Todd Feenstra, a water expert, will join us to discuss a variety of issues including water quantity, monitoring and more.
Meet the Indiana Farm Bureau leadership and staff working to support Indiana agriculture.
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Contact:
Colleen Baker
317-692-7822
317-242-8907
cbaker@infb.org
(Indianapolis) – Aug. 30, 2021 – Indiana Farm Bureau member delegates met virtually on Saturday, Aug. 28 to determine the policy positions of the organization for 2022.
The delegate body consisted of 225 farmers and agribusiness professionals from across the state. The members discussed several issues including broadband internet access, climate change and carbon credits, renewable energy, public health, and education.
“The delegate session provides the opportunity for our members to create policy positions for issues impacting agriculture and rural communities,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “It’s the second year in a row the event has been conducted virtually, which has allowed us to take the necessary safety precautions, allowing delegates from across the state to easily take part in this important step in our grassroots policy process.”
INFB’s policy development process begins at the local level. County Farm Bureaus make policy suggestions and recommend changes that are then debated by the resolutions committee before being discussed at the delegate session. This process follows the grassroots structure and ensures that all members have a chance to voice their opinions.
“It’s all about putting forth policy at the local, state and national levels that benefits the agricultural community,” Kron said. “The next step is establishing policy priorities and engaging with legislators at the Statehouse to make sure agriculture has a seat at the table during the 2022 legislative session.”
Delegates continued to support access to rural broadband, which was INFB’s top legislative priority in 2021. INFB has promoted the Broadband Speed Test, a crowd-sourced internet speed test that identifies what areas of the state are most in need of reliable, affordable access to broadband service. This data will be available to local governments and organized broadband groups to analyze potential solutions and aid their applications for Indiana’s Next Level Connections Grants and a variety of federal grants.
Delegates also added language to the INFB policy book around the development of voluntary, transparent and nationwide carbon markets, as well as transparency and education for farmer producers when developing carbon credit programs. Additionally, language was added concerning local control of siting on wind and solar issues.
“Much of the conversation centered around the support of local control at this year’s delegate session, specifically regarding wind and solar energy projects,” said Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy. “There also was a lot of discussion around the future of biofuels as more modes of transportation shift to electric. It poses the question of how Indiana agriculture will make sure biofuels are an integral part of Indiana’s energy strategy as the need for ethanol and biodiesel decreases.”
Delegates also voted for members who will represent INFB at the 2022 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. The AFBF Convention will be held in January in Atlanta, Georgia. The chosen INFB delegates will be discussing policy positions for the national organization with representatives from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Four 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 policy priorities for the 2022 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 set the organization’s top policy priorities for the next year.
More information about INFB’s policy process can be found at www.infb.org/public-policy/policy-development.
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About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has promoted agriculture in Indiana through public education, member engagement, and by advocating for agricultural and rural needs. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to ensure a farmer’s right to farm—protecting the livelihood, land, equipment, animals and crops of Hoosier farmers—because agriculture is vital to Indiana’s economy. Learn more at INFB.org
Contact:
Colleen Baker
317-692-7822
317-242-8907
cbaker@infb.org
(Indianapolis) – Aug. 30, 2021 – Indiana Farm Bureau member delegates met virtually on Saturday, Aug. 28 to determine the policy positions of the organization for 2022.
The delegate body consisted of 225 farmers and agribusiness professionals from across the state. The members discussed several issues including broadband internet access, climate change and carbon credits, renewable energy, public health, and education.
“The delegate session provides the opportunity for our members to create policy positions for issues impacting agriculture and rural communities,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “It’s the second year in a row the event has been conducted virtually, which has allowed us to take the necessary safety precautions, allowing delegates from across the state to easily take part in this important step in our grassroots policy process.”
INFB’s policy development process begins at the local level. County Farm Bureaus make policy suggestions and recommend changes that are then debated by the resolutions committee before being discussed at the delegate session. This process follows the grassroots structure and ensures that all members have a chance to voice their opinions.
“It’s all about putting forth policy at the local, state and national levels that benefits the agricultural community,” Kron said. “The next step is establishing policy priorities and engaging with legislators at the Statehouse to make sure agriculture has a seat at the table during the 2022 legislative session.”
Delegates continued to support access to rural broadband, which was INFB’s top legislative priority in 2021. INFB has promoted the Broadband Speed Test, a crowd-sourced internet speed test that identifies what areas of the state are most in need of reliable, affordable access to broadband service. This data will be available to local governments and organized broadband groups to analyze potential solutions and aid their applications for Indiana’s Next Level Connections Grants and a variety of federal grants.
Delegates also added language to the INFB policy book around the development of voluntary, transparent and nationwide carbon markets, as well as transparency and education for farmer producers when developing carbon credit programs. Additionally, language was added concerning local control of siting on wind and solar issues.
“Much of the conversation centered around the support of local control at this year’s delegate session, specifically regarding wind and solar energy projects,” said Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy. “There also was a lot of discussion around the future of biofuels as more modes of transportation shift to electric. It poses the question of how Indiana agriculture will make sure biofuels are an integral part of Indiana’s energy strategy as the need for ethanol and biodiesel decreases.”
Delegates also voted for members who will represent INFB at the 2022 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. The AFBF Convention will be held in January in Atlanta, Georgia. The chosen INFB delegates will be discussing policy positions for the national organization with representatives from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Four 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 policy priorities for the 2022 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 set the organization’s top policy priorities for the next year.
More information about INFB’s policy process can be found at www.infb.org/public-policy/policy-development.
###
About Indiana Farm Bureau: For more than 100 years, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has promoted agriculture in Indiana through public education, member engagement, and by advocating for agricultural and rural needs. As the state’s largest general farm organization, INFB works diligently to ensure a farmer’s right to farm—protecting the livelihood, land, equipment, animals and crops of Hoosier farmers—because agriculture is vital to Indiana’s economy. Learn more at INFB.org
Learn more about Indiana Farm Bureau programs
Agriculture in the Classroom is a grassroots agricultural outreach program for school children in grades Pre-K through 12, facilitated by Indiana Farm Bureau and coordinated nationwide by the United States Department of Agriculture. This program helps kids understand where the food they eat is grown and how important farmers are to their daily lives.
Learn More
Indiana Farm Bureau has robust advocacy efforts at the local, state and national levels. While INFB's well-respected lobbyists push through state legislation, on-the-ground teams assists individual farmers with local concerns. Staff, leadership and volunteer members also advocate in Washington to make sure federal policy favors farmers and agriculture.
Indiana Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ag Professionals program is dedicated to finding those who have a passion for agriculture and a hunger to learn more. We cultivate members to become the next generation of agricultural leaders through leadership development, awards and competitions and networking.
Learn More about YF&APIndiana Farm Bureau members have access to more than 250,000 discounts
Your Indiana Farm Bureau membership gives you access to more than 250,000 offers such as discounts on hotels, rental cars, vacations, flowers, restaurants, movies, electronics, equipment, vehicles and more. Using just one of these offers can save you more than the cost of your annual membership.
View all dealsCopyright © 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau®, Inc. is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation®, a national organization of farmers and ranchers including Farm Bureau® organizations in 49 other states and Puerto Rico, and is responsible for Farm Bureau membership and programs within the State of Indiana.
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