Farm Bureau Dates to Remember Pages 4, 5
County Fair Calendar Page 6
INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 State & Nation.............. 3 Around Indiana........ 6, 8 Around INFB................ 7
A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau
JUNE 20, 2016 Issue No. 81
Ag economy’s woes affecting farmers in several different ways —By Bob White Public Policy Team According to the old saying, “The cure for high prices is high prices.” That is, however, not the case for today’s agriculture economy because net farm income predictions are not a pretty sight. Purdue has re-
ported that net farm income will be down in 2016 and margins will be very thin for the next several years. While the U.S. economy continued to work its way out of the recession for the past eight years, the farm economy as a whole saw a rising net farm income. Farmers responded to the
Supreme Court ruling brings ‘needed relief’ to farmers —By Kathleen M. Dutro, Public Relations Team In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that jurisdictional determinations by the Army Corps of Engineers are appealable as final agency actions. “While this ruling does not impact the current litigation surrounding the new Waters of the U.S. rule regarding whether the agencies have exceeded their authority under the Clean Water Act, it does bring needed relief to farmers,” said Justin Schneider, INFB senior policy advisor and counsel. “If the EPA or the Corps claims jurisdiction, you now have the right to appeal that to a court without having to get a permit first. “The answer to the question of ‘What is a jurisdictional water?’ is still to be determined,” Schneider added. Prior to this ruling, the Corps and EPA asserted that farmers and other landowners could not appeal those decisions. Instead, they asserted that landowners
Indiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206
would have to apply for and obtain costly permits prior to appealing, Schneider said. The alternative was that landowners could choose to ignore the determination and face penalties of $37,500 per day if a court upheld the jurisdictional determination. The decision “removes a huge roadblock that has prevented landowners from obtaining relief from the courts when the Corps illegally claims their land is federally regulated water,” American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. AFBF filed “friend of the court” briefs in the lower court and the Supreme Court in support of the plaintiffs, who were represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation. The case was titled United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. Inc. Schneider added that it’s still unknown when the litigation regarding the new Waters of the U.S. rule will be settled. “It could be next week or next year. We really have no idea,” he said.
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
Berne, IN Permit NO. 43
increase in prices with increased production, not only here in the U.S. but on a global scale. Combine that with the leveling of the ethanol requirements in the United States and lower demand from some of our larger export customers, and all of a sudden you have a depressed agricultural economy. For Hoosier counties that are largely dependent on agriculture, this also means a slightly depressed local economy. Many businesses in small rural communities know when the ag economy is weak as their own revenues are down. Efficiencies in business are typically found when prices are lower, and Hoosier farmers have responded by tightening their cash flows. Despite these negative influences, stable energy prices and the availability of credit are positive factors. The bigger reason for optimism is the increased
Crops in much of the state – including this corn found near the Madison-Henry county line – was thriving when this photo was shot June 7. But according to the state climatologist, some parts of the state are already abnormally dry, and a strong La Niña weather pattern could push the state into a drought. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
demand for protein around the world. Populations are growing in various areas of the world, and those populations have more money to spend for additional protein. This will also coincide with an increased demand for grains. So the long-term view is very favorable for
agriculture, just not as good as in the past eight years. The economy affects our members and their rural communities in many different ways. Be assured that Indiana Farm Bureau is watching these reports and their numbers carefully.
Long-time Farm Bureau leader dies —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Carolyn Hegel, long-time Indiana Farm Bureau second vice president and directorat-large, died June 10 at her home. The news was announced as this issue of The Hoosier Farmer was going to press. She devoted much of her life to Farm Bureau, serving as bookkeeper and office manager for what was then the Huntington County Farm Bureau Co-op; and as township, county, and district woman leader before being elected to the INFB Board of Directors and becoming second vice president, chair of the State Women’s Committee, and director of the women’s and health and safety divisions. She served 26 years as second vice president and director-at-large. For many of those years she averaged more than 40,000 miles per
year traveling for Farm Bureau. Even while devoting herself to Farm Bureau, she remained active in other organizations – with the Indiana Rural Health Association; as a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Wabash County; and with her church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Farm Bureau Foundation, care of Indiana Farm Bureau (225 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46206); or Bethel United Methodist Church (checks should be made out to Bethel United Methodist Church but mailed to GrandstaffHentgen Funeral Service, 241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, IN 46992, and marked “for Carolyn Hegel memorial”). Services were held June 14 at Bethel United Methodist. She is survived by a brother, Clair L. Lynn, and sister, Barbara Ann Lynn,
Carolyn Hegel being honored at the 2006 Spring Conference shortly before her retirement. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
both of Lagro. Even a semi-comprehensive summary of Hegel’s life and what she meant to Indiana Farm Bureau would fill more space than The Hoosier Farmer has available at press time. Therefore, a more extensive obituary is available on INFB’s website, www.infb.org/CarolynHegel.
