cuba forever. The shelves were mostly bare. I have never seen that sight in the U.S., other than before a snow storm when everyone rushes out to stock up on milk, bread and eggs. Our interpreter told us that this is what the store looked like every day. He said that most Cubans’ diets consisted of daily meals of beans, beans and more beans. He said to have one
chicken a month on a Sunday with grandmother was a dining extravagance. Poverty and hunger were present everywhere as we drove through the streets of Havana. Even the negotiating room at the Ministry of Commerce was lined with rough particle board, a single strand light bulb with no shade providing the only light. These stark images are still very vivid to me as I reflect back on this life-changing trip. Many diplomats and political pundits way smarter than this old farmer can argue the pros and cons of the effects the U.S. embargo has had on the Cuban government. I just know we have been doing the same thing for over 50 years and not much has changed. To expect something else to happen by just keeping our unilateral embargo in place defies all common sense. I do know that when President Nixon traveled to China and exposed them to capitalism, the Chinese people started asking for reforms. I also remember Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz’s trip to the
guide are available through the Ohio State University Extension eStore for $14.75 each. The product code for the print copy is 789. An interactive PDF e-book with links for easy navigation is also available through the Ohio State eStore for $9.99. The product code for the ebook is e789. (Purdue 2/12/15)
Reed bill to send more food to tables, not landfills—The
Fighting Hunger Incentives Act of 2015 recently moved out of the House Ways and Means Committee with a 24-14 vote and should be taken up on the House floor in the next two
Administrative/Finance Team
Legal Affairs Team
Public Relations Team
Regional Managers
President...................................... Don Villwock Vice President.................................Randy Kron Second Vice President................. Isabella Chism Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer....Mark Sigler Receptionist...................................... Kim Duke General Fund Accountant.............. Tiffanie Ellis Office Manager & Meeting Planner.Kay Keown Controller.......................................Elaine Rueff Administrative Assistant....................Jill Shanley Executive Secretary..................... Beverly Thorpe
Director & General Counsel ...Mark Thornburg Associate Counsel for Corporate Compliance & Nonprofit Affairs ............Sara MacLaughlin Legal Assistant........................... Maria Spellman
Director & Editor .......................Andy Dietrick Web Designer/Developer..............Diane Brewer Publications Managing Editor & Media Relations Specialist...... Kathleen Dutro Marketing & PR Specialist.............. Mindy Reef Communications Assistant......... Rachel Schrage
Wayne Belden (1 & 3) Greg Bohlander (6) Andrew Cleveland (4 & 6) Janice Deno (3) Jennifer Chandler Gish (9) Seth Harden (7 & 9) Allison Hines (10) Amy Hutson (5) Susan Lawrence (2) John Newsom (1 & 2) Kermit Paris (8) Keegan Poe (5 & 8) Brad Ponsler (10) E.B. Rawles (7) Allie Rieth (4)
District Directors Larry Jernas (1) Kevin Ousley (2) Kevin Underwood (3) Steve Maple (4) Dave Wyeth (5)
Scott Trennepohl (6) Jeff Gormong (7) Mark Bacon (8) Philip Springstun (9) Robert Schickel (10)
Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation
Public Policy Team Director........................................ Megan Ritter Policy Development & Industry Relations.........................Bob Cherry National Government Relations Policy Advisor................. Kyle Cline Policy Advisor & Counsel..............Amy Cornell State Government Relations Director...................................... Katrina Hall Administrative Assistant .............. Diane Helton Administrative Assistant .............Wanda Hunter Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel..................................Justin Schneider Livestock Development Specialist... Greg Slipher Direct Retail Business Specialist........Bob White
Organizational Development Team Director............................................... Kim Vail Program Assistant........................ Ashley Beasley Field Services Program Director.....Chris Fenner Young Farmer & Women’s Program Coordinator................ Meggie Foster Collegiate Farm Bureau Coordinator................................ Seth Harden Program Assistant.......................Kathryn Rogers Education Coordinator.................... Julie Taylor Member Services Coordinator...........Anna Todd Program Assistant............................ Tracie Trent
