The Hoosier Farmer - issue 66 by Indiana Farm Bureau

County Farm Bureaus Celebrate Ag Day Page 3

Reluctant Spring Pages 4, 5

A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau

INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 Around Farm Bureau.... 3 Communication............ 6 State & Nation.............. 7 Around Indiana............ 8

APRIL 27, 2015 Issue No. 66

School funding on the ballot in communities across the state —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team School-funding referendums used to be fairly unusual events, and they were almost exclusively used to fund building projects. But that is no longer the case. Seventeen school-funding referendums involving 13 different school corporations will be on the ballot in May, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. School districts now seek voter approval to fund both construction and operating costs (also referred to as a “school tax levy referendum”). Rural residents need to realize they can vote in these referendums if they live in the school district, even if they don’t live in town. “Property taxes that are approved by voters in a referendum are not subject

to the property tax caps,” explains the Indiana Department of Local Government finance on the referendum section of its website, www. in.gov/dlgf/8789.htm. “Therefore, any successful referendum may result in a property tax bill that exceeds the caps.” The caps are set at 1 percent of assessed value for homesteads (owneroccupied residences), 2 percent for other residential properties and farmland, and 3 percent for all other property. Four school corporations are seeking voter approval for both a construction project referendum and an operating cost referendum. According to the DLGF, these are: Brownsburg Community School Corp., Hendricks County – $95 million to finance renovations to Brownsburg High School and construction of a new

elementary school; school tax levy of 4.78 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Beech Grove City Schools, Marion County – $8.8 million for renovation and improvements to several of its schools; school tax levy of 35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Perry Township Schools, Marion County – $50 million to add classroom and other space for kindergarten5th grades; school tax levy of 42.12 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Valparaiso Community Schools, Porter County – $150 million to finance multiple school improvements and new facilities; school tax levy of 20.42 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The other school corporations seeking financing for construction projects are: Community Schools of Frankfort, Clinton County –

Keep an eye on municipal elections in your area —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team While no statewide or national election is taking place this year, municipal elections will be held in the 568 cities and towns across Indiana. Though they receive less attention than national or statewide elections, the election of mayors and city or town councilors is also important to rural areas. This year, primary elections will be held across the state on May 5, with a general election following on Nov. 3. Indiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206

Municipal government has a hand in a variety of issues that could be affect you and your farm on a daily basis. These issues include zoning in the two-mile area around the city or town, ordinances that affect farmland already within in the city or town limits and annexation proposals for land around a municipality. The city or town council is also responsible for adopting budgets and providing funding for services and development goals. Rural residents can also be impacted by the actions of a mayor Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

Berne, IN Permit NO. 43

or a town board, the parties responsible for pursuing annexations and providing contract services for public safety to township governments. “Most rural residents don’t pay much attention to town elections because they can’t vote there, but it is important to pay attention to the leadership in the towns,” explained Katrina Hall, Indiana Farm Bureau’s director of state government relations. “Rural citizens support those towns through commerce, and many services, such as schools and libraries, are located in town.” Municipal officials elected this year will serve fouryear terms, shaping policies in the cities or towns that rural citizens support by patronizing business located within their boundaries. So this year, get to know the candidates and pay close attention to local elections, Hall said.

Two proposed school funding referendums in Brownsburg have run into opposition from some of the town’s residents. Photo courtesy of Brownsburg Residents for Fiscal Responsibility

$30 million to finance renovation of and improvements to Frankfort High School. New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp., Floyd County –$79.95 million for renovations and improvements at three different schools. Warsaw Community Schools, Kosciusko County – $39.9 million to replace Lincoln Elementary School and renovate two other schools. The other school corporations seeking to fund operating costs through a school tax levy referendum are: Gary Community Schools, Lake County – A tax levy of 41 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

Hanover Community School Corp., Lake County – A tax levy of 29 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, Marion County – A tax levy of 35 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Pike County School Corp., Pike County – A tax levy of 29 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corp., Ohio County – A tax levy of 25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. River Forest Community School Corp., Lake County – A tax levy of 42 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