2
NEWS IN BRIEF
Apply for YF awards by Aug. 1 —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team
For the 61st year in a row, the winner of the Indy 500 and the winning car owner received bottles of ice cold milk in victory lane. The milk people chosen for the historic 100th running of the Indy 500 were INFB members Janet Dague, who presented the winning driver with his bottle of milk, and Joe Kelsay, who presented celebratory milk to the car owner. This year’s winning driver and car owner were Alexander Rossi, a rookie who coasted across the yard of bricks and ran out of fuel in turn two, and Michael Andretti.
Young farmers have until Aug. 1 to apply for the Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture and Achievement awards. The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers (ages 1835) who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture. The Achievement Award recognizes outstanding young Farm Bureau members who set a positive example for others. Applicants must earn a majority of their income from production agriculture.
To qualify for consideration for either award, applicants must fill out the application form, which can be found at www.infarmbureau.org under “Programs” and then “Young Farmer.” Applications must be emailed to the Indiana Farm Bureau office before midnight Eastern time Aug. 1 to be considered for the awards. The Achievement Award winner receives $6,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, 250 hours’ use of an M-Series tractor courtesy of Kubota Tractor, the David L. Leising Memorial Award and paid expenses to the 2017 national convention in Phoenix, Arizona. The two runners-up receive $1,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.
The Excellence in Agriculture winner receives a John Deere Gator courtesy of Farm Credit Services, $3,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, and expenses paid to the national convention. The two runners-up get $1,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Both state winners will be recognized at the INFB convention, Dec. 8-10 in Fort Wayne, and will compete in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers contests. More information and the application forms are available on the INFB website, www.infarmbureau.org, or by calling Allie Rieth, INFB young farmer program coordinator, 317-692-7183.
Dague is a third-generation dairy farmer from Kewanna, Ind. Her family milks 170 cows and grows corn, wheat, soybeans and hay on 1,200 acres. Kelsay is a sixth-generation dairy farmer from Whiteland, Ind. His family has farmed the same land since 1837.
ELECT meeting deadline fast approaching
Next year, at the 101st running, Kelsay will have the honor of presenting the winning driver with a bottle of milk in victory lane. Photo by Marshall Pruett
July 15 is the deadline for local ELECT trustees to interview general election candidates and make recommendations for endorsement. ELECT endorsements are made through a multi-step process, starting with recommendations from Farm Bureau members who live in the district. The July 15 deadline allows for the
Farm Bureau needs members to help to plan its future —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team There are still lots of opportunities for members to help Indiana Farm Bureau write its new strategic plan. A total of 20 meetings will be held across the state, and while some were early in June, more than half are yet to come, some at the end of June and the rest in August and very early September. Members can attend any of the meetings – whichever one is most convenient – and no registration is required. The remaining June meetings are: Administrative/Finance Team
President............................................Randy Kron Vice President.................................Kendell Culp Second Vice President................ Isabella Chism Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer..Mark Sigler Receptionist..........................................Kim Duke General Fund Accountant..............Tiffanie Ellis Operations & Event Manager.......Chris Fenner Office Manager & Meeting Planner..............................Kay Keown Executive Director of Administration............................. Megan Ritter Controller..........................................Elaine Rueff Administrative Assistant...................Jill Shanley Executive Secretary.................... Beverly Thorpe Member/Data Service Program Coordinator.................... Anna Todd Accounting Intern...................William Gabbard
District Directors Harold Parker (1) Kevin Ousley (2) Kevin Underwood (3) Steve Maple (4) Dave Wyeth (5)
June 20, 2016
Scott Trennepohl (6) Jeff Gormong (7) Mark Bacon (8) Philip Springstun (9) Robert Schickel (10)
June 27, 7 p.m. Eastern time, Monroe County Fairgrounds, Bloomington. June 28, 6:30 p.m. Eastern, Hendricks County Fairgrounds, Danville. June 29, 6 p.m. Central, Jasper County Fairgrounds, Rensselaer. June 30, 7 p.m. Eastern, First Church of the Nazarene, Shelbyville. For a list of the later meetings, which run Aug. 2-Sept. 1, the questions that participants will be asked and other information, visit www. infb.org and click on the link for the INFB strategic plan. Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation
Director...............................................John Shoup
Indiana Farm Bureau Inc./ Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Director of Affiliate Relations...... Julie Klarich
Legal Affairs Team
Director & General Counsel.................... Mark Thornburg Associate Counsel for Corporate Compliance & Nonprofit Affairs............ Sara MacLaughlin Senior Legal Assistant............... Maria Spellman Law Clerk.......................................Brock Burnick
Public Policy Team
Director............................................. Katrina Hall National Government Relations Policy Advisor..................Kyle Cline Policy Advisor & Counsel............. Amy Cornell Administrative Assistant ............. Diane Helton Senior Administrative Assistant .................................... Wanda Hunter
—By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team
remaining steps of the endorsement process to occur in a timely manner. Indiana Farm Bureau ELECT is the nonpartisan political action committee associated with Indiana Farm Bureau. It is the best way for Hoosier farmers and rural residents to elect ag-friendly candidates to Congress and the General Assembly. Through endorsement, donation and other grassroots political engagement, ELECT
can help these candidates win their races. Fifteen ELECT-endorsed candidates were victorious in the May primary election. Primary and general election endorsements are separate; however, the voters’ overwhelming support of identified pro-ag candidates in the spring might be a good indicator for ag’s political outlook this fall.
