Annexation Remains Hot Issue for INFB Pages 4, 5
Ag Day Celebration Page 3
INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 Around Farm Bureau.... 3 Around Indiana............ 6 Communication............ 7 State & Nation.............. 8
A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau
APRIL 13, 2015 Issue No. 65
Farmers’ tax bills will provide a timely message for state legislators —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Farmers across the state should receive their property tax bills very soon if they haven’t already. Indiana Farm Bureau offers this piece of advice: If you haven’t opened yours yet, do so now. It’s important to find out now how much your bill may have increased – and once you do, it’s just as important to call your legislators and tell them just how much it’s increased. The graph on this page show’s why this is so important. Unless the General Assembly intervenes, property taxes will continue to go up – not just this year and the next, but until 2020, and not by just a little but by a lot. “Procrastination is not your friend,” said Katrina Hall, INFB’s director of state government relations and the organization’s property tax expert. “When you get your bill, open it and make a call.” There is recognition in the General Assembly that this is a real problem for farmers, Hall said. But there are a lot of interests competing with agriculture for legislators’ time and attention in the property tax arena, including how to deal with assessment problems of big-box stores. “Legislators need to realize that these tax increases
$4,500
$4,000
$3,500
$3,866
Farmland Assessment
$4,122
$3,546
Projected growth in base & effect of the SPF (soil productivity factor) multipliers
$3,020
Peaks in 2019 and 2020
$3,220
$2,770 $3,000
Base value
$2,624
Base x 1.28
$2,500
Base x 0.5 SPF
$2,253 $2,050
$2,086 $1,760
$2,000
$1,630 $1,500
$1,000
$500
$1,385
$1,510 $1,610
$1,126 $815
$880
$880
$1,025
$440
$0
are not sustainable for farmers, particularly when grain prices aren’t expected to recover over the next few years,” she said. On average, Hall said, farmland taxes went up by 16.5 percent this year, and they’re expected to go up another 18 percent next year.
INFB lobbyists have been telling legislators about this, as have members who have visited the Statehouse. Those increases do not include the proposed changes to the soil productivity factors issued by the Department of Local Government Finance in February 2012. The General As-
sembly’s action over the last three years saved farmers an estimated $54.7 million annually, or around 20 percent each of the last three years. Legislators need to hear about this, Hall explained, adding, “It’s OK to start the conversation with, “My taxes are too high and I need
relief. “Agriculture needs a tax burden that is truly predictable and manageable,” she said. “We need significant and lasting relief, we need fairness between all classes of taxpayers, and we need a property tax burden based on ability to pay.”
Statehouse visits make difference during, after the session —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team With only a couple of weeks left in the legislative session, counties have a final opportunity to influence legIndiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206
islation affecting annexation, farmland taxes, water rights and a host of other issues important to agriculture in Indiana. As of the first week in April, 81 counties had made Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
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at least one trip to the Statehouse, while 35 had made two or more trips, according to Bob White, the staff member who coordinates Statehouse visits for Indiana Farm Bureau. In addition, some counties have hosted activities at home, such as “third house” sessions. These are also very effective, he noted. “If you have made a trip to the Statehouse this session, thank you!” said Chris Fenner, field services program director. “We hope you will consider a second visit or local third house ses-
sions to help influence legislation. We may in a position where we need our members to contact legislators quickly at the end of the session to help get bills passed their second house and into the conference committees or the governor’s desk for his signature.” After the session is a great time to host or attend a meeting with your legislators for a post-legislative meeting. This can help build positive relationships with legislators and they are eager to share reason why they voted for certain legislation.