2015 session coming to a close The statutory adjournment date for the Indiana General Assembly is April 29 – right around the time readers are receiving this issue of The Hoosier Farmer. Full coverage of the 2015 General Assembly will appear in the May 26 issue of The Hoosier Farmer and on our website, www.thehoosierfarmer.com. Members are also invited to participate in a wrap-up conference call where they will hear from Indiana Farm Bureau’s lobbying staff about how INFB’s priority issues fared during the session. That conference call will be at 11 a.m. on May 8. To participate, call 800-768-2983 and when prompted, dial the access code 6927834 followed by the pound sign.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Hoosier dog owners should act now to protect against canine influenza —From the Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Sam Koester, Posey County; Ashley Beasley, Marion County; Meggie Foster, Hancock County; and Abby Michel, Gibson County, build a tower for the marshmallow challenge during Leaders in Action on April 11. The marshmallow challenge is part of the second LiA session, which focused on self-leadership. LiA participants attend two more sessions before traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with their members of Congress and learn more about Farm Bureau in September. Photo by Mindy Reef

Purdue students were exposed to agriculture during “mAGnify: A Closer Look at Agriculture,” held at various spots on campus from April 12-17. Clubs from across the College of Agriculture worked together to host more than 25 different activities. The week kicked off with the Farmer 5K run, and daily events included Milk Monday, Hammer Down Hunger (more than 70,000 meals packed), a Farmer’s Breakfast and a Celebration of Ag Social. The Indiana Farm Bureau Collegiate Chapter at Purdue invited ISDA director Ted McKinney to participate in an Ag Think Tank session. Photo by Andy Dietrick

Dog owners should be watchful but not alarmed about a large number of cases of canine influenza recently reported in the Chicago area, according to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. While the number of cases reported in Indiana has not been significant, Hoosier pet owners can take steps to protect their dogs. “Canine influenza is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily among dogs,” said Sandra Norman, a veterinarian for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. “Dog owners who travel with their pets to infected areas or take them to places where many dogs congregate (like dog parks or kennels) should consider vaccinating their animals.” Dog owners who notice signs of canine influenza in their dogs should consult a veterinarian. Because this virus is relatively new – first discovered in 2005 – many Hoosier dogs have not been exposed to the disease and are therefore more susceptible to infection.

“Normal, healthy dogs, if exposed, will likely become ill but recover. Very old, very young and immunosuppressed pets are at highest risk, should they be exposed,” said Norman. Clinically, canine influenza resembles kennel cough, or Bordetella. Coughing is usually the first sign and can last up to 3 weeks. Sickened animals may develop a fever as high as 107 degrees F. In its milder form, this flu causes a low-grade fever along with coughing and a runny nose. Antibiotic treatments can help resolve the runny nose, suggesting a secondary bacterial infection contributes to clinical signs. More severe cases can result in pneumonia that may lead to death. Supportive care is essential to survival. A vaccine is available but is not effective if the animal is already infected. This virus is not known to have any human health effects, and should not be confused with strains known to infect people. More information about canine influenza and other companion animal health issues is on the BOAH website, www.boah.in.gov.

Counties compete in March Membership Madness students. “It was a lot of fun,” Linville said. “Ag is such a large part of our area. I think the student members are important because the ones I spoke with are likely to stay here and contribute to the community.” As the winners, Jay County Farm Bureau board members and their spouses will attend an Indianapolis Indians game. The contest netted 38 new

Twelve counties in the northern part of Indiana ran with a concept from a regional manager and got a little creative with a membership drive this year. “My idea was to tie a membership campaign to something exciting that was already going on,” said Allie Rieth, INFB regional manager. “With Indiana so well-

represented in the NCAA Tournament, using a friendly competition seemed like a fun way to motivate volunteers.” Set up similar to the NCAA’s brackets, counties competed against each other to see which could sign up more members. The counties that participated were in areas covered by Rieth and fellow regional manager Drew Cleveland: Adams, Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Howard,

Huntington, Jay, Miami, Randolph, Tipton, Wabash and Wells. Adams, Jay, Huntington and Tipton counties made it to the final round. Jay County eventually came out on top, signing up seven new members in the last week of the competition to runner-up Tipton County’s four. Jay County education and outreach coordinator Joni Linville signed up eight members during the contest, five of whom were