Indiana Farm Bureau Inc./ Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Director of Affiliate Relations.................. Julie Klarich
former Soviet Union and the “Great Russian Grain Deal” he brokered being the tipping point that brought the Berlin wall down years later. We are now at one of those moments in history when some right decisions might very well open up a new market that is only 90 miles away from our shore. But more important to me is that it would give the Cuban people a chance to improve their diets and to properly feed their hungry nation. Yes, I know Cuba is trading with almost every country in the world now. But I think the U.S., because of our close proximity, could provide products at a more competitive price, with higher quality and assured quantity. My heart was saddened to see other countries trading there when our farmers’ hands were tied. When we landed at the Havana airport I remember seeing a Boeing 737 from Canada on the tarmac. Our host from Cuba said “Oh yes, we get three planes a week full of tourists from Canada.” Our group had to work with the U.S. State Department for three months to secure a visa. Opening up the Cuban market could be big for American agriculture. It would be a blessing for many Cuban families, and trade with Cuba is too important to get bogged down in national partisan politics. After 50 years it’s time we move forward. It’s time to forgive, forget and help our fellow man. weeks. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Reed, R- N.Y., would provide incentives to restaurants, supermarkets and farms to contribute excess inventory to local food banks and pantries by making permanent a foodinventory donation provision in the tax code. (AFBF 2/13/15) Address Letters & Questions To: Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Phone: 1-800-327-6287 or (317) 692-7776 E-Mail Address: askus@infarmbureau.org Duplicate Magazines If you are receiving more than one copy of The Hoosier Farmer®, please cut out both labels and return them to the address above. Magazine Design and Layout Davis Graphic Design www.davisgraphics.com The Hoosier Farmer® is published 14 times per year by Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206, and is furnished as a service to voting members and others. Controlled circulation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hoosier Farmer® P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
Director..................... John Shoup
February 23, 2015
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
3
STATE & NATION
Two major farm bill deadlines loom —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team One critical deadline for the 2014 farm bill is just days away and another is just a few weeks away. February 27: The final date for reallocating base acreage and updating yields through local Farm Service Agency offices. Experts recommend that producers whose yields are higher under the new formula get their program yields updated whether it affects their payments under the current farm bill or not. The reason is that the opportunity to update yields or reallocate base acres isn’t included in every farm bill. Therefore, it is in a farmer’s best interests to update yields because even if the updates don’t affect payments this time, they
might for the next farm bill. March 31: Final date for program election. This is the date by which producers must decide between two new programs designed to help manage risk: Agricultural Risk Coverage, known as ARC, and Price Loss Coverage, known as PLC. This decision cannot be changed and will determine program payments for the life of the farm bill, which ends with the 2018 crop year. Summer 2015 (firm dates not yet specified, but will begin in mid-April extend into the summer): Enrollment period for commodity programs. Many resources are available for producers who are still struggling with these decisions. Here are just a few of them:
• Local FSA offices. • FSA’s website on the new programs (www.fsa.usda. gov/arc-pls). • Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture (www.agecon.purdue. edu/commercialag/ resources/policy/index. html) has a variety of resources including factsheets and other publications; links to tools such as the Illinois FAST Tools spreadsheets, which demonstrate the differences in payment streams from the various farm bill programs; and recordings of webinars. • Farmdoc’s “Farm Bill Toolbox” (farmbilltoolbox.farmdoc.illinois.edu/) includes online tools and other resources to help farmers make farm bill decisions.