“All of this effort doesn’t go unnoticed,” Fenner said. “Besides good legislation for farmers, all this activity can be recorded in the County Recognition Program.” Counties receive credit for pre-legislative meetings, third house sessions, emails and phone calls to legislators, post-legislative meetings, statehouse visits, and so on, Fenner explained. “Regular communication with your regional manager will ensure you receive credit for all your activity,” he added.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
News in Brief —Compiled by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team
Nominations for Women in Ag Awards now accepted—Purdue
Extension’s Women in Agriculture committee is now accepting nominations for the organization’s top awards through May 1. Awards each for leadership and achievement will be given during the 2015 Indiana State Fair in August to women who are leaders and innovators in the Indiana agricultural industry. Nominees for the Achievement Award must be an essential part of their family business or personal farm business. Leadership Award nominees hold leadership roles in agriculture such as educational, veterinarian, service, nonprofit or corporate positions. “It’s an honor to recognize the extraordinary women of Indiana’s ag industry,” said Danica Kirkpatrick, Women in Agriculture Awards cochair and engagement program manager for Purdue Agriculture. “Not only are our previous winners respected and revered by their colleagues, but they also inspire the next generation of young women in agriculture.” Women may nominate themselves or others who reside in Indiana and are not currently employed by Purdue. Nominators must submit the nomination form (found at http://bit.ly/1aXEvJZ) to Kirkpatrick at danica@purdue.edu. (Purdue 3/16/15)
Women in Agriculture honorees for 2014 were (from left), Elisha Modisett Kemp of Marion County, who received the Leadership Award, and Kerry Dull of Boone County, who received the Achievement Award. Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Keith Robinson
Veteran Project and identify Farm Bureau mentors were distributed at the FUSION Conference to volunteer leaders serving in state Young Farmers & Ranchers, Women’s Leadership and Promotion & Education programs. Contact Dr. Lisa Benson (lisab@fb.org) for more information. (AFBF 3/24/15)
‘Farmland’ earns top honors in entertainment at PR Week Awards—Against strong
site RottenTomatoes.com. The site, FarmlandFilm.com, garnered 322,280 unique visitors and helped attract more than 100,000 Facebook fans, and media efforts generated about 62 million impressions total. Surveys revealed that 53 percent of the primary target audience was aware of the documentary, and 46 percent were familiar with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance – a 91 percent increase from 2013. (AFBF 3/26/15)
AFBF’s Twitter presence continues to grow—AFBF’s Twit-
Chances of saving with solar energy greater for Indiana farms than homes—
The probability of saving money by using solar energy rather than standard grid electricity is 92 percent for Indiana farm businesses and about 50 percent for homes, Purdue University energy economists find. While current energy policies play key roles in providing incentives for the use of solar energy in Indiana, businesses have an additional cost-saving option not available to residences: Businesses can deduct their investment in solar from their revenues a tax policy known as depreciation. A benefit cost analysis conducted by Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, and graduate student Jinho Jung showed that if homeowners could also depreciate the cost of installing solar energy systems, their chances of saving with solar would rise to about 90 percent. “Under current law and policy, whether you lose or
has partnered with the Farmer Veteran Coalition to identify farmer veterans who are interested in finding a mentor. Postcards developed by AFBF promote the Farmer
competition, including Chipotle’s negative Farmed and Dangerous campaign, leading industry publication PR Week recently awarded its prestigious Arts, Entertainment and Media Campaign of the Year award to the consumer campaign surrounding “Farmland.” The James Moll-directed documentary debuted in more than 170 theaters, sold more than 11,000 tickets – 84 percent above initial expectations – and with the assistance of USFRA partner organizations, has been screened more than 1,000 times. The film has also earned a 94 percent positive rating on review
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) 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)
Farm Bureau mentors sought for farmer veterans—Farm Bureau
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
ter presence continues to grow, recently garnering a year-over-year doubling in engagement among followers for special events such as Annual Convention. AFBF has the most Twitter followers of any ag group. Outside of agriculture the National Restaurant Association has 28,100 followers – 11,000 fewer than AFBF. And just in case you were wondering, Indiana Farm Bureau (@ infarmbureau) has more than 3,800 Twitter followers. (AFBF
3/19/15)
Organizational Development Team Director............................................... Kim Vail Program Assistant........................ Ashley Beasley Field Services Program Director.....Chris Fenner Young Farmer & Women’s Program Coordinator................ Meggie Foster Membership Sales & Marketing Coordinator................ Chelsea Poe 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
make money with solar as an Indiana homeowner is like throwing the dice – you don’t know,” Tyner said. “But solar is a clear economical choice for farm businesses. The tax advantage from depreciation makes a huge difference in the overall economics.” Tyner and Jung published a paper on the cost-efficiency of solar energy for Indiana homes in Energy Policy. The paper is available at http://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/ S0301421514004807. They also authored Economic and Policy Evaluation of Solar Energy for Indiana Business and Residential Application, an Extension publication comparing the costs of using solar energy in Indiana business and homes. The publication is available for free download from Purdue Extension’s Education Store website (https:// mdc.itap.purdue.edu/). (Purdue 2/5/15)
Time for Congress and the STB to update rail policies—A
large group of national trade associations representing manufacturers, farmers and energy producers on Wednesday announced the formation of the Rail Customer Coalition, which strongly supports the “Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015. The coalition is calling on Congress and the Surface Transportation Board to modernize the nation’s freight rail polices to better serve shippers, their customers, railroads and American consumers. A new website highlights the need for freight rail reform and features research that found rising rail rates are taking a growing toll on American businesses. “Our groups believe it is time to review key aspects of rail policy and adopt common-sense improvements to ensure that the U.S. is on course to meet the needs of rail carriers, shippers and the public,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. (AFBF 3/26/15)
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
April 13, 2015
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
3
AROUND FARM BUREAU
Ag Day Celebration