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)

—By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team

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 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

memberships from counties while they were active in the brackets, meaning the counties who were still in the competition by the last round. In all, the volunteers in all 12 counties signed up more than 50 new members during the contest. “We had more memberships come in from counties after they had been eliminated,” said Rieth. “People are still fired up about membership.” 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 27, 2015

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AROUND FARM BUREAU

County Farm Bureaus celebrate Ag Day

Putnam County Farm Bureau celebrated Ag Day March 24 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds with a breakfast and a mini farm fest. Here Sam Fry with Co-Alliance Bainbridge lets kids look at mined phosphate before it’s turned into fertilizer. Photo courtesy of Heather Poynter

Clark County Farm Bureau hosted half of its county’s schools at the spring session of its Ag Day program, held April 14 at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Nearly 900 children learned about bees, beef, farm equipment and ag products by rotating through five different learning stations. The Clarke County event (pictured above and below) was made possible by more than 100 volunteers, local sponsorships and a generous contribution from the Spriestersbach Farm education foundation. Photos by Andy Dietrick

Jason Keeney shows a chicken to farm fest attendees at the Putnam County Ag Day event. Photo courtesy of Heather Poynter

Cody Pate talks to 5th graders at Posey County Farm Bureau’s Farm Fair, held April 1. Photo courtesy of Carla Schenk

Brady Bishop talks about cattle to kids attending the Washington County Ag Day event. More than 300 attended the event. Photo by Allison Hines

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Dale Gladden makes a presentation at the Hendricks County Ag Day event. Photo courtesy of Margaret Gladden

April 27, 2015

SPECIAL REPORT

Reluctan Weather hampers planting, other field work —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team This won’t be any surprise to farmers, but as The Hoosier Farmer went to press, one word that could be used to describe the 2015 planting season so far is “slow.” In fact, so slow has this spring’s field work gone that finding someone planting so that we would have current planting photos for these pages was really hard. No one expects planting to be running at full tilt in mid-April, but it’s reasonable to assume – or so the staff of The Hoosier Farmer thought in March when we were planning this center spread – that by the middle of April, farmers in southern Indiana, at least, will be fairly busy in the field. But not this year. Before last year – another year when field work got off to a slow start – on average about 5 percent of the corn crop had been planted as of mid-April. This year and last year, that figure is 0 percent, according to the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service. The reason why: rain, and lots of it. Precipitation totals in the April 12 “Crop & Weather” report ranged from less than an inch in northwestern and north central Indiana to around 1.5-2.5 inches in southwest Indiana and just over 1 inch to more than 3 inches in central Indiana. Editor’s note: The photos of planting and anhydrous application shown on these pages would not have been possible without the

April 27, 2015

Jeff Mitzner (left) and Matt Schlundt apply anhydrous to one of Mitzner’s LaPorte County fields. As of mid-April, Mitzner was hoping to begin planting sometime the week of April 20.

help of several people who took pity on a hapless photographer and helped her locate someone – anyone – planting in Indiana during the two weeks she had at her disposal. Heartfelt thanks to Tim Tabert and Jeff Mitzner, who took time out of their field work so I could shoot many photos of them and their equipment; to Lana Wallpe, Benton County, and Jim Walsh, Fulton County, county presidents who tracked down rumors of possible planting and passed them on to me; to INFB President Don Villwock and his comprehensive knowledge of farmers across the state; and to INFB regional managers Wayne Belden, Janice Deno and John Newsom, who provided suggestions and sympathy.

Tim Tabert, Benton County, said most of his fields were too muddy for planting as of midApril – except for one. Tabert was able to get in this field near Fowler on April 15.