American Farm Bureau Federation appeals, secures stay in EPA privacy suit —By the AFBF Communications Department & Kathleen M. Dutro INFB PR Team A federal district court in Minnesota has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency not to release farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information while an earlier decision by the court is being appealed. On Jan. 27, the court had dismissed a lawsuit brought the American Farm Bureau Federation and its co-plaintiff, the National Pork Producers Council. The suit sought to block EPA from releasing the personal information – such as a person’s name, home address, GPS location and telephone number – of tens of thousands of livestock and poultry farmers compiled by EPA and requested by environmental groups through
Freedom of Information Act requests. Prior to the AFBF suit, EPA had already released personal information of farmers and ranchers from 29 states. AFBF filed suit to block further disclosures regarding farmers and ranchers in Minnesota, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and Washington. By dismissing the suit, the court ruled that farmers are not harmed when the government compiles and releases a storehouse of personal information, so long as individual bits of that information are somehow publicly accessible, such as through an Internet search or on a Facebook page. But on Feb. 6, the same court ordered EPA not to release the personal information while AFBF and NPPC appeal the court’s decision. “We are pleased that
farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information will be protected while we appeal the court’s decision,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said in response to the court’s order to the EPA. “We disagree that the Internet age has diminished the individual’s right to protect personal information. Now, more than ever, citizens need their government to help protect their information – not gather it, tie a bow on it, and send it out to anyone who asks.” “Farmers, ranchers and citizens in general should be concerned about the court’s disregard for individual privacy,” Stallman said in an earlier statement. “This court seems to believe that the Internet age has eliminated the individual’s interest in controlling the distribution of his or her personal information. We strongly disagree.”
• USDA/NAAFP Decision Aids (https://usda.afpc. tamu.edu/), integrated tools can help you make
the choices required for participation in 2014 farm bill and for choices available under crop insurance.
Small Farm Conference to highlight sustainability —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Purdue Extension’s third annual Indiana Small Farm Conference will be March 6 and 7 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main St., Danville. In addition, pre-conference workshops will be offered March 5. The keynote speaker will be John Ikerd, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri. Since his retirement in 2000, he has published five books relating to small-farm sustainability. Ikerd will give his presentation on the last day of the conference. Bob White, Indiana Farm Bureau’s direct retail business specialist, will present sessions on food safety and liability and will also be promoting the benefits of being a member of INFB. “We support all of agriculture, large and small,” White said. The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to meet with small-
farm owners, Extension specialists and researchers. Nearly all of the food at the conference will come from Indiana farms and be catered by The Juniper Spoon. The event will consist of educational sessions led by Extension specialists and other experts in the industry. In addition to Ikerd’s and White’s presentations, also offered will be presentations on cover crops, soil health, managing pollinator habitat, composting, new poultry regulations, preventing and dealing with livestock death, understanding the value of woodlands, grant writing and other topics. Online registration for the conference closed Feb. 15, but participants can still register by calling Purdue Extension’s The Education Store at 888-398-4636, or they can or register at the conference. The regular cost for attending the conference is $75 and $100 for two days. The fee for attending the pre-conference workshops is $50. There are reduced fees for students and children under 12.
Bicentennial barn competition launched —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team The Bicentennial Barns of Indiana program, which hopes to celebrate and preserve Indiana’s barns, is seeking entries of barns that represent Indiana’s agricultural heritage. The program is part of Indiana’s 2016 bicentennial celebration. The contest is free and
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
open to the public. To be eligible, the barn must have been built prior to 1950, must be located in Indiana and must still be standing. Entries will be judged on their aesthetics, character and condition, geographic distribution and construction type. For more information on the program and how to enter, visit www.200indianabarns.com.
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
Counties make an impact Seven county Farm Bureaus received special recognition during the 2014 convention for efforts that resulted in a significant impact or an increase in political influence and clout. For their outstanding achievements, these seven counties – Frank-
lin, Jefferson, Kosciusko, Marshall, Montgomery, Pike and Washington – received the “Impact Award,” the top award given through Indiana Farm Bureau’s county recognition program. All 92 county Farm Bureaus par-
The activities that helped the seven counties earn this recognition are summarized on these two pages. For a full list of all the county Farm Bureaus and the awards they earned, visit http://conv.infb.org/ awards.
ticipated in the program, which evaluated counties on their activity in five program areas: membership outreach, issue engagement, influential organization, young farmers and youth, public relations and education.