More than 65 teachers and Indiana Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom volunteers met at Dow AgroSciences on June 11 to learn lessons they can take back to the classroom. Here Beth Steiner participates in an activity that showed participants how to extract DNA from a strawberry. Photo by Rachel Schrage
Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel................................... Justin Schneider Livestock Development Specialist... Greg Slipher Associate Policy Analyst................ Shelby Swain Direct Retail Business Specialist....... Bob White Public Policy Intern................... Kathleen Jacobs
Public Relations Team
Web Designer/Developer............. Diane Brewer Publications Managing Editor & Media Relations Specialist......Kathleen Dutro Marketing & PR Specialist................Mindy Reef Communications Assistant....... Rachel Schrage Communications Specialist, Public Policy and Advocacy............. Jay Wood PR Intern.........................................Jaclyn Leeuw
Organizational Development Team
Director..................................Mel Hollingsworth Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator............... Ashley Beasley Membership Sales & Marketing Coordinator................Chelsea Poe Young Farmer & Youth Program Coordinator..................... Allie Rieth
Program Assistant..................... Kathryn Rogers Education Coordinator..................... Julie Taylor Program Assistant............................Tracie Trent Agriculture Promotion & Outreach Intern........................Mallory Meyer
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
Regional Managers
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.
Wayne Belden (1 & 3) Greg Bohlander (6) Andrew Cleveland (4 & 6) Casie Conley (4) 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) Laura Ruhlman (7 & 9)
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 2016. All rights reserved.
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
3
STATE & NATION
Water availability focus of statewide study —Stories by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team How much groundwater does Indiana actually have available for irrigation?
That is the question that policy advocates, including Farm Bureau, hope will be answered by a new, voluntary well-monitoring program now being implemented.
A farmer in Miami County uses his center-pivot irrigation system during a dry spell in 2014. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
“We don’t think we have a problem, but we don’t know for sure,” said Justin Schneider, Indiana Farm Bureau’s senior policy advisor and counsel. “The idea is to put together a picture of water availability in the state.” The program is coordinated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Signup for the program just reopened this month, and the search for partners is focused on farmers, utilities and other businesses Schneider said. So far, participation is free, Schneider noted. Equipment is provided by DNR, and no new drilling will be necessary if an existing well can be used.
Well studies will provide much needed data, participants say Participating in a program that monitors groundwater levels is common sense for Brian Thompson of Jackson County and Mike Morehouse of Elkhart County. “We really need to know what’s going on,” said Thompson. “Knowledge is king.” “We have to prove to the public that we’re not using too much groundwater,” Morehouse explained. Thompson and Morehouse irrigate some of their acres, which explains their interest in protecting farmers’ access to local aquifers. But they’ve both taken a step beyond interest and are allowing their
farms to be sources for hard data on water use. Morehouse, who raises hogs and produces around 1,800 acres of corn and soybeans with his father, brother, nephew and sons, is part of a privately funded program begun last year by farmers in LaGrange, Elkhart, Noble and Kosciusko counties. Forty-five farmers are members of the program, known as LENK, and they’ve used their own money to hire a firm to collect data on wells in those four counties and perhaps eventually in other counties as well. In contrast, Thompson, who farms around 3,000
acres with his son Ben, volunteered last winter for a well-monitoring program that is now entering its second sign-up phase. Coordinated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (and supported by Farm Bureau), the goal of the program is to collect information on aquifer levels statewide, how those levels change during periods of use and how fast the wells recover. “It’s important for us as producers, as water users, to be as educated as possible. Sticking your head in the sand won’t work,” Thompson said. He added that it’s also
“We are looking for test wells or wells that are no longer used for pumping,” he said. Among the information DNR hopes to collect are trends for aquifer levels, how those levels change during periods of use and how fast the wells recover. The statewide effort will augment a privately funded program that is ongoing in LaGrange, Elkhart, Noble and Kosciusko counties. In that region, 45 farmers have invested their own money
and volunteered their own wells so that their region’s water capabilities can be studied. “They went out on their own to do this because they think it’s important to have the data,” Schneider said. “When it comes to irrigation, every decision has been made on what was done before,” he said, adding that it’s now time to gather some really sound data so that Indiana can “protect long-term access for farmers to sufficient supplies of water.”