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SPECIAL REPORT

nt Spring

Photos by Kathleen M. Dutro

Winter wheat off to a slow start —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team In southern Indiana, where a fair share of the state’s wheat crop is grown, the season is off to a slow start. “We normally like to harvest our wheat around June 15,” said Matt Schenk, a grain farmer in Posey County. “Right now it looks like we’re a week or two behind, because we’ve had a longer, cooler spring. A string of 90 degree days in May might catch us up, but it’s hard to say.” Last year, more than 28,000 acres of wheat were planted in Posey County, making it the largest wheat producing county in the state. This is largely due to climate, which allows for double cropping with soybeans. Schenk predicts that less wheat will be grown in the county this year. “Prices are low right now, and last year vomitoxin was costing farmers two dollars per bushel,” he said. “That could happen again this year, if we have a wet May.” Indiana farmers typically grow soft red winter wheat, which is used mostly in the production of flour. A fair amount is also shipped overseas. The presence of vomitoxin can ruin a farmer’s entire crop. “Wheat is a very high manage-

Matt Schenk, Posey County

ment crop,” Schenk said. “It takes a lot of work. It’s not unusual to spray nitrogen twice, then dust with herbicide and fungicide when it starts to pollinate. And that’s just the part we can control, the rest is at the mercy of the weather.” While other grain farmers are waiting for warm weather and a chance to get into the field, farmers who produce wheat are hoping for temperatures above freezing and just the right amount of rain. “A freeze or frost now would kill the wheat, because the joint is above ground,” Schenk said. “Hopefully spring is here to stay and summer doesn’t start too soon.”

Livestock faring well in Indiana this spring —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team While poultry farmers are monitoring their flocks for signs of avian influenza, many hog and dairy farmers are breathing a sigh of relief this spring. High-Path Avian Influenza has not been found in Indiana to date, but it has been taking a toll on turkey flocks in the upper Midwest, specifically in Minnesota. Poultry farmers here have been taking precautions to ensure that the disease doesn’t come to Indiana, according to Denise Derrer, public information director for the Indiana Board of Animal Health. “The strains found have no history of human health effects,” she said. “All poultry is tested for the presence of AI before it is processed to ensure that the meat and egg supply is disease-free.” After an active winter last year, hog farmers are seeing fewer cases

of PEDv this year. As warm spring temperatures approach, the fear of another outbreak diminishes. The virus has typically survived best in cold, damp conditions. “Along with warmer temperatures, pork producers are vaccinating herds, which has been providing a base level of immunity,” Derrer said. “So we’re seeing fewer cases.” While dairy farmers haven’t been battling herd-threatening disease, they are celebrating a recent FDA study that found more than 99 percent of milk samples free of any antibiotic residue. “This is good news, because it means that prevention steps and cautious use of antibiotics by veterinarians and farmers is keeping our dairy supply safe,” Derrer said. On the whole, it seems that Indiana livestock farmers are faring pretty well this spring. “We’re hoping that this is a sign of a good year to come,” Derrer said. So far things are looking pretty good in this LaPorte County wheat field. As of mid-April 56 percent of Indiana’s wheat crop was rated good to excellent.

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April 27, 2015

COMMUNICATION

A new campaign aimed at local decision makers uses eye-catching colors and quirky messages to increase visibility and memorability.

Time for something completely different? —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team A coalition of ag groups has rolled out a new campaign that promotes livestock agriculture to county council members, planning commissioners and other local decision makers, and it doesn’t look like anything Indiana agriculture has produced before. The colors are vivid – no earth tones or delicate pastels here. And the messages are different, too. “Doing what’s right for the environment, our neighbors and BBQ lovers everywhere,” says one magenta- and pink-hued brochure. “Responsibly utilizing No. 2 is our number 1 priority,” says another, this one in bright orange and day-glow yellow. The campaign is called “Farmers Deliver,” and it’s sponsored by Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Pork, Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana State Poultry Association, Indiana Beef Cattle Association and Indiana Dairy Producers. “We wanted something that looked 100 percent different so it catches your eye,” said Andy Tauer, director of livestock for the Indiana Soybean Alliance. Using “funky colors” was done deliberately so that the materials defy expectations, added Greg Slipher, livestock development specialist for Indiana Farm Bureau. The messages are also designed to be different – and memorable. They could be considered “tongue in cheek,” but they’re serious, too, Tauer explained. The bright colors and funny slogans introduce local leaders to important facts and figures about livestock agriculture and livestock farmers. The central message of the campaign is that livestock farmers are both financially and emotionally invested in their communities – and that communities benefit from these investments.