Franklin County ‘Young farmer and youth’ & ‘public relations and education’ program areas —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Franklin County Farm Bureau’s strong young farmer program prides itself on community outreach. Each event and activity they plan gives back to the community in some way. The spring truck and tractor pull saw about 700 spectators enter the grandstand area for $5. Approximately 1,500 spectators/pullers entered the pit area for $10. Nearly 100 pullers came to the event from around the Midwest. The proceeds from the spring pull funded the purchase of grain rescue equipment for local fire departments, supported several needy families during the Christmas season and allowed the purchase of a significant amount of food for the local food bank. Ice cream sales at the 4-H fair allowed the Franklin County Farm Bureau Young Farmers to donate approximately $150 to each 4-H club that dipped ice cream. The
free pedal tractor pull served 134 children from ages 3 through 8, who pushed to win an 18 inch tall trophy. The Young Farmers also spent about $2,500 at the 4-H Fair livestock auction. The first fall truck and tractor pull turned out to be a huge success, yielding the most pullers to ever take part – 113. The grain rescue equipment for local fire departments was the focus of the Public Relations and Education Impact Award. The county provided entrapment rescue equipment and training on the proper rescue techniques. They purchased grain bin rescue tubes in cooperation with the Franklin County FFA. The training was offered to local farmers, Franklin County volunteer firemen and the surrounding counties’ volunteer firemen. Two trainings – one private, one open to the public – were held in the county. The Franklin County Farm Bureau provided the lunch and refreshments for both sessions with the help of the Blooming Grove Ladies Auxiliary.
Above: A truck pulls a sled during the Franklin County Farm Bureau Young Farmers truck and tractor pull this spring. Left: A first-place finisher in the Franklin County Farm Bureau Pedal Pull shows off his trophy. Photos courtesy Franklin County Farm Bureau Young Farmers
Jefferson County Farm Bureau ‘Influential organization’ program area —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Jefferson County Farm Bureau, with help from other local organizations, organized a campaign that defeated a school funding referendum that would have cost the county’s property owners millions of dollars in additional taxes. The referendum vote, which was held May 2014, resulted in the referendum being defeated by a vote of 77 percent to 23 percent by the taxpayers of Madison Consolidated Schools and a tax savings of an estimated $68 million. The effort took months of work by the county board and also by a special committee consisting of JCFB members David Ferguson, Kyle Gray, Norbert Schafer and Mike Schafer. From January 2014 through late April 2014 there were roughly 20-25 meetings held to work on the campaign. Ferguson attributed the county Farm Bureau’s success to three factors. First, he said, Jefferson County
February 23, 2015
got other community groups involved.\ “The thing that really made us succeed was working outside of our organization,” he said. “We got the whole community involved in it. It really opened the doors for working together on other projects.” Second, the county made the decision early on to use the facts that were presented by the school corporation. “We didn’t generate other facts. They presented the facts, we peeled the onion, let’s say, and dug a little deeper than what they did,” Ferguson said. The third factor identified by Ferguson was using the INFB staff, particularly property tax expert Katrina Hall, for additional expertise. “The whole community took pride in what we did at Farm Bureau,” he added. “The whole community took pride in how we worked together there. That’s one of the good things about it.”
Jefferson County Farm Bureau supports better schools, but in a more fiscal and responsible way. Referendum Debt is Not Protected by the Property Tax Caps!!
Property Taxes / Student -‐ 2013 Data
$3,500.00 $3,383 $3,000.00 $2,500.00 $2,043 $2,055 $2,006 $1,754 $2,076 $2,000.00 $1,500.00 $1,000.00 $500.00 $0.00
Switzerland County Southwestern Madison Jennings County AusCn
1
ScoEsburg
Jefferson County Farm Bureau Inc. supports better schools, but In 2013, MCS received $3,383 per student in property tax in a more fiscal and responsible way. We are recommending revenue, which is $1,300 more per student per year than our members to vote NO on the Madison Consolidated Schools surrounding schools. Referendum. $1300 X 2920 students = $3,796,000 revenue Financial Impact…For the Cadditional ommunity to neighboring schools. • Building Pcompared roject Bond Amount: $40,470,000 • Interest Cost @ 5.32% (Projected)
$28,468,515
Do e need a referendum of the existing funding? • wTotal Cost or better use $68,938,515 • • • •
The maximum annual payment is: $ 4,268,000 Questions? – Eomail schoolfacts@seidata.com The maximum term f the b–ond is 19 years. www.thehoosierfarmer.com Referendum debt is not protected by the property tax caps. Property taxes will increase.