Indiana’s Family of Farmers, a coalition of ag groups that includes Indiana Farm Bureau, hosted a legislative luncheon on March 18 in celebration of Ag Day. Above, Ted McKinney, Indiana’s agriculture director, and Dr. Bret Marsh, state veterinarian, toast Ag Day with some milk. (Photo by Emily Neitzel, SWCD.) Above right, the event was held in the Statehouse’s North Atrium. Below right: Sarah Ford, director of public and industry relations for Indiana Pork, announces the essay winners: Emily Dougherty, Whiteland Community High School, winner of the 10th-12th grade category; Levi Spurgeon, a freshman at Indian Creek High School, winner in the 7th-9th grade category; and Kendall Cash of Derby, winner in the 4th-6th grade division. Below right: Michelle Plumber of Milk Promotion Services of Indiana talks to Statehouse visitors. (Photos by Kathleen M. Dutro)
INFB representative selected for national leadership class A group of 10 outstanding young farm and ranch leaders, including one from Indiana, have been selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation as the organization’s eighth Partners in Agricultural Leadership class. PAL is designed to help agricultural leaders accelerate their leadership abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture. “The new PAL class represents the very ‘best of the best’ among today’s farmers, ranchers and agri-business professionals,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “We look forward to working with them as they embark on an exciting journey that will equip them as vital contributors to our agricultural outreach efforts.” Representing Indiana will be Jeremy Barron of Kend-
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allville. Also chosen for the program were young farmers from Montana, Ohio, Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Virginia and Mississippi. To be eligible for the PAL program, applicants must have previously developed leadership skills built through participating in at least one Young Farmers & Ranchers program. This includes AFBF competitive events such as the Discussion Meet (“Sweet 16” finalist), Achievement Award (top 10 finalist) and Excellence in Agriculture Award (top 10 finalist). Retired members of the AFBF YF&R Committee and retired chairs of state Farm Bureau YF&R Committees also are eligible to apply. PAL training involves four learning modules designed to develop specific leadership
Jeremy Barrons, shown here in one of the rounds of Indiana Farm Bureau’s 2014 Young Farmer Discussion Meet, will represent the state at a leadership program that helps young farmers become advocates for agriculture. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
skills while exploring components of leadership and its theories and philosophies. The modules build on one
another over the two years of the program and include intense, in-person, hands-on training.
AFBF created the PAL curriculum as a high-level, executive training program that prepares participants to represent agriculture in the media, in public speaking, in congressional testimony and other advocacy arenas. Program graduates are given opportunities to step forward and promote awareness about issues important to farmers and consumers. The PAL program is sponsored by AFBF, the Farm Credit System and Monsanto Co. Jeremy Barron lives in the Fort Wayne area, where he and his wife, Lindsay, have two children. He has a bachelor’s in agriculture from Wilmington University in Wilmington, Ohio, and he is the financial services lead for Cargill. He was the winner of the 2014 INFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet.
April 13, 2015
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SPECIAL REPORT
Going to Town Annexation one of INFB’s hottest issues as session nears its end –Stories by Kathleen M. Dutro A bill that would change the way Indiana cities and towns annex land appears to be making its way through the Indiana General Assembly and – depending on how the final legislation turns out – could make it less burdensome and costly when landowners want to avoid being forcibly annexed. Right now, if a city or town wants to annex some unincorporated land, all the council has to do is notify landowners by mail, prepare a fiscal report, hold some public hearings, and adopt an ordinance authorizing the annexation. “Landowners are on their own,” explained Katrina Hall, Indiana Farm Bureau director of state government relations. To fight an annexation, opponents have to gather the signatures of 65 percent of the owners of the affected land, a process known as a “remonstrance.” But if the town council choses to go ahead with the annexation despite the remonstrance, opponents have only two options: Give in, or take the town to court. And even if the opponents win in court, they can expect the town to appeal. “You have to organize and stay organized to fight a forced annexation off,” Hall said. Annexation has become a much bigger issue in Indiana in recent years as cities and towns have begun looking for increased tax revenue. (The map to the right shows the 24 annexations that have occurred over the last couple of years, some of which INFB and local Farm Bureaus have been involved with.) The reasons why cities and towns pursue annexation include the desire to increase their tax base to curb the loss of tax revenue caused by the property tax circuit breakers, a desire to annex land that’s next to an interstate corridor, a desire to increase the population and as a way to control development over the next couple of decades. And sometimes, Hall noted, “It’s because they can.” Forced annexation is easy here. Indiana is one of only two states that allow forced annexation. The other is Idaho, according to The Idaho County Free Press. Tennessee, which has often been cited as the third state allowing forced annexations, banned the practice just last year. The bill addressing Indiana’s forced annexation process that is currently moving through the Indiana General Assembly is Senate Bill 330. As of The Hoosier Farmer’s April 6 deadline, it was awaiting a vote of the House Local Government Committee before moving to the full House. The Senate has already passed its version of the bill on a 34-16 vote. This version eliminated the current involuntary annexation process that requires 65 percent of landowners
April 13, 2015
to sign a petition to access a local court. It replaced it with one that, Hall explained, “turns the tables on a city” by making the city gather signatures of 51 percent of owners in order to complete an annexation. However, an amendment proposed in the House Local Government Committee (which had not yet been voted on as of The Hoosier Farmer’s deadline) deletes major portions of the Senate version and reinstates the current statutory process. However, it does say that gathering the signatures of 65 percent of landowners would stop the process without forcing opponents to take the town to court. It also lowers the threshold to access a court to 51 percent and exempts annexed farmland from municipal taxes. In speaking to the committee, Hall supported the effort on the amendment and thanked the committee for hearing SB 330 but was clear that INFB supported SB 330 as it left the Senate. What’s wrong with forced annexation? Hall said there are many reasons, but a big one is that what towns need isn’t necessarily what farms need. “Municipal ordinances are designed for population density and are not conducive to farming operations,” Hall said. In time, this will frequently affect farmers’ ability to use their property. There’s also the issue that those whose property is annexed currently have so few legal options. They haven’t voted for the officials who are doing the annexation, so they have little political clout. And if the annexation goes through despite opposition, their only recourse is to hire an attorney and take the town to court and – more often than not – to continue fighting through the court system as the town appeals. “It’s just too hard, too time consuming and too expensive for ordinary citizens to fight off a forced annexation,” Hall said. “They’re up against the resources of the municipality.”
