When asked why they support the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation, doners cite several factors, but one thing they all agree on is that supporting INAgLaw is important because the cases it gets involved with are important to Indiana farmers.

“We have been long-time supporters of the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation,” said Tim and Monica Stafford of Tipton County. “We really appreciate the types of cases they get involved with and how the foundation can be a voice for Indiana agriculture in our courthouses.”

“Indiana farmers operate in a complex legal environment,” said Tom Miller, Allen County Farm Bureau president. “It is a reality that federal, state and local laws, statutes and regulations impact our operations. The foundation gets involved in precedent-setting legal cases that are important to Indiana agriculture.”

INAgLaw is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2005 by Indiana Farm Bureau. Throughout its existence, INAgLaw has effectively promoted a better understanding of legal issues facing Indiana agriculture through educational programming and support of precedent-setting litigation.

INAgLaw also may support litigation involving legal issues that:

• Present precedent-setting legal questions to Indiana agriculture.
• Present questions of law generally applicable to Indiana agriculture rather than factual disputes.
• Are at the appropriate litigation stage, preferably at the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court level.
• Are approved by the INAgLaw advisory committee and board of directors.

INAgLaw also sponsors educational programs, such as the upcoming Estate & Succession Planning for the Family Farm program, slated for July 19.

The foundation’s supporters include individual members and county Farm Bureaus, but they also include agricultural and commodity organizations. One long-time supporter is Indiana Pork.

“The Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation is a good investment for Indiana Pork’s policy and advocacy dollars,” said Josh Trenary, executive director of Indiana Pork. “The legal issues that affect the pork industry do not always have a pork farmer involved in the case, but the outcome of those cases can affect our members just the same. We appreciate the foundation’s work because INAgLaw is the means by which Indiana Pork can help support the cases that affect pork farmers even when pork farmers are not directly involved.”

One of the cases INAgLaw has been involved in was Houin v. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which involved periodic flooding of one family’s land due to a conflict with IDNR over the water level in an adjacent lake. In the end, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that the IDNR’s actions had damaged the Houins’ land, setting a precedent that the government can be held liable for damaging farmland. The Houins, who farm in Marshall County, are INAgLaw doners and supporters.

“We appreciate the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation's support over the years in our case in the pursuit of protecting the taking of land by the IDNR,” the Houin family said in a statement. “This was a long-term case that took a lot of information collection and persistence from all parties involved to push back against the IDNR to protect farmers across the state. Without the support of donations to INAgLaw, we would have had a difficult time pushing back IDNR and correcting the damages they forced upon us.”

“Our case had a good outcome for us – and for Indiana agriculture,” added Charlie Houin.

For more information on INAgLaw or to find out how to donate, visit www.inaglaw.org.