Policy development is at the heart of Indiana Farm Bureau’s grassroots process, and it starts with county Farm Bureaus and other key leadership groups.

In recent years, the process has been enriched by the addition of task forces and policy advisory groups (PAGs), which focus on specific issues or segments of agriculture.

INFB is in the process of reorganizing the PAGs and task forces, according to Andy Tauer, executive director of public policy.

“The objective is to align PAGs and task forces with INFB’s priority goals,” he said. He added that the groups will include a mix of members who have previously served as well as new members.

One task force – the farm bill task force – completed work in April, and its recommendations will be considered by the resolutions committee at its August meeting.

Two other task forces are planned: an energy task force charged with considering issues involving biofuels, wind, solar, coal and natural gas; and a tax task force that will focus on reviewing state and local tax revenue streams for uniformity, fairness, growth and stability of tax base, as well as preparing for the Indiana General Assembly’s 2023 budget session, including school funding responsiveness for rural Indiana.

The newly established PAGs are:

• Diversified agriculture – Home-based vendors, non-commodity ag, vertical agriculture, food safety and marketing.
• Environment and natural resources – Carbon markets, climate change, Clean Air Act, WOTUS, conservation, and water quality and quantity.
• Land use and property rights – Local control, planning and zoning, surface and subsurface rights and regulation, farmland preservation and data policies.
• Production agriculture – Commodities, inputs, livestock, right to repair, autonomous equipment, marketing, trade, regulation and farming practices.
• Rural communities - Community development, workforce development, public safety, public health and health care, emergency services, rural housing and affordability and education.
• Transportation and infrastructure – Regulation and licensing, bridges, ports, rail and roads (federal, local and state).
• Broadband – Expand broadband through partnerships, Indiana Speed Test promotion and coordination.

INFB Policy Development Calendar

• June 1 - Deadline for policy recommendations from county Farm Bureaus to be submitted to the home office.
• August 2-3 - Resolutions committee meets.
• August 27 - Delegate session.