Throughout this legislative session county Farm Bureau members have made their presence known at the statehouse. Individual members, too, have had an impact. On March 31, Farm Bureau members testified before the House Government & Regulatory Reform Committee about their experiences with forced annexations. Their stories were compelling. Sabrina Graham described her efforts fighting against a forced annexation in Brownsburg, bringing to light the inequity of forced annexation. The following are a few key quotes from her testimony:
“This is simply government abuse at the local level.” “Many areas simply cannot afford to remonstrate. Estimates start at $35,000 just to gather petitions and get to the evidentiary hearing.” “Our state makes it difficult to win a remonstrance, putting the burden directly on the landowners.” “Indiana should really catch up with the times and do as 48 other states do – and that is to allow annexation to occur only by consent of the vote of the property owners.” “It seems bizarre that those of us who aren’t getting paid or compensated in any way are required to get more property owners signatures to stop an annexation that we do not want.” “If remonstrators fail on even one statute requirement, they lose.” “The truth is, farmland is taxed at the new (municipal) rate, and the town or city can rezone these properties any time they choose.” “If this annexation goes through, the schools system will lose $400,000 per year in revenue. That’s a lot. Not to mention the other taxing bodies – fire districts, libraries, townships – that will lose $160,000.” “Services, water and sewer, will only be extended wholly at the expense of the property owner. How can property owners afford that?” “The town of Brownsburg introduced 5 involuntary annexations on the same date.” To see the full archived testimony, to go http://iga.in.gov/information/ archives/2015/video/, click on “Government and Regulatory Reform,” and then select the March 31 meeting.
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
5
SPECIAL REPORT
Indiana Annexations A closer look at some of the forced annexations around the state
Michigan City
Elkhart annexation:
Elkhart
Proposed in: 2013 Area involved: 2,280 acres (1,543 parcels) Population: 750 people (Figures from The Elkhart Truth and the city of Elkhart’s website)
Lakeville
Cedar Lake
Plymouth
Huntington
West Lafayette
Elwood
Whitestown
Anderson Lapel Ingalls Pendleton Fortville
Brownsburg
Spiceland
Martinsville
Linton
Bloomfield
North Vernon
Madison Vincennes
Montgomery
The city of Elkhart undertook an annexation program in 2013 in an effort to, in the city’s words, “incorporate certain properties now receiving utility services.” Elkhart had originally proposed annexing 16 different neighborhoods or “areas” ranging in size from 9 acres to more than 600 acres, but it later focused its annexation efforts on 12 areas. As of the beginning of this year, nine of those 12 areas officially became part of the city. But three so far remain independent of the city due to hard-fought anti-annexation legal battles waged by landowners, who maintain that they are satisfied with the services they receive now and the taxes they pay for those services. Those three areas account for more than 500 people and nearly 1,000 acres, according to the city of Elkhart’s fiscal reports on the annexation plans. Meanwhile, the Elkhart City Council approved $250,000 for annexation-related legal fees, according to The Elkhart Truth. State law, Indiana Code 36-4-311, allows those living in property to be annexed to sue to stop the process, if 65 percent or more of the landowners sign petitions for such action, according to The Truth. That occurred in the three cases, though that number must be confirmed by the judges overseeing the case.