If you’re interested in finding out more… Signup reopened in June for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources wellmonitoring program. For information on participating in the DNR program, contact Justin Schneider, Indiana Farm Bureau’s senior policy advisor and counsel, 317692-7835, jschneider@infb. org. While the LENK program is currently focused on the four counties indicated in
the program’s name (LaGrange, Elkhart, Noble and Kosciusko), the organizers are hoping to expand, particularly in counties to the west of the core group. Those interested in the LENK program, even those outside the four-county area, should contact Todd Feenstra at Tritium Inc., which is the firm collecting the data, by calling 574-266-5300.
important that farmers have enough information to help educate lawmakers and regulators. Neither program has collected enough data to come to any conclusions as yet. Both programs have been around only a short period of time, and Indiana farmers generally irrigate only in June-September – and in
any case, Morehouse noted, he personally irrigated only three times last year. “There just isn’t much data yet,” he explained. But he believes the data will show that while the water table may go down during the three or so months that fields are irrigated, it goes back up when the aquifer is recharged.
FMSA changes food safety rules for farmers —From the INFB Public Policy Team Although the U.S. has the safest food supply in the world, widespread food incidents of food-borne illnesses during the 2000s prompted Congress to require additional precautions. The result is the Food Safety Modernization Act, sometimes known as “FSMA,” which was signed into law in January 2011. FSMA requires the Food and Drug Administration to establish comprehensive, prevention-based controls across the food supply to replace the reaction-based system that was formerly in place. It is the largest expansion of FDA’s food safety authority since the 1930s. Although numerous agencies share responsibility for regulating food safety, FSMA
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
focuses on foods regulated by FDA. It amended FDA’s existing structure and authorities but does not directly address meat and poultry products under USDA’s jurisdiction. There are seven different regulations that make up FSMA, but the produce safety rule will probably have the greatest impact on Farm Bureau members. FDA was required to establish sciencebased, minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce on farms (with some exemptions) to minimize routes of possible microbial contamination that could cause serious adverse health consequences or death. In Indiana, the Indiana State Department of Health, State Department of Agriculture and the Office of the State Chemist are working together along with Purdue
Extension to establish training programs and meetings to help inform producers about who must comply and how this is to be done. An article by Bob White, INFB’s direct retail business
specialist (bwhite@infb. org) that explains this in more detail can be found at http://www.infb.org/fsma. But you can also find additional information on the produce safety rule at www.
fda.gov/food/guidanceregu lation/fsma by clicking on the “Final Rule for Produce Safety” link found in a box along the right side of the webpage; and at produce safetyalliance.cornell.edu/.
Changing consumer demand among topics at Top Farmer Conference —By Jackie Leeuw Public Relations Intern Farmers and agribusiness professionals will be descending upon Purdue University’s campus July 7 and 8 for the 49th annual Top Farmer Conference. Attendees will be able to learn more regarding the agricultural business climate, strategies to successfully grow their operations and implications for agricultural produc-
ers of changing consumer demand during the two-day conference. This year’s keynote speaker will be Bruce Vincent. Vincent is a third-generation logger from Montana who has testified before Congress on natural resources issues and appeared on several news programs, including 60 Minutes. He will be presenting on “The Conflict Industry and You.” The conference will be held at Beck’s Conference
Center in West Lafayette. Cost of the conference is $300 per person through June 24. After June 24, cost is $350 per person. To learn more and to register, visit ag.purdue.edu/ commercialag/topfarmer. For more information, contact Aissa Good, managing director and business development manager for the Center for Commercial Agriculture, at aissa@purdue.edu or 765496-3884.
June 20, 2016
4
COMING IN 2016
INFB Almanac: Dates to Remember INFB membership contests June membership contest Members who sign a new voting member between June 1 and June 31 will be entered into a drawing 2-burner (20,000 BTU) liquid propane gas grill and grilling tool set. In addition, new members signed in June will be entered into a drawing for an identical prize package. Deadline for memberships to be postmarked: June 30.
INFB strategic planning meetings June – Sept. 1 To be held at 20 locations throughout the state. Members are encouraged to attend the meeting that is most convenient for them regardless of what county or district they live in. For dates and locations, visit www.infb.org and click on the link for the strategic planning meetings that is near the top of the page.
July membership contest The members who sign the most new voting members between July 1-31 will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card. Deadline for memberships to be postmarked: Aug. 1 For more information, visit www.infarmbureau.org/infb/about-us/ sweepstakes.
Farm Management Tour June 23, 24 Newton and Jasper counties (ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/Pages/Programs/Farm-Tour.aspx.)