April 27, 2015

“We wanted to show that agriculture can be an economic driver for their communities,” Tauer said, adding that the hope is that decision makers “think about agriculture in a new light.” The campaign is an outgrowth of the “Before You Build” program that Farm Bureau and its partner organizations have been promoting to livestock farmers. The goal of “Before You Build” is to get farmers to think strategically about how to ease the often time-consuming, expensive and stressful process of getting a permit to build or enlarge a livestock operation. “As we were moving through the process (of developing and implementing the ‘Before You Build’ program), we discovered that local decision makers were the next piece,” Slipher said.

“It occurred to us that many of our local leaders had very little information,” Tauer added. “Farmers Deliver” was rolled out at this year’s Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum. The materials aren’t being mass-distributed but instead are used strategically when and where they’re needed, Slipher pointed out. Local Farm Bureau members can be a big help, he added. What Farm Bureau offers that other organizations don’t is members organized at the grassroots level. Many county Farm Bureaus already have strong relationships with their local decision makers, and that’s important to the success of the campaign. “Those strong working relationships are important so that when it’s time to communicate with them, we’re off and run-

ning,” Slipher said. Ideally, he added, county Farm Bureaus would help set up a meeting between the livestock industry representatives (such as Slipher and Tauer) and local leaders. “Because of that working relationship, they can be a conduit to convene that meeting,” he said. “It’s one thing for someone like Greg or me to take this information and share it with local decision makers,” Tauer said. “It’s even more effective when farmers use it.” Farmers and county Farm Bureau boards who would like to find out more about the “Farmers Deliver” campaign and how it could benefit them locally are encouraged to contact Slipher (gslipher@infb. org, 317-692-7886) or Tauer (atauer@indianasoybean.com, 317-710-4973).

Members Matter

Property-tax focused membership materials available —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Even as the 2015 General Assembly ends, property taxes will continue to be a factor in communication with state legislators. Farmland taxes have increased dramatically in many places. The expected jump was up to 16 percent, though the INFB public policy team has heard about some as high as 40 percent. Materials have been developed to help spread the word about this issue and let potential members know that Farm Bureau is working on tactics that can help. The ad that appears with this story, as well as a radio

script template, was sent to county membership chairmen in early April. It can also be printed as a large pushcard, and there is a pushcard available that fits in a standard #10 business envelope as well. Membership chairmen were given the original files for a professional vendor, such as a newspaper or designer, to manipulate the size and contact information. Property taxes have been a top issue for the Farm Bureau since the start of the organization, and there is no sign of that abating. Members are encouraged to share with their legislators how property taxes affect their ability to keep farming profitable.

Farmers: Have you received your tax bill? It could be 16 percent higher than last year.

$3,500

$3,230

$3,000

$2,050

$2,500

$2,000

$1,500

$1,290

Farmland taxes are too high

$1,000

$500

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

Projected growth in farmland assessment

Join Farm Bureau to have your voice be heard. Farm Bureau Needs You

Contact (NAME) at (PHONE/EMAIL/WEB) to learn more about what Farm Bureau can do for you.

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STATE & NATION

Indiana Farm Bureau supports Trade Promotion Authority bills —By Andy Dietrick Public Relations Team Expanding international trade is vital to the success of Indiana’s farmers, That’s why it’s vital that Congress approve trade promotion authority, according to Indiana Farm Bureau. “Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) have introduced legislation that will greatly benefit Hoosier farm families,” said INFB President Don Villwock. “This bipartisan effort advances an important policy objective just as the administration is engaged in groundbreaking trade negotiations with potential partners in the Pacific Rim and the European Union.” Indiana Farm Bureau is conducting an action campaign to make it easy for members and others to con-

tact their members of Congress. To participate, go to ifbtakeaction.org, and click on the link for TPA. Indiana ranks eighth nationally in agricultural exports, and Hoosier farmers have much to gain through congressional approval of TPA. The U.S. is coming off a record year of $152 billion in agricultural exports, and $4.8 billion of those exports come from Indiana. TPA will help keep that trend moving forward. “TPA streamlines negotiations and strengthens our position at the bargaining table,” Villwock explained. “The growth of Indiana agriculture depends on our ability to compete in the international marketplace. We will lose potential markets and economic leadership to our competitors if we cannot negotiate and ratify trade agreements through TPA.” According to Kyle Cline,