Fortville annexation:
Tell City
Martinsville annexation: Brownsburg annexation at a glance:
Proposed in: 2013 Area involved: 4,462 acres (1,193 parcels) Affected population: Approximately 2,600-3,000 people (Figures from Brownsburg’s website) After the Brownsburg Town Council approved the annexation of nearly 4,500 acres, which would increase the town limits by more than 60 percent, landowners decided to fight back. In order to force the town council to reconsider the annexation, the law requires that 65 percent of the landowners within the annexation area sign a petition known as a “remonstrance.” In the case of the “Brownsburg North” annexation, this meant that the opponents needed to collect a minimum of 776 signatures, and they succeeded in collecting 842. When the town council voted to continue with the annexation despite the remonstrance, the opponents took their case to court. As of The Hoosier Farmer’s deadline, the case was scheduled for oral argument before the Indiana Supreme Court on April 14.
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Proposed in: 2012. Area involved: Originally proposed as 4,992 acres; final proposal 3,030 acres. Affected population: Approximately 50-55 households. (Figures from Morgan Circuit Court ruling on the case and the The Martinsville Reporter-Times) The fight appears to be over for opponents of an ambitious annexation in Martinsville. In March, the Indiana Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal of an earlier court ruling that approved the annexation plan, according to The Martinsville Reporter-Times. The annexation originally included approximately 5,000 acres of land surrounding the city. A few months later, the proposal was amended to reduce the amount of land to 3,030 acres. Despite the reduction, the annexation doubles the amount of land under the city’s jurisdiction. In addition to the reduction in size, the annexation ordinance approved by the council includes some concessions, according to The Reporter-Times, including three years’ worth of tax abatements.
Proposed in: 2013 Area involved: Originally proposed as 6,000 acres (383 parcels) but reduced to 664 acres (97 parcels) Affected population: Approximately 162 (Figures from The Greenfield Daily Reporter) Fortville is the site of another long annexation battle. The town council had originally proposed annexing 6,000 acres and 383 parcels – an area many times larger than the town’s current area of just over 1,900 acres. But even after this ambitious plan was scaled back to 644 acres and 97 parcels, the fight has continued to stop the annexation entirely. The opponents won their court battle in August of last year, but the town has appealed. And as the opponents note on their website, www.supportfafa.com, “The appeal process can be lengthy.” FAFA organizers expect the cost to fight the annexation will be around $45,000, with $35,000 going to attorney fees, The Greenfield Daily Reporter said.
April 13, 2015
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AROUND INDIANA
Farm Bureau members featured at forum —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Whether they sat on a panel or walked away with an award, Farm Bureau members were well represented during the 2015 Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum in Indianapolis on March 16. Economic development was the focus of this year’s event. The meeting started with a discussion on Farbest Foods’ expansion in southwest Indiana, followed by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann unveiling the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s strategic plan for the dairy industry. The plan includes increasing the capacity for processing milk into other dairy products, like cheese and yogurt. Four Farm Bureau members
sat on a panel, From Barns to Bacon, to discuss how investment in agriculture brings community value. Kendell Culp, Jasper County Commissioner; Steve Eberly, executive director, Warren County Economic Development Organization; Danita Rodibaugh, Rodibaugh & Sons, Jasper County; and Ryan Sands, Sands Farms, Kosciusko County, talked about the importance of local engagement for farmers. Beck’s Hybrids of Atlanta, Ind., in conjunction with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Growers Association, presented the Beck’s Beyond the Fence awards. The awards are given annually to individuals who advocate for farmers and the agriculture industry across the state. Julia Wickard received the
Friend of Indiana Agriculture award. Wickard is the state executive director for Indiana Farm Service Agency. Gary Truitt, Zionsville, received the Ag Media award for excellence in reporting about Indiana agriculture. Truitt is the founder and president of Hoosier Ag Today. Stephen Head of Rockport received the Community Betterment award, which recognizes a farmer for outstanding contributions to the community through philanthropic, service, volunteerism or leadership projects. Head farms in Spencer County. Dr. Bob Nielsen of West Lafayette received the Ag Education Outreach award. Nielsen is a professor of agronomy and Extension corn specialist at Purdue Univer-
Kendell Culp, Jasper County, and Ryan Sands, Kosciusko County, were part of the From Barns to Bacon panel at the Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum on March 16. The panel discussed how focusing on investment in agriculture brings community value. Photo by Mindy Reef
sity’s College of Agriculture. Wickard, Truitt and Head are Farm Bureau members. Remarks from Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Major General R. Martin Umbarger closed the meet-
ing. Umbarger is co-owner of his family’s business, Umbarger Show Feeds. The Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum is an annual one-day event. Indiana Farm Bureau is a sponsor.