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
with innovative programs Montgomery County ‘Influential organization’ program area —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team When Montgomery County Farm Bureau’s young farmers recognized a lack of understanding of government, both locally and nationally, they decided to close the gap between politicians and members. They hosted a dinner with lawmakers in June 2014. U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, state Rep. Sharon Negele and Montgomery County Commissioner Phil Bane were the guests of honor. The event, held at Hudson Farms in Crawfordsville, allowed Farm Bureau members an open forum to
engage with legislators about local, state and federal agricultural issues. It allowed farmers the opportunity to voice their concerns about issues before they affect their farms and livelihoods. Because of this event, Montgomery County farmers now understand that the distance between politicians and the public, though it may seem large, is quite small. The young farmers who organized the event encourage everyone to be informed about issues, know your legislators and understand how government works – critical steps to having your voice heard.
Montgomery County Young Farmers hosted Sen. Joe Donnelly, Rep. Sharon Negele and Montgomery County Commissioner Phil Bane for dinner and discussion in June. Photo by Rachel Stine
Marshall County ‘Influential organization’ program area Marshall County received its Impact Award for its efforts to establish a better relationship with Sen. Dan Coats and his staff. The resulting event was designed to show the senator the diverse agriculture of northern Indiana, its importance to the local economy, and share the issues facing agriculture. The county Farm Bureau invited 10 surrounding counties to meet with Sen. Coats and his staff. One hundred and sixty-eight people attended the event including mayors, school superintendents, county officials and town managers and Farm Bureau members.
Marshall County Farm Bureau hosted Sen. Dan Coats at a special luncheon on March 19. Coats updated the group on federal ag issues. Here he’s greeted by Marshall County board member John Childs, IFB national government relations policy advisor Kyle Cline, and members of the local FFA chapter. Photo by Rachel Schrage
Pike County ‘Public relations and education’ program area Pike County was honored for its county fair-based campaign to increase its public profile. The county financially supported the Pike County 4-H Council, purchased livestock in the 4-H auction, greeted over 300 people at a family fun night Ag in the Classroom event, hosted an Our Food Link function and promoted farm safety to non-farm families.
Washington County ‘Young farmers and youth’ program area The county’s “See What Ag Gives” (or SWAG) campaign earned it an Impact Award. The campaign publicly celebrated agriculture at their county fair. There were nightly SWAG searches, an educational ag-focused spinning wheel at their fair booth, a dedicated kid’s day SWAG search, and the first annual Ag Hall of Fame dinner and Farmer’s Health initiative.
Kosciusko County ‘Public relations and education’ program area The county partnered with Lake City radio stations to have a week-long ag trivia contest on two different local radio stations. Each of the 20 winners was awarded a $25 gift card to a local supermarket. The county also worked with eight area farmers to sponsor the grand prize, a $500 gift card to the same supermarket. Judy Gumbel shows Paisley Willis how to make ice cream as part of the family fun night Pike County Farm Bureau sponsored at its county fair. Photo courtesy of Judy Gumbel
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
February 23, 2015
6
AROUND INDIANA
Farm Bureau policy starts with individual members —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Farm Bureau’s policy is the basis of almost every decision that the organization makes, so it’s important that as many members as possible have some involvement in the policy development process. “Policy is what drives this organization,” said Bob White, a member of Indiana Farm Bureau’s policy development team. “It’s what drives government. We need to know how it affects you on your farm.” One way to get involved is to attend your county Farm Bureau’s policy development meeting. These are typically held in late summer or early spring, but some extend into early fall, White explained. To find out when a particular county is planning its policy meeting, talk to your regional manager. Their names, con-
tact information and counties for which they’re responsible are listed on the organization’s website (www.infb.org) by clicking on the “About Us” tab and then clicking on “Meet Our Staff.” Perhaps a better first step is to take a look at INFB’s policy book, which can be found in the members’ only section of the website. “If you don’t like something, or you see something that needs to be improved or deleted, go to a county board meeting or talk to you county’s local, state or national public policy chairman,” he said. “That could be one way to get involved. “Typically,” he added, “what gets people interested is finding something they don’t like. “But in agriculture now, we have to do more than that. We have to be proactive,” he added.