INFB’s national policy advisor, TPA is central to completing key trade negotiations already underway. “The U.S. is on the brink of completing its most ambitious trade agenda in years,” he said. “We stand to lose billions of dollars in future U.S. farm exports if Congress fails to pass these vitally important bills. If we don’t have TPA, the Indiana ag economy will suffer.” Indiana Farm Bureau encourages its members and all involved in Indiana agriculture to contact their congressional representatives and encourage them to support the passage of TPA legislation. For more information about the campaign and other ag trade resources, visit www.ifbstayinformed. org and click on one of the links for TPA. There’s more than one way to reach that part of the website.

Facts about TPA and why it matters to Indiana agriculture: • The growth of Indiana agriculture depends on farmers’ ability to compete in the international marketplace. • According to USDA’s most recent calculations, Indiana is a leading producer and exporter of agricultural products, ranking eighth among the 50 U.S. states in the value of its agricultural exports. • Indiana’s agricultural exports reached an estimated $4.8 billion in 2013, up from $3.8 billion in 2009. • Indiana’s exports help boost farm prices and income, while supporting about 36,200 jobs both on the farm and in related industries such as food processing, transportation, and manufacturing. • Without the ability to negotiate and ratify trade agreements through TPA, Indiana will cede potential markets and economic leadership to our competitors

Farm bureau endorses bill to sink controversial WOTUS rule —From the AFBF Communications Department The American Farm Bureau Federation asked Congress to pass legislation ordering the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the controversial “Waters of the United States” proposal. In a letter sent April 14 and copied to all members of Congress, AFBF President Bob Stallman wrote that the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 represents an opportunity for Congress to take “the first important step toward resolving this issue fairly.” The bill was approved this week by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. If the legislation does not pass and EPA moves forward with a final rule, the likeliest result would be landowners “being forced to engage in expensive litigation to protect their rights.” Farm Bureau also called into question a “Dear Colleague” letter circulating on Capitol Hill that mentions the American Farm Bureau by name. That letter states that delaying the rule would be “bad for farmers.” “Because our name has been used, we feel obliged to make our position clear,”

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Stallman wrote. “Our members overwhelmingly oppose this rule. It is a bad rule for farmers. There is no question about that. Anyone who alleges the opposite either misunderstands the rule or misunderstands farming.” AFBF also questioned the “Dear Colleague” letter’s assertion that delaying the WOTUS rule would leave “many of our nation’s waters unprotected.” “As a matter of record, EPA has made repeated statements that the proposed rule does not expand its jurisdiction, while its proponents take the view … that without the rule, waters would be left unprotected.

Proponents (of the WOTUS rule) cannot have it both ways.” Farm Bureau believes without question that the WOTUS rule expands EPA’s authority beyond congressional intent and the limits imposed by two Supreme Court opinions. Among other provisions, AFBF said the proposed rule improperly extends federal regulation to isolated waters and, in cases, regulates land use under the guise of the WOTUS rule. The organization commended Chairman Shuster and the committee for their effort to draft and approve the bill for wider congressional consideration.

Erica Grote, Decatur County education and outreach coordinator, and Aleta Crowe, District 7 education and outreach coordinator, talk about improving Ag Days during the Spring Roundtables on April 16. The roundtable event brings together county education and outreach coordinators and the State Women’s Leadership Committee to share ideas and discuss challenges. Photo by Mindy Reef

Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock (left) and Vice President Randy Kron (right) discuss Indiana Farm Bureau legislative priorities with Sen. Phil Boots, RCrawfordsville, during the closing days of the 2015 legislative session. Photo by Rachel Schrage