School funding a priority for INFB members —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team
Indiana General Fund Appropriations
Capital, $582, 2%
At the urging of members, INFB has prioritized the school funding formula for this session of the Indiana General Assembly. This year, the House version of the state budget has allotted an additional $469 million for school funding over the next two years. As of The Hoosier Farmer’s April 6 deadline, the Senate version of the budget was slated to be presented on April 9. While the finalized version will be dependent on the state’s revenue forecast, INFB’s Katrina Hall, director of state government relations, says there’s reason to be hopeful. “We’ve been hearing that the Senate has a similar commitment to putting dollars in the foundation funding that goes to each school.” she said. “State revenue forecasts will be used to make the final determination, and we should see a final state budget by April 29.” The Indiana Constitution guarantees the right to education though public schools. Currently, nearly two-thirds of the state’s budget is devoted to education funding. The formula for distributing those funds is complex, and there are several elements that determine how much funding each school gets above the foundation amount, which is set at $4,587 per student this year. “The General Assembly’s philosophy for the last several years has been that the money should follow the child,” said Rep. Bob Cherry, vice chair of the House Ways & Means Committee. “We’re not just giving money to school corporations; we’re educating kids and focusing dollars toward them. The funding formula should reflect that.”
2016-2017 Biennium
General Government, $1,941,6% Corrections, $1,404, 4% Public Safety, $512, 2%
Health & Human Services, $2,681 9%
Medicaid, $4,203 13%
K-12 Education, $16,053 52%
Higher Education, $3,784 12%
Purdue specialist explains ways to best establish for spring forage —From the Purdue Ag Communication Service With planting season beginning, farmers planning to grow forage should keep in mind six major considerations that could determine the success of their crop, a Purdue Extension specialist said. “Establishing forage requires planning and great attention to detail,” said Keith Johnson. “If all elements are considered, your efforts can result in a great forage stand that will provide healthy, sustainable and cost-effective feed for livestock in all seasons.” To be considered when planting forage: Choice of seeding site.
April 13, 2015
Johnson said forage sites should be considered according to the purpose of the forage being planted. For forage that will be harvested by equipment (hay and silage), farmers should note the proximity of the field to the site where the crop will be stored. If it costs too much or takes too long to transport the crop to the storage site, the location should be reconsidered. For pastures supporting livestock, farmers need to be sure that the site has access to a reliable water source. Soil. Different forages thrive in different soil types. In general, seedbeds should be firm and weed-free. Johnson says no-till seeding can provide good seed-to-soil
contact. For soils amended with limestone or fertilizer, more aggressive tilling may be necessary. “Plantback restriction” – that is, the time necessary to wait on planting new seeds so they are unaffected by the previous crop’s herbicide treatment – should also be considered carefully, as residual herbicide remaining in the soil can kill seedlings. This information is found on herbicide labels. Forage choice. Johnson said the forage type to plant depends on the species and class of animal that will consume it. He suggests consulting with an Extension forage specialist, forage seed sales personnel or livestock nutritionist to determine what
forage will work best for a specific livestock species and class. Producers may also want to mix different types of forages to reap their individual benefits. Seeding. To seed forage fields, Johnson said equipment type, depth of seed, date planted, herbicide application and seeding rate should be taken into account for specific forages. This information can be found most easily by consulting a foragetrained specialist. For more information on seeding rates, visit Johnson’s forage blog at http://purdueforage.info/. Weed control. Effective ways to reduce weed competition are by using an herbicide labeled for the for-
ages being grown, clipping or including a companion crop at the time of seeding. A good example of a companion crop is spring oat; when planted at the time of forage seeding, spring oat can assist in shading weeds and can be harvested as a forage before advanced grain fill occurs. Time of use. Johnson noted that in the case of pasture forage, animals should not be released onto a field too soon. The forage should be rooted well and soil firm enough to support livestock. For more information on planting and growing forage, contact Johnson at 765-4944800 or johnsonk@purdue. edu.
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7
COMMUNICATION
Pitching stories: Dos and Don’ts —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Planting season is upon us – tractors and equipment will be on the road more often, and the chances for an accident to happen increase greatly. But how do you get your local media to cover this important and timely issue? Pick up the phone and tell them about it. Pitching a story may seem intimidating. And, admittedly, some topics are tougher to pitch than others. Safety on the roads at planting time (or harvest) is an easy pitch, though. Even for media in a major market, there are still people who will encounter tractors and planters while traveling, so it’s important
for both farmers and nonfarmers. Andrea McCann, managing editor at The Zionsville Times-Sentinel, offers some advice to those pitching the non-ag media. McCann has worked at several local newspapers, often covering farm stories. “Most reporters are going to be happy to have a tip or story idea,” McCann said. “Reporters have to put out a lot of stories so it’s good to have those tips.” It gets mentioned frequently but bears repeating: Most people are several generations removed from the farm. Members of your local media outlets are likely no exception. McCann says reporters unfamiliar with farming may steer away from
the topic or fear it will be confusing. “I’ve worked at local papers in small areas and it’s amazing the number of people who don’t understand agriculture who work at the paper,” McCann said. “They don’t know when agricultural things are timely. It’s always a good idea to go ahead and give the tip. Don’t hesitate because you think the media won’t be interested.” Other recommendations: • Call with plenty of lead time. Don’t call halfway through planting; call a couple weeks before (right about now in most areas). Give the reporter time to get it on his or her budget and line up interviews.