Purdue Top Crop Farmer Workshop July 7, 8 West Lafayette (www.agecon.purdue.edu/topfarmer/conference.asp)
Estate and Succession Planning for the Family Farm July 21, 8:50 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT INFB home office, 225 S. East St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 Registration: $35, www.inaglaw.org/estateplan
INDOT transportation meetings July 6, 1 - 4 p.m., Fort Wayne July 11, 9 a.m.-noon, Seymour July 13, 9 a.m.-noon, Crawfordsville July 21, 9 a.m.-noon, Greenfield July 26, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LaPorte July 28, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Vincennes All times are local. For more information, see the full article on page 8.
Congressional August recess July 16 – Sept. 5
National Value-Added Conference July 20-22 Madison, Wisconsin (www.agmrc.org/national-value-added-agriculture-conference/)
Purdue Extension Hops Field Day July 23 Location to be determined
Young Farmer Achievement and Excellence in Agriculture Awards Application deadline Aug. 1 Applications should be emailed to odt@infb.org. To find out more visit www.infb.org and look under “Programs” and then “Young Farmer.”
INFB Resolutions Committee Meeting Aug. 1-3 Indiana Farm Bureau home office, Indianapolis
Indiana State Fair Aug. 5-21 – “Celebrating Indiana’s Bicentennial” Indiana lieutenant governor candidate debate – Aug. 9, 2 p.m., Farm Bureau building. Sponsored by Indiana AgrIInstitute – see www.agriinstitute.org/ for more. INFB Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast – Aug. 17. Proceeds benefit the Indiana FFA Foundation. Taste from Indiana Farms – Aug. 16-18. (See separate listing on these pages for information on all Taste from Indiana Farms events.) Also planned for the Farm Bureau Building – interactive exhibits, children’s activities, a scavenger hunt and Farm Bureau’s famous free popcorn (courtesy of Preferred Popcorn).
June 20, 2016
The 2015 resolutions committee comes together for a group shot. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
Taste from Indiana Farms Aug. 12 – Evansville Farmers Market Aug. 16-18 – Indiana State Fair Sept. 24 – Whitley County Farmers Market, Columbia City Sponsored by the State Women’s Leadership Committee. Visit www.infarm bureau.org/infb/programs/ wlc and scroll down to the section on Taste from Indiana Farms.
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
5
COMING IN 2016
Young Farmer Summer Social Aug. 13, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (Registration opens July 1)
INFB Leaders in Action
Forest Park, Noblesville Horseshoe and corn-hole tournaments, mini golf, carousel rides, playgrounds and volleyball; a free lunch buffet starting at noon (with special VIP guests); prize drawings and state fair tickets for all those attending. Also available: a limited number of roundtrip tickets for the Fair Train from Noblesville to the state fairgrounds. Register online at www.infb.org/ summersocial.
Aug. 12, 13 Indianapolis Sept. 12-14 Washington, D.C. The 2015 Leaders in Action class poses near the Capitol Building. Photo by Mindy Reef
Mineral Rights: Knowing Your Rights Underground Aug. 20, 1-3:30 p.m. CDT Vanderburgh County Fairgrounds Banquet Hall, 201 E. BoonvilleNew Harmony Rd., Evansville.
How to Understand the Laws Impacting Drainage Decisions Aug. 24, 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. EDT New location: Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet and Conference Center, 100 Byrd Way, Greenwood, IN 46143 Register at www.infb.org/drainage; cost $50. Contact Maria Spellman, 317-692-7840, mspellman@infarmbureau.org.
INFB Summer Delegate Session Aug. 27 Indianapolis Josh Boxell discusses a policy issue during the 2015 delegate session. Photo by Jay A. Wood
Collegiate Farm Bureau Call-Out Meetings Aug. 30 (tentative) – Purdue University Sept. 8 (tentative) – Vincennes University
INFB Young Farmer trip to the USDA’s September crop report lockup Sept. 11-13
Legislative events
Washington, D.C.
“Before the Harvest” – early September. This event for legislators is hosted annually by Indiana Farm Bureau, but an addition planned for this year is a forum for gubernatorial candidates. Organization Day – Nov. 22 INFB Legislative Kickoff – Early January Watch The Hoosier Farmer and www.infb.org for additional details on all three events.
Young Farmer Discussion Meet Registration deadline: Nov. 8 The discussion meet will be held during INFB’s annual convention in December. For more, visit www.infb.org and look under “Programs” and then “Young Farmer.” Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
Election dates July 15 – Last day for ELECT trustees to meet to make endorsements Oct. 8 – Last day to register to vote Nov. 8 – Election Day
Collegiate Farm Bureau Discussion Meets Nov. 8 (tentative) – Purdue University Nov. 10 (tentative) – Vincennes University
INFB Convention Dec. 8-10 Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
The winners of the 2015 Young Farmer Contests (from left): Jake Smoker, LaPorte County, Young Farmer Discussion Meet; Mike and Sarah Hertsel of Elkhart County with their children Caroline, George and Elizabeth, Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture award; and Jennifer and Jake Walker, Young Farmer Achievement Award.