Delegates at the 2014 delegate session listen to a member of the resolution committee explain a proposed policy change. Policy starts with individual members, but then goes through county Farm Bureaus and the state policy advisory groups to the state resolutions committee. From there it’s considered by the full delegate body at its August meeting. Photo by Mindy Reef
Proposed crop insurance cuts would mean more costs for farmers —From the AFBF Communication Department In his budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, President Obama suggested an 18-percent cut to the crop insurance budget, and Mary Kay Thatcher, American Farm Bureau Federation’s farm policy specialist, said these cuts would represent an additional cost for farmers. In the Feb. 3 edition of Newsline (AFBF’s twiceweekly podcast), Thatcher explained that the budget proposal suggested some “10 percent premium reductions
for revenue policies that have what’s called the harvest price option. “You can buy a revenue policy where you’re just covering the spring price,” she said, “or you can buy it where you’re covering the spring and the fall price so that if indeed the price does go up between the spring and the fall, you’re able to better cover your needs at that point in time.” Thatcher said these cuts would represent additional costs for farmers who take revenue coverage with the harvest price option.
“I think most assuredly you would find that if the premium cost was 10 percent higher for farmers that they would be buying down, i.e., if they’re buying coverage at maybe 80 percent now, they might buy it at 75 or 70 or 65 percent coverage in the future.” Especially with commodity prices lower than they were a couple of years ago, Thatcher says it’s unlikely farmers would be able to afford the same kind of insurance coverage if premiums increase.
National Ag Day just around the corner —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team While Indiana Farm Bureau celebrates agriculture year-round, March 18 has been designated as National Ag Day. This year’s national theme is “Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations.” As in the last several years, March will be proclaimed “Ag Month” in Indiana. INFB will celebrate Ag Day with Indiana’s Family of Farmers at the Statehouse on March 18. The Statehouse event will feature essay winners, the Ag Month proclamation announcement and booths from the IFoF partner organizations.
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County Farm Bureaus that have local activities are invited to send photos to Rachel Schrage, rschrage@infb. org. Please do not resize the photos – the PR team needs original sizes to publish in the
print edition of The Hoosier Farmer. Resources and more information are available on the National Ag Day website, www.agday.org.
New tools help farmers apply for conservation program —From the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition With a February 27 deadline approaching, farmers and ranchers have only days left to apply to enroll in the federal Conservation Stewardship Program for 2015. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has released two free resources to help farmers and ranchers nationwide learn how the program works and navigate the application process: a brief Information Alert with application and deadline details for this year, and the more comprehensive Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program. Both resources provide producers with detailed information on how to apply for and utilize the program to benefit their farms. CSP is a whole-farm, comprehensive working lands conservation program administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. It rewards producers for the conservation and environmental benefits they produce on their working agricultural lands. NSAC has also updated the popular “Famers’ Guide” to incorporate changes to the program following the 2014 farm bill. It is intended to help family farmers, ranchers, and foresters understand the
CSP enrollment process. The new Farmers’ Guide includes step-by-step enrollment guidance, key definitions, and helpful hints for accessing the program now that it has been revised by the 2014 Farm Bill. CSP is a continuous signup program, meaning producers can apply to enroll at any time of the year. However, there is but one cut-off date at which point NRCS will rank all proposals on hand, based on environmental benefits, and determine which will be awarded contracts for that year. Interested farmers and ranchers must submit the initial application to their local NRCS office by February 27 to have their application considered for 2015. CSP contract holders that enrolled in 2011 are now in the final year of their five-year contract and are therefore eligible to renew for another five years. Initial requests to renew must be submitted to local NRCS offices by March 31. The conservation guide is available for download on NASC’s publications page at www.sustainableagriculture. net/publications. Printed copies of the guide can also be purchased. To inquire about ordering printed copies, email NSAC at intern@sustainableagriculture.net.