• If you can, find out when the publication’s deadlines are and avoid calling while reporters are on deadline. • If you don’t know the deadlines, ask if it’s a good time immediately after you introduce yourself and why you’re calling. • Be prepared. The reporter may have time to talk to you right away. If you aren’t the right person to talk to, have the name and contact information of someone who can tell the story and answer questions. Be sure you have that person’s permission to use him or her as a source. • Offer photo ideas and suggestions. For a story on planting, invite the media
Starting specialty food business focus of Purdue workshop —From the Purdue Ag Communication Service A workshop by Purdue Extension and the Indiana State Department of Health will give farmers and homemakers a comprehensive overview of issues associated with starting a specialty food business in Indiana. “An Introduction to Starting a Special Food Business in Indiana” will be held April 29 at the Beck Agricultural Center, 4540 U.S. 52 W in West Lafayette. It will run from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The overall purpose of workshop is to provide knowledge, contacts and resources through lectures and question-and-answer sessions with speakers and entrepreneurs. There also will be written materials. “Developing and selling specialty ingredients and foods is one alternative for homemakers and farmers to add value to Indiana commodities,” said Maria Marshall, a Purdue University professor of agricultural economics and a presenter at the event.
Topics to be covered include food safety, business planning, marketing, entrepreneurship, food regulations, organic products, product development, process development and packaging. Also presenting will be Purdue food scientists Kevin Keener, Manpreet Singh and Steve Smith and Indiana State Department of Health food scientist Sharon Farrell. Registration is $100 per person. The fee includes a three-ring binder of information, lunch and refreshments
in the morning and afternoon. Registration deadline is April 22. A registration form is available at www.agecon. purdue.edu/newventures/ calendar.html. Additional information about registration is available by contacting Marsha Pritchard at 765-494-0889 or mpritcha@purdue.edu. More information about the program can be obtained by contacting Marshall at 765-494-4268 or mimarsha@purdue.edu.
to a farm to see the equipment. • Provide a background sheet with tips on driving around machinery and safety facts. The worst ways to pitch? “Story ideas” that are actually complaints. “Don’t call just to complain,” McCann said. “Tell me why the topic is a good story. Is it affecting other people? The environment? Think about how it affects consumers.” Being disorganized can also blow your pitch, McCann said. “It’s hard when someone meanders. It may be a fantastic story idea but I have no idea what they said because they aren’t organized. It’s great to be excited about your topic, but get to the point quickly.”
Members Matter New membership rewards program announced —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Does the thought of getting another Farm Bureau polo shirt for signing up a new member make your closet groan? Indiana Farm Bureau has launched a new membership rewards program that gives members more options. “The new program opens our opportunities to recognize volunteers for growing membership and making sure the people they’ve brought in remain members,” said Kim Vail, director of organizational development for INFB. “The more success a volunteer has, the greater the value of the reward.” The current INFB mem-
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bership year started Oct. 1, 2014, and runs through Sept. 30, 2015. The new membership rewards program offers many opportunities for recognition. Volunteers who sign up any new member become part of the Membership Club and can choose one of two rewards. Volunteers who sign new voting members are included in the Membership Builder Club, which has more reward options. One of the new features of the program is recognition for retaining a member that a volunteer signed the previous year. For example, if Bob signed up Susie as a voting member during the 2013-14 membership year and Susie renews her membership by Sept. 30, 2015,
Bob is eligible for the Membership Guardian Club. The individual rewards are given in three levels. Level 1 is signing one to three members; level 2 is four to seven members; and level 3 is eight members or more. The same tier system applies to the retention program. Rewards increase in value as tiers increase. Volunteers who sign up new members also have opportunities to be recognized at the district level. INFB will present a District Performer award to the volunteer in each district with the highest combination of new Primary voting members recruited during the current program year and Primary voting members retained from the previous program
year. The 10 District Performer winners will compete for the Premier Performer designation, based on a combination of new Primary voting members recruited during the current program year and Primary voting members retained from the previous program year. Rewards are available for counties based on their entire membership program. The county in with the highest retention percentage of Primary voting members from the previous program year in each district will be named District Defender. The county with the highest overall retention percentage of Primary voting members from the previous program year will be named Superior
Defender. Counties may also receive a Superior Teams Achieve Results award. The STAR award recognizes excellence in member engagement, retention and growth. A brochure for the program has many additional details, including reward options. Members can view the brochure by logging in to the INFB membership website, www. itpaystobeamember.org, and looking in the members only section under county presidents/volunteers. Regional managers and membership chairs have hard copies of the brochure.