AFBF 2017 Annual Meeting Jan. 8-10, 2017 Phoenix, Arizona
INFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference Jan. 27-29 Marriott East, Indianapolis
June 20, 2016
6
AROUND INDIANA
Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation assists with fence law case —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team An amicus brief written by the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation may help a farmer get a fence fixed and may clarify for all courts how the state’s fence law is written. “The reason the foundation supported Belork v. Latimer was simple: Indiana’s partition fence law statute is clear and unambiguous,” said John Shoup, executive director of foundation. “Changes to existing, wellsettled law should come from the legislature, not the
judiciary.” In the case, Starke County cattle farmer John Belork rebuilt half of a partition fence between his land and his grain-farming neighbors’ land. He asked the neighbors to rebuild the other half. They refused, and the township trustee, Robin Latimer, refused to require them to rebuild. Belork went to his local trial court with his case. The trial court ruled in favor of the neighbors, who had experienced damage to their fields when Belork’s cattle would escape, because they did not “use” the fence.
The Indiana Partition Fence Law (Indiana Code 32-26-9) requires adjacent landowners to share the burden of building partition fences, as long as at least one property is agricultural land located outside town or city limits. There is no requirement that both property owners benefit from or use the fence. Shoup added that a partition is a “use” under Indiana’s partition fence law, and there is no statutory requirement that adjoining landowners both raise livestock. Belork appealed to the
Indiana Court of Appeals, where he was initially denied. He petitioned for a rehearing. The court agreed to the rehearing and allowed the foundation to file an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in support of his petition. The foundation’s brief explained the history and use of the law. “After considering the arguments we offered, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed their own contrary decision. This is an extremely rare occurrence,” Shoup said. The appeals court ruled that the neighbors had mis-
interpreted the law and that both parties having “use” of the fence was not required. In fact, the law is very specific that use or benefit of the fence is not a factor in determining how a fence is maintained. One judge dissented, arguing that the majority gave too much weight to the brief and should have relied more on arguments presented by the parties. Belork’s neighbors have the opportunity to appeal the decision.
Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
2016 County Fair Calendar
June 20, 2016
Adams ......................................July 17-21 Allen ........................................July 26-31 Bartholomew ..............................July 8-16 Benton ............................July 27–August 1 Blackford ....................................July 8-16 Boone .......................................July 22-28 Brown ..................................... August 1-6 Carroll ......................................July 15-23 Cass ..........................................July 10-16 Clark ..........................................July 8-16 Clay ..........................................July 16-22 Clinton .......................................July 9-16 Crawford ..................................July 10-16 Daviess1 ................July 15-22; June 17-25 Dearborn .................................June 18-25 Decatur ......................................July 7-14 DeKalb2 ...................................July 16-20; ..........................September 26–October 1 Delaware3 ..............July 11-20; July 18-23 Dubois .....................................July 19-23 Elkhart ......................................July 22-30 Fayette ............................July 30–August 6 Floyd ............................................July 6-9 Fountain .....................................July 8-14 Franklin ....................................July 18-23 Fulton .........................................July 9-16 Gibson .....................................July 10-16 Grant .......................................June 19-25 Greene .......................................July 9-16 Hamilton ..................................July 21-25 Hancock ............................ June 24–July 1 Harrison4 ................July 15-21; July 17-23 Hendricks .................................July 17-23 Henry ......................................July 16-22 Howard ...................................July 11-16 Huntington ..............................July 15-29 Jackson ........................July 24-30 Jasper ...........................July 16-22 Jay5 ...............July 9-15; July 11-16 Jefferson ....................July 8-16 Jennings ...............July 11-16 Johnson ................July 17-23 Knox .....................July 18-23 Kosciusko ...............July 11-16 LaGrange ..................July 9-16 Lake ..................... August 5-14 LaPorte ....................July 10-16 Lawrence ...................July 16-23 Madison ..................July 17-23 Marion ................June 17-26 Marshall ...............July 17-23 Martin ..................July 15-19 Miami .................June 18-25 Monroe ................July 23-30
