Stay Informed

Broadband internet access, climate change and carbon credits, renewable energy, public health and education were among the issues addressed by Indiana Farm Bureau delegates during the annual delegate session, held virtually on Aug. 28.

Two hundred and twenty-five farmers and agribusiness professionals from across the state met to determine the organization’s policy positions for 2022.

“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,” said Randy Kron, INFB president.

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. The state policy advisory groups, the Young Farmers & Ag Professionals State Committee and the Collegiate Farm Bureaus can also suggest policy, and delegates were able to propose policy from the virtual delegate floor.

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.”

Included in the policy approved by delegates:

• Support for access to rural broadband, which was INFB’s top legislative priority in 2021. INFB has promoted the Indiana Speed Test (www.infb.org/speedtest), 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.
• Development of voluntary, transparent and nationwide carbon markets, as well as transparency and education for farmers when developing carbon credit programs.
• Support for local control of siting for wind and solar projects.

“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, to be held in January in Atlanta, Georgia. INFB delegates will discuss 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: Richard Kelley, Brown County; Tiffany Ludwig, Clay County; Lis McDonnell, Henry County; and Jonathan Shannon, Montgomery County.

More information about INFB’s policy process can be found at www.infb.org/public-policy/policy-development.