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YOUNG FARMERS
Young Farmer programs recognized —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team More than 500 young farmers gathered in Indianapolis Jan. 30 and 31 for INFB’s 2015 Young Farmer Leadership Conference, which included learning sessions, awards and volunteer opportunities for attendees. Adams County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program was recognized as the top program in the state. Jasper and Kosciusko counties
were runners-up. Noble, Tipton and Washington counties received the Awakening Award, which recognizes county Young Farmer programs that are new or have not applied for the contest in the last three years. Montgomery County was recognized as the most improved Young Farmer Program. This is based on a comparison of activities of the past three years and how the activities and programs
have improved in that county young farmer program. Three counties were recognized for their contributions to the Feeding America program. Henry County donated the most money, collecting $11,419. Tippecanoe County was the top county in pounds of food donated. The county donated 15,000 pounds of food during the program year. Most hours donated went to Tipton County. Young farmers there offered 500 hours
of their time. Winners of the state’s two collegiate Farm Bureau chapters’ Discussion Meets were also recognized. Vincennes University Discussion Meet winner Zachary Trueblood and Purdue University Discussion Meet winner Samuel Ebenkamp will compete at the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference later this month. Activities during the conference supported two nonprofit organizations that help
the hungry. Proceeds from a silent auction and T-shirt sales contributed $2,375 to Gleaners Food Bank, the state’s affiliate for Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks. A live auction raised $3,110 for Pack Away Hunger. Conference attendees also packed 30,888 meals for the group. Pack Away Hunger partners with organizations to pack meals that are sent to hungry people in Indiana and around the world.
Top Young Farmer Program award winners (from left): Darin Gudeman, Jasper County; Meggie Foster, INFB Young Farmer program coordinator; Lynnette and Justin Hummel, Adams County; Scott Burton, Kosciusko County; and Orville Haney, former State Young Farmer Committee chairman. Photo by Andy Dietrick
Most Improved Young Farmer Program award winners (from left): Jonathan and Kelly Shannon, Montgomery County, and Meggie Foster, INFB Young Farmer program coordinator. Photo by Andy Dietrick
Young farmers and their families packed more than 30,000 meals for Pack Away Hunger during the 2015 Young Farmer Leadership Conference. Photo by Andy Dietrick
Awakening Award winners: Meggie Foster, INFB Young Farmer program coordinator; Laura Purlee, Washington County; Matt Cline, Tipton County; John Bauman, Noble County; and Orville Haney, former State Young Farmer Committee chairman. Photo by Andy Dietrick
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Young Farmer programs recognized for their contributions to Feeding America. From left: Meggie Foster, INFB Young Farmer program coordinator; Matt Cline, Tipton County; Andy Bailey, Tippecanoe County; Matt Chapman, Henry County; and Orville Haney, former State Young Farmer Committee chairman. Photo by Andy Dietrick
This year’s Young Farmer Conference offered a new entertainment option, The Dating Game. Photo by Rachel Schrage
February 23, 2015
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AROUND INFB
Spring Conference goes “From Field to Future” —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Farm Bureau members still have a few days to sign up for the organization’s annual Spring Conference, March 6 and 7 at the Indianapolis Marriott East. “From Field to Future” is the conference theme, which plays a role in many of the breakouts sessions and speakers. The conference also offers opportunities to visit and network with other members. Highlights include: • The conference starts with coffee time with INFB leaders. President Don Villwock, Vice President Randy Kron and 2nd Vice President Isabella Chism will be available for casual conversation accompanied by treats. • Futurist and author Jack Uldrich will be the keynote speaker on Fri-
day evening with “Foresight 20/20: 10 Trends Transforming Agriculture Today.” • Breakouts on Friday and Saturday fit into three tracks: home/ health, education/communication and farm/business. • A youth hunter education course is offered during the conference. Attendance at the entire course is required for certification. • A private applicator recertification program is available on Friday. The program spreads across two breakout time blocks; participants must attend both sessions to get PARP credit. The fee is $10 at the door.