Montgomery .............................July 15-21 Morgan............................July 29–August 6 Newton ....................................July 11-16 Noble .........................................July 9-16 Ohio ................................... June 23-July 2 Orange .......................................July 8-15 Owen .........................................July 9-16 Parke ........................................July 23-29 Perry ...........................................July 8-11 Pike ..........................................July 10-16 Porter .......................................July 21-30 Posey ..........................................July 9-15 Pulaski ..........................................July 1-7 Putnam .....................................July 22-30 Randolph ..................................July 16-21 Ripley .......................................July 24-30 Rush ........................................June 18-25 St. Joseph ......................................July 1-9 Scott .........................................July 10-16 Shelby ..........................................July 4-9 Spencer ...................................June 24-27 Starke .........................................July 9-15 Steuben ....................................July 15-21 Sullivan ....................................July 16-23 Switzerland ..............................July 11-16 Tippecanoe ...............................July 16-23 Tipton .......................................July 15-20 Union .......................................July 16-21 Vanderburgh .............................July 25-30 Vermillion ...............................June 17-24 Vigo .........................................July 10-16 Wabash ......................................July 6-16 Warren ....................................June 14-18 Warrick ....................................July 18-23 Washington .............................June 18-25 Wayne .....................................June 18-25 Wells ........................................July 16-21 White .......................................July 23-28 Whitley ....................................July 15-21 1. Daviess County – County fair: June 17-25 (Elnora); county 4-H show: July 15-22 (Washington). 2. DeKalb County – Summer judging: July 16-20; fall fair: September 26–October 1. 3. Delaware County – 4-H fair: July 11-20; county carnival: July 18-23. 4. Harrison County – 4-H fair: July 15-21; county ag fair: July 17-23. 5. Jay County – 4-H fair: July 9-15; county fair: July 11-16. Fair dates courtesy of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
7
AROUND INFB
Staff moves, promotions announced at INFB —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team If you visit the INFB home office soon, you may find new faces and people in different places. Megan Ritter, former public policy director, was named executive director of administration. In this newly
created position, Ritter will direct the development and implementation of INFB’s strategic plan. Additionally, she will direct staff development and support organizational relationships with external audiences. Katrina Hall was promoted to public policy director from director of state
government relations. Hall brings decades of Statehouse lobbying experience to her new role as public policy director. She will oversee all of INFB’s public policy and advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal level. Office manager Kay Keown is retiring on July 1 after 20 years with Indiana Farm
Bureau. Chris Fenner, former director of field services, has assumed many of Keown’s duties in addition to handling the County Recognition Program. Fenner’s new title is operations and event manager. Mel Hollingsworth, director of the organizational development team, will absorb the director of field services
position into his role. Indiana Farm Bureau has hired Shelby Swain to serve as an associate policy analyst. She will work primarily on state policy issues. Summer time is also intern time at INFB – see separate stories on this page of The Hoosier Farmer to learn more about Swain and this year’s interns.
Farm Bureau Faces Associate policy analyst Shelby Swain —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team After a successful internship during the legislative session, Shelby Swain has joined Indiana Farm Bureau full time as the associate policy analyst for the public policy team. In her new role, Swain will analyze the effects of regulation and policy on Hoosier farmers. She will concentrate mostly on taxation and fiscal policy issues.
She will also help county Farm Bureaus with policy development, train members on advocacy engagement and work on fundraising and implementation for ELECT, Indiana Farm Bureau’s political action committee. Swain is a 2016 graduate of Purdue University with a major in agricultural economics. She began work on her master’s degree in agricultural economics this summer. Prior to starting her intern-
ship with Farm Bureau in January, Swain had internships with municipal government, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington, D.C., and Marion County Extension. “My favorite part of my job is working on behalf of agriculture to better the livelihoods of my family, friends, and neighbors,” she said. “It’s good to know that someone, or even my family, could benefit from our tri-
umphs at the Statehouse.” In her free time, Swain enjoys watching Purdue sports, spending time with her family and working with her family’s livestock. Swain was a 10-year member of Hamilton County 4-H and has since started a 4-H club in Fishers with the help of her mother.
Shelby Swain, Indiana Farm Bureau’s new associate policy analyst, poses with Purdue Pete. Photo courtesy of Shelby Swain
INFB’s 2016 interns —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team Brock Burnick Burnick is working with INFB’s legal affairs team this summer as a law clerk. He is originally from Kansas but is a recent Indiana transplant. A law student at the University of Notre Dame, he will graduate in 2017. His undergraduate degree is in agriculture economics from Kansas State University. During his internship, Burnick will assist the legal team and the Indiana Ag Law Foundation with researching and analyzing legal solutions to problems that affect farmers across the state, including annexation and environmental regulations. Previous to coming to INFB, he held internships with Sen. Pat Roberts in Washington, D.C., and worked as a law clerk for U.S. Magistrate Judge Teresa James in Kansas City. Bill Gabbard This summer, Gabbard will work with INFB’s accounting team. A resident of Fishers, Gabbard is an accounting student at IUPUI in Indianapolis. He hopes to become a certified public accountant when he completes his degree. This summer, he will be assisting with accounting,
www.thehoosierfarmer.com
MEMBER BENEFIT Theme Parks & Attractions
Members save at Kings Island, Cedar Point, Newport Aquarium, Holiday World, Conner Prairie and more. Indiana Farm Bureau’s 2016 class of interns. From left: Kathleen Jacobs, public policy; Brock Burnick, legal; Jackie Leeuw, public relations; Bill Gabbard, accounting; and Mallory Meyer, agriculture promotion and outreach. Photo by Rachel Schrage