April 27, 2015

AROUND INDIANA

—By John Nagle Farm Training Specialist Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Drones, also known as unmanned aerial systems or UASs, are some of the newest tools farmers are using today. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is proud to be one of the first insurance companies to provide this coverage option to our members using this emerging technology. The Rural Guardian Policy can now extend liability coverage for UASs with the option to add coverage for physical damage as well. The UAS has to be specifically accounted for on your farm insurance policy. Physical damage coverage is restricted to named perils of fire, lightning, windstorm or hail, explosion, vandalism and theft. The physical damage is

subject to the amount of the deductible set for Part III of the Rural Guardian Policy. Liability coverage will be extended to those activities relating to actual farming operations. To schedule the UAS, you must provide your insurance agent with: • Identification of the person that is designated to operate the UAS for the farm • Documentation of training to operate a UAS, (this can be from the manufacturer or dealer that sold the UAS). • The year, make and model number, serial number, weight, wing span, and maximum speed. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance will schedule the UAS under the Rural Guardian Policy if it is used

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a drone?

according to established guidelines. These are: • Used solely for the insured’s own use for agricultural operations. • Used on the insured’s own premises or covered locations. • Maximum gross weight

ISP clarifies use of Indiana farm license plates —By Tyler Utterback Indiana State Police As a state police officer, I am often asked “Can I haul my neighbor’s grain on a farm plate?” At the risk of being wish-washy, I will answer both yes and no. There are many possibilities for filling in the gaps of information in this question. The Indiana State Police is not in any way looking to stop transportation done in the interest of being neighborly by helping out someone in your community who is in need. Enforcement efforts are solely aimed at instances where farm plates are being used by someone operating more as a trucking company (that is, as a “for hire carrier”) or as a private carrier transporting goods or equipment that are not a part of their agricultural pursuits. Indiana Code 9-29-513 establishes the fees for farm plates. It states that the plates are to be used on a “farm truck used by the owner or guest occupant in connection with agricultural pursuits usual and normal to the user’s farming operation.” The word “owner” re-

State Police Officer Tyler Utterback

fers to the owner of the vehicle, and the “guest occupant” is anyone else driving this vehicle for the purpose of something related to the user’s farming operation. Indiana Code 9-13-2-58 defines a farm vehicle as being used for the transportation of farm products, livestock or machinery or supplies to or from a farm. This definition also refers to the federal definition under 49 CFR 390.5 (CFR stands for “Code of Federal Regulations”) where it further defines a “covered farm vehicle” as a vehicle that it is operated by the owner of the farm or family member or employee. This definition also explicitly states that

operation of a vehicle by a tenant pursuant to a crop share farm lease agreement to transport the landlord’s portion of the crops under the agreement does not constitute a for-hire operation. While it is clear that the owner of the vehicle can use it for his own farming operation, things start to get tricky when the vehicle is being used for the agricultural pursuits for someone else’s farming operation. When a vehicle is being used for a neighbor’s agricultural pursuits, then the neighbor would need to take on all the safety responsibility as the carrier responsible for the vehicle and driver. Any crash, traffic violation, or roadside inspection should be recorded as neighbor being the responsible carrier. This would also raise some questions with the involved insurance provider. ______________________ Tyler Utterback is an officer in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Indiana State Police and an advisory member of the INFB Transportation Policy Advisory Group.

cannot exceed 20 pounds. • Maximum wingspan cannot exceed 10 feet. • Maximum speed cannot exceed 40 mph. • Maximum altitude cannot exceed 400 feet. • The UAS must be used within the operator’s sight at all times. • The UAS cannot be operated within 5 miles of any airport, public or private. • The UAS must be used according to the manufacturer guidelines for use and weather conditions. In

general this will mean that at no time should a UAS be used when wind gusts are 20 mph or greater or in snow or rain, and it cannot be flown at night. • All operators must be identified and be 18 years of age or older. • All operators must have received training in appropriate operation of the UAS. For more specific information about coverage for UASs, please contact your local Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance agent.

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Calendar of Events April

27-30 AFBF Safety & Health Network Conference, Tucson, Arizona. May 19 20, 21 30

Indianapolis 500 Rookie luncheon (sponsored by the American Dairy Association of Indiana), Indianapolis Motor Speedway. INFB Board of Directors meeting, Indianapolis. INFB Leaders in Action session 3, Indianapolis.

April 27, 2015