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Indiana Farm Bureau president and vice president Randy Kron and Kendell Culp met with Fratco leadership, as well as Indiana legislators Ed Charbonneau and Doug Gutwein on May 17. The group discussed the company, which is a leader in innovative drainage solutions, its products and the upcoming sales tax exemption on agriculture drainage tile purchases and installation.

With roughly 50% of crops planted in Indiana, farmers have some big decisions to make this week as they assess the weather’s effects on their fields. Indiana Farm Bureau spoke with several of its members from all over the state who are corn and soybean farmers to learn how the wet, cold weather has affected planting season.

Hoosier farmers are deeply involved with planting corn and soybeans right now, and if the weather cooperates, they probably will be for the next few weeks. But how do farmers decide when to plant? The answer is in the soil.

Indiana Farm Bureau invites Hoosier food and agriculture entrepreneurs to compete for start-up funds, as well as training, networking opportunities and other resources through the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge. The Challenge is part of the Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative and is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs working on food and ag businesses.

Randy Kron, Indiana Farm Bureau president and Justin Schneider, INFB director of state government relations highlight Farm Bureau successes during the 2017 General Assembly, which include the passage of a two-year budget and historic road funding. Kron and Schneider attribute a big part of the organization's impact on the legislative session to member engagement.

Indiana Farm Bureau's spring 2017 market basket survey shows that grocery prices have decreased by 14 percent over last year. The cost for 16 standard shopping list food items is the lowest it's been since 2012.

Providing assistance to fellow ranchers and farmers during a time of need is a Farm Bureau tradition. Learn how you can help those affected by the devastating wildfires in Texas.

Indiana Farm Bureau members plan to deliver more than 20 tons of donated hay to Ashland, Kansas, in support of farmers and ranchers affected by devastating wildfires.

Indiana Farm Bureau recently honored 10 Ag in the Classroom instructors at its Spring Conference. Karen King of Clark County was named the Ag in the Classroom Volunteer of the Year. Nine other volunteers were presented with the Reaching Out Award for their Indiana Farm Bureau district. The winners were Kathy Wyatt, Pulaski County; Colleen Holman, Steuben County; Stacy Walker, Jasper County; Brad Kohlhagen, Adams County; Kelly Shannon, Montgomery County; Vickie Mitchell, Delaware County; Jennifer Thopy, Shelby County; David Brenner, Vanderburgh County; and Jan Uhlmansiek, Dearborn County.

Indiana Farm Bureau was well represented at the annual American Farm Bureau Federation FUSION conference. With more than 50 attendees from the State Young Farmer Committee, the Women's Leadership Committee and all three Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters, Indiana had one of the largest contingents, second only to Pennsylvania, the host state.

Indiana Farm Bureau has moved up the deadline for two of its top Young Farmer Awards to May 1, 2017. This will enable contestants for both the Young Farmer Excellence in Ag Award and Achievement Award to have more time to prepare for the national competition.

Indiana Farm Bureau is pleased to announce that member and District 2 Young Farmer Committee representative Jeremy Barron has graduated from the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer program. The two-year PAL program focuses on taking young farmers and ranchers, age 30 to 45, who have already begun their personal development journey, and moving them to the next level through a high-level, executive-type curriculum that provides participants with unique opportunities to represent agriculture in the media, on speaking circuits or in testimonial arenas.

The Indiana House and Senate read resolutions proclaiming February 20-24 Indiana Farm Bureau's Agricultural Literacy Week. Members of the Indiana Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, as well as representatives of Dow AgroSciences were on hand for the ceremonies.

Today, with the reading of a concurrent resolution in both chambers of the state house, the Indiana House and Senate will proclaim February 20-24 INFB Indiana Agricultural Literacy Week. Indiana Ag Literacy Week is an awareness and education campaign led by Indiana Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, through its Ag in the Classroom program to help increase Hoosier's understanding of the value farming and agriculture.

INFB promotes Bob White to director, national government relations. Just prior, White was the organization’s retail agriculture program coordinator. White has years of valuable experience in agriculture and government relations, including serving as state director of Indiana USDA Rural Development and as senior professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, contributing to five previous farm bills.

Indiana Farm Bureau public policy team member, Shelby Swain, has been promoted to associate policy adviser, state government relations. Swain will now serve on INFB's Statehouse lobby team, focusing primarily on budget and fiscal issues in the General Assembly.

Indiana Farm Bureau will host its annual Spring Conference on March 10 and 11. This year's theme is "Change, Challenge and Opportunity." Scheduled to appear are Vance Crowe, director of millennial engagement for Monsanto; Leslie Townsend, a comedienne who specializes in city-girl-marries-country-boy humor; Randy Lyness, singer-legislator; and Howard Kellman, the "Voice of the Indianapolis Indians."

Indiana Farm Bureau held its annual Young Farmer Leadership Conference January 27-29 in Indianapolis. More than 400 young farmers and their families enjoyed a night of friendly competition for a good cause; attended breakout sessions to learn about a wide variety of topics -- from understanding property taxes to continuity planning; and celebrated their fellow farmers with various county programs awards.

Indiana Farm Bureau encourages anyone interested in running for elected office, working on a campaign or simply learning more about the process, to register for its next Campaign School session on February 7-8.