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- 225 South East St. Indianapolis, IN 46202
- P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206
- (800) 327-6287
Contact:
Colleen Settle
317-692-7822
317-242-8907
csettle@infb.org
(Indianapolis) – Aug. 20, 2024 – Indiana Farm Bureau member delegates gathered at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 17 to determine the policy positions of the organization for 2025.
The delegate body consisted of 233 farmers and agribusiness professionals from across the state. The members discussed several issues including water rights, property taxes, renewable energy, land use, rural broadband and more.
“INFB’s annual delegate session provides the opportunity for our members to create policy positions for issues directly impacting agriculture and rural communities,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “It is the foundation of our grassroots policy process and vital to the advocacy work INFB will be doing during the upcoming legislative session.”
INFB’s policy development process begins at the local level. Each year, all counties can make policy suggestions or edits. Then, those suggestions are debated by a resolutions committee before being brought to the full delegate session. The grassroots structure is vital to ensuring that INFB members can voice their opinions.
During this year’s event, the delegates proposed increased protection of agriculture’s right to water resources, not just farmers’ rights, which broadens protection beyond irrigation to livestock, food processing industries and others. The delegates also proposed establishing a transparent regulatory framework for large ground water withdrawal facilities to ensure proper monitoring occurs.
The delegates supported the prioritization of reducing property tax rather than income tax, the use of property tax caps on farmland as a buffer against rapidly rising farmland values and a modernization to the farmland formula.
“Water and taxes continue to remain our top policy priorities here at INFB, and that was evident by the discussions we heard from the delegates,” said Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy. “There were conversations about a statewide water plan and the need for a better understanding for what we have in terms of the resource, as well as dialogue around a comprehensive review of farmers’ tax burden, modification to the tax code and where tax dollars are being spent.
“Farmland property taxes rose dramatically due to changes in the base rate of 17% in 2023, 26.4% in 2024, with another 20% increase estimated in 2025. With net farm income predictions to be lower this year while the costs of inputs remain high, farmers can’t take more tax increases.”
Other discussions focused on the support of renewable energy, while striking a balance regarding land use and farmland preservation. Additionally, there was conversation among members around expanded rural broadband access and support for a standard height when constructing overhead communication cables to allow for farm equipment. Delegates continue to support improving access to high-speed internet access to the last acre.
During the session, delegates also voted on members who would represent INFB at the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. The AFBF Convention will be held in San Antonio, Texas in January. The INFB delegates chosen will discuss policy positions for the national organization with representatives from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Five county Farm Bureau presidents were elected as delegates for the AFBF Convention:
Over the next few weeks, the INFB board of directors will determine the priorities for the 2025 state legislative session. Federal priorities are set at the AFBF level based on input from all state Farm Bureaus. Now, the INFB public policy team will work with regional managers, district directors and county Farm Bureau members to decide which priorities will set the stage for the organization’s efforts at the Statehouse and in Washington, D.C.
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About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected and enhanced the future of agriculture and our communities. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to cultivate a thriving agricultural ecosystem to strengthen the viability of Indiana agriculture. Learn more at INFB.org.