April 13, 2015
8
STATE & NATION
Young farmers still concerned about adequate land —From the AFBF Communications Department Finding and securing adequate land to grow crops and raise animals was once again the top challenge identified in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual outlook survey of participants in the Young Farmers & Ranchers program. That challenge was identified by 29 percent of respondents, followed by government regulations, which was identified by 13 percent of the respondents. “For young people who want to begin farming or ranching or expand an established farm or ranch, securing adequate land remains their top challenge,” said Jon Hegeman, AFBF’s national YF&R Committee chair and a farmer from Alabama. “Another major challenge is coping with burdensome government regulations.” Other issues ranked as top concerns by young farmers and ranchers included the willingness of parents to turn over the reins, 10 percent; overall profitability, 10 per-
cent; taxes and the availability of water, both 7 percent; and urbanization and the availability of ag financing, each coming in at 5 percent. The 23rd annual YF&R survey revealed that 84 percent of those surveyed are more optimistic about farming and ranching than they were five years ago. Last year, 91 percent of those surveyed said they were more optimistic about farming compared to five years ago. The 2015 survey also shows 92 percent of the nation’s young farmers and ranchers say they are better off than they were five years ago. Last year, 93 percent reported being better off. Ninety-one percent of respondents considered themselves lifetime farmers, while 97 percent would like to see their children follow in their footsteps. The informal survey reveals that 88 percent believe their children will be able to follow in their footsteps. The majority of those surveyed – 75 percent – consider communicating with consumers a formal part of their jobs. Many use social
media platforms as a tool to accomplish this, in addition to traditional outreach methods such as farm tours, agri-tourism and farmers’ markets. The popular social media site Facebook is used by 74 percent of those surveyed. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they use the social networking site Twitter, 19 percent have a farm blog or webpage and 14 percent use YouTube to post videos of their farms and ranches. “Use of social media platforms to interact with consumers – our customers – continues to grow and will help young farmers be successful,” Hegeman said. High-speed Internet is used by 74 percent of those surveyed, with 23 percent relying on a satellite connection and fewer than 3 percent turning to dialup. Again this year the young farmers and ranchers were asked about their rural entrepreneurship efforts, with 45 percent reporting they had started a new business in the last three years or plan to start one in the near future.
More than 750 Viptera-related lawsuits filed against Syngenta Farmers and businesses in multiple states have filed suit against Syngenta in a series of actions that stem from Syngenta’s sale of a corn seed called Agrisure Viptera. The seed contains a genetically altered trait which kills black cutworm and corn earworm. Many major trade partners approved the trait quickly; however, the trait was not approved for import into China until late 2014, well beyond the average approval time. The class action suit filed against Syngenta on behalf of U.S. corn farmers alleges that Syngenta marketed corn that was not approved for import into China, know-
ing that commingling of the trait would lead to rejection by the Chinese and causing major market disruptions. The biotechnology trait in question – Agrisure Viptera MIR 162 – was approved in 2010 and was first marketed to American farmers in 2011. The complaints against Syngenta are lengthy and complex. All corn farmers who may have suffered economic loss are automatically part of a potential class action. They may also choose to file or join a separate, individual direct-damages lawsuit or elect to opt out of the class action. Once a class is certified, farmers will be given an op-
portunity to opt out of the class. If farmers do not opt out, they will not have the opportunity bring or join a separate non-class action lawsuit seeking a larger actual damage award. Indiana Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau are taking a neutral stance on participation in the various lawsuits. It can be extremely difficult to predict the likelihood of success or the amount of damages, if any. Farm Bureau policy strongly supports the availability of biotechnology and the events that gave rise to the lawsuits are unfortunate. Farmers are encouraged to seek the advice of legal counsel in evaluating participation options.
Among those respondents, access to start-up funding, help developing business plans and navigating legal issues were identified as areas of greatest concern. The survey also shows that America’s young farmers and ranchers continue to be committed environmental caretakers, with 58 percent analyzing the nutrient content of soil and 56 percent using conservation tillage to protect soil and reduce erosion on their farms. AFBF President Bob Stallman said the results of the YF&R survey show young farmers are optimistic and U.S. agriculture is in very capable hands. “I am confident that the
optimism and dedication of our young farmers and ranchers will ensure that a bright future lies ahead for our country and agriculture,” Stallman said. “They are the hope for the future of American agriculture and food production.” The informal survey of young farmers and ranchers, ages 18-35, was conducted online in February. The purpose of the YF&R program is to help younger Farm Bureau members learn more about farming and ranching, network with other farmers and strengthen their leadership skills to assist in the growth of agriculture and Farm Bureau.
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Calendar of Events April 25 Earth Day Indiana, White River State Park, Indianapolis. 25 Mutt Strut, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 27-30 AFBF Safety & Health Network Conference, Tucson, Arizona. May 19 30
Indianapolis 500 Rookie luncheon (sponsored by the American Dairy Association of Indiana), Indianapolis Motor Speedway. INFB Leaders in Action session 3, Indianapolis
April 13, 2015
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