taxes and creating financial statements for county Farm Bureaus. Kathleen Jacobs Kathleen Jacobs has joined the public policy team for the summer as a policy development and local issues research intern. Jacobs is from Huntington and is a sophomore at Purdue University majoring in agriculture economics with a minor in psychology. After college graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in agricultural law. In her role with the public policy team, Jacobs preforms a wide variety of tasks, from updating databases to helping prepare for the resolutions committee meeting later this summer. Previous to coming to Farm Bureau, Jacobs was a
very involved FFA member and an intern for the director of Purdue’s Ag Alumni Association. Jackie Leeuw Leeuw is spending her summer with INFB in the public relations department. A native of South Whitley, she will be entering her senior year at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer in the fall. She will graduate in the sprint with majors in business administration and communications. During her time with INFB, she will focus on writing articles for The Hoosier Farmer and My Indiana Home. She will also work on social media and event promotions. After college, she hopes to find a job where she can interact with agriculture on
Call 1-800-777-8252 or visit www.infarmbureau.org for current discount information. a daily basis and write for a large publication. Mallory Meyer Meyer will be working as the agriculture promotion and outreach intern for INFB’s organizational development team this summer. She from Columbus and is a junior at Purdue majoring in animal sciences with a minor in food and agribusiness management. She is involved the
Collegiate Farm Bureau at Purdue and is a former FFA member and 10-year 4-H member. Though she will spend the bulk of her time working on promotion and implementation of INFB’s presence at the Indiana State Fair and helping the Women’s Leadership Committee with Taste from Indiana Farms, she will also help with events at Indiana FFA State Convention.
June 20, 2016
8
AROUND INDIANA
Membership contests continue in June, July —By Jackie Leeuw Public Relations Intern A contest for Indiana Farm Bureau volunteers who sign new members in June continues until June 30, but in the meantime, another contest has been announced for July. During the month of June, INFB members who sign at least one new member will be entered in to win a Char-Broil stainless 2-burner (20,000 BTU) liquid propane gas grill and Char-Broil four-piece grilling tool set.
To be eligible, your name must appear in the “referred by” box on a new member’s application. Your name will be entered once for every new voting member that you sign. Applications must be postmarked by June 30, and the drawing will take place on July 6, 2016. Completed applications should be sent to: Indiana Farm Bureau, Attention: K. Rogers – Membership Contest, P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206. New members signed in June are also eligible
for a similar drawing. Any new voting member signed between June 1 and June 30 will be entered to win a prize package identical to that current members are eligible for. Only new voting members signed between June 1 and June 30 are eligible, and each name will be entered only once. Applications must be postmarked by June 30; the
will be entered into the drawing. Voting memberships must be postmarked by Aug. 1, and the drawing will be held at 2 p.m. on Aug. 5. Completed applications should be sent to INFB at the address listed above. For more information on any of the contests and to see the official rules, visit www.infarmbureau.org.
INDOT discussion meeting coming to a town near you —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team Last fall, Indiana Farm Bureau members expressed a strong desire for farmers and rural residents to have a greater voice in local transportation and infrastructure decisions. That policy position became an INFB priority initiative during the 2016
legislative session. The Indiana Department of Transportation responded to the initiative by agreeing to host a meeting for Farm Bureau members at each of their six INDOT district offices. The meetings will be an excellent opportunity for members to find their voice in government by raising questions, comments and
concerns about transportation and infrastructure needs in their community. Shown on this page is an INDOT district map, as well as meeting times for each location (all times are local). Members are strongly encouraged to review the information and plan to attend the meeting in their area.
Transportation Meetings
Crawfordsville District
THF2015
To make it easy for grassroots members to participate in Farm Bureau’s membership efforts, we include an application form in most issues of The Hoosier Farmer. Cut out the application form below or make copies and give them to new potential members. Remember to have them put your name in the membership volunteer box and then send it to the address printed along the bottom of the form. You can also have them visit INFB’s membership site, www.itpaystobeamember.org, to sign up online.
drawing will take place on July 6, 2016. Completed applications should be sent to INFB at the address listed above. The July contest has a different twist: the Farm Bureau members who sign the most new voting members between July 1 and July 31 will be entered to win a $500 gift card. Each member that sells the most memberships
Fort Wayne District Greenfield District LaPorte District Seymour District Vincennes District
June 20, 2016
INDOT Fort Wayne District Office Wednesday, July 6 1 - 4 p.m. 5333 Hatfield Rd., Fort Wayne
INDOT Greenfield District Office Thursday, July 21 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 32 South Broadway, Greenfield
INDOT Seymour District Office Monday, July 11 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 185 Agrico Lane, Seymour
INDOT LaPorte District Office Tuesday, July 26 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 315 E. Boyd Blvd., LaPorte
INDOT Crawfordsville District Office Wednesday, July 13 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 41 West 300 North, Crawfordsville
INDOT Vincennes District Office Thursday, July 28 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 3650 South U.S. Highway 41, Vincennes
www.thehoosierfarmer.com