Purdue Extension offers farmland leasing program on March 3 —From the Purdue Ag Communication Service Farmers, landowners, bankers, and farm managers can benefit from attending the upcoming program “Finding Balance in Farmland Lease Contracts.” There is often confusion in determining a fair value for land rents and which lease option matches the expectations for landowners and tenants. The Purdue Land Lease Team has developed this program along with several publications that address the many questions concerning land leases. The program will be March 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Kuhlman Center on the Wayne County Fairgrounds located at 861
Salisbury Road, Richmond, Indiana. Speakers will be Ed Farris and Paul Marcellino, Purdue Extension educators with the Purdue Extension Land Lease Team, and attorney Tony Crowell. Topics covered include trends in land leases, essential communication for optimum landowner- tenant relationships, determining your land’s cash rent value, types of farmland leases, legal aspects of a good lease, and understanding landowner-tenant expectations. There is no cost for this program but registration is appreciated. For registration or additional information contact Anna Morrow at 765-647-3511, annamorrow@purdue.edu.
• The conference ends with speakers Steve and Lorri Zeller of Distinxion, “a non-profit organization founded by the Zeller family to provide a way to integrate elite character and sports training to help build
ion and Breaking New Ground. Registration for the event is open until Feb. 28. Hotel rooms have limited availability. Visit www.infb.org/ springconf for more information and to register.
March Membership Madness in District 4 —By Andy Dietrick Public Relations Team In his convention speech, INFB President Don Villwock stated emphatically that membership is a top priority for 2015. Growing INFB’s membership base is important to the organization’s political strength and financial future. But just because membership is important doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Working with county volunteers in their area, District 4 regional managers Allie Rieth and Drew Cleveland may have developed what could become an annual, statewide membership event: March Membership Madness! The beauty of March Madness, according to Cleveland, is that everyone knows what it is. Indiana is, after all, the center of the basketball universe. And nothing is more exciting than watching your team progress through the brackets, so why not model a membership campaign after that proven strategy? “We’re still working out some of the details, but we hope to be up and running before the first teams start tipping off in mid-March,” added Rieth. “We think
Calendar of Events March 3-5 INFB leader trip to Washington, D.C. 5-7 Purdue Small Farm Conference, Danville, Indiana. 6, 7 INFB Spring Conference, Indianapolis. 16 District 9 Spring Meeting, Lynnville Community Center (activities begin at 3:30 p.m. Central time; meal at 5:30 p.m.) 18, 19 INFB Board of Directors meeting. February 23, 2015
family relationships.” The Zellers are the parents of Luke, Tyler and Cody, all three of whom were named Mr. Indiana Basketball during their high school careers. • Live and silent auctions will benefit Distinx-
the format will promote a friendly rivalry among county Farm Bureaus and help increase the volunteer efforts in District 4.” The March Madness format offers additional benefits. Brackets provide a visual reference so county Farm Bureaus know who they are up against to advance to the next level. It gives volunteers a very specific time frame in which to solicit new members. And it might not be a national championship in the final bracket, but
a nice grand prize (yet to be determined) could be the added incentive needed to help a county advance. So stay tuned. The championship game of the 2015 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6. The Hoosier Farmer won’t be covering that national event. Instead, we’ll bring you even more important news - which county Farm Bureau emerges as the reigning champion of District 4’s March Membership Madness.
MEMBER BENEFIT
New Program with Case IH Case IH Tractor & Equipment Incentive Program Farm Bureau members can now take advantage of Case IH equipment discounts thanks to a new membership value program. Eligible Farm Bureau members will receive an incentive discount – from $300 to $500 – when purchasing qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealerships. The discount is stackable, meaning it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount.
To print your verification certificate please visit www.fbverify.com/case and enter your 10-digit Farm Bureau membership number and your zip code.
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