New Indiana Farm Bureau Recommendations for 2012

New Farm Bureau Policy Recommendations for 2012

We support:

1. An increase the number of state meat inspectors.
2. If an inspection results from a complaint to the inspecting agency, the identity of the complainant must be revealed to the producer.
3. We encourage the establishment of a market reporting system for small ruminants.
4. All livestock and poultry, and livestock raised as pets including those raised in cities, towns, and urban areas, must adhere to minimum health and vaccination standards that are accepted on livestock production farms.
5. 4-H should use the same Standard RFID tags on all the species at the county and state level.
6. We oppose a mandatory requirement that each student complete an online course to be eligible to graduate from high school.
7. Cursive writing be taught in schools.
8. We support the exemption of sales tax on all required post secondary course material.
9. We oppose any requirements for farm entities to post surety bonds to deal with possible future environmental clean-ups.
10. We support that the same standards of responsibility apply to residential and commercial turf use of fertilizer and chemicals as required for agricultural usage.
11. The development of an eradication program through the DNR working with BOAH to control the feral hop population.
12. The retention of pore space property rights by the surface owner unless expressly transferred as part of a lease or conveyance.
13. The legislature should have the final say on the farmland formula, not the DLGF.
14. Cities and towns should not have jurisdiction beyond their municipal boundaries, including buffer zones, surface and sub-surface water, and minerals.
15. The lowering of the property tax cap for farm land, farm buildings, and farm machinery below their current levels.
16. Accelerating the elimination of the Indiana state inheritance taxes to less than 10 years.
17. We oppose allowing the DLGF to increase the soil productivity influence factor above the current level of 128% of the base assessed farmland value for establishing property taxes on farmland.
18. We support the entire state of Indiana being in the Central time zone.

Indiana FB supports move of Indiana to Central Time

Indiana Farm Bureau Backs a Move to Central Time

Posted on 28 August 2012 by Gary Truitt

Emotions run high during debate over time

If you want to start an argument in Indiana, just mention class basketball or time zones. At the recent Indiana Farm Bureau policy meeting, time was the issue that sparked heated debate. It was literally the last issue on the state agenda, but it provoked over 10 minutes of spirited — often  emotional — debate: a proposal to support moving all of Indiana back to Central time.  There was plenty of debate on both sides of the issue. “We need to focus on the Midwest not the east coast,” protested one delegate.  Another got boos and cat calls when he said, “Can we get over this and get on to something important?”

Most of the arguments were the same as has been voiced before.  One delegate took a practical approach, “We currently have 12 counties on central time and 80 on eastern time. Doesn’t it make more sense to have only 12 counties change time rather than 80?”  Schoolchildren having to go to school in the dark was brought up, and the influence of the Chicago futures exchanges was mentioned.  A voice vote was too close to call, so a standing vote was taken. In the end, the delegates voted to support moving Indiana to Central time.

While such a  move is unlikely, the debate showed there is plenty of support in the farming community for a move to Central time.  After the vote, IFB president Don Villwock reminded delegates each county has the ability to make a change on which time zone they want to use, “Let me remind you this is a federal issue and each county can choose what time zone to be in; so I suggest you go home and lobby your county council.”  And so the debate over time in Indiana ticks on.

Alcorn and Gough receive Conservation Honors for Putnam County

Hoosier Farmers Receive Conservation Honors at Indiana State Fair Ceremony

Posted on 17 August 2012 by Gary Truitt

 

Lt. Governor Skillman and Farm Bureau President Don Villwock presented awards at the Indiana State Fair on Farmer’s day

Fifty-five farmers were honored Wednesday for the work they do to promote soil health and water quality on their Indiana farms. These special Hoosier producers received the prestigious River Friendly Farmer conservation award during ceremonies at the Indiana State Fair. The award is sponsored by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) and Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. ”We have an impressive group of recipients this year” says Ray McCormick, IASWCD president. “The conservation practices these farmers use improve soil health on their farms not just for themselves but for future generations. ”Our River Friendly Farmer winners know soil is a complex living ecosystem and we all have an obligation to sustain and improve it. That’s what they are doing to conserve our natural resources every day,” adds McCormick.

The 2012 River Friendly Farmer recipients represent grain, livestock and poultry producers from watersheds in 40 Indiana counties. They join an elite group of 600 winners since the award was first given in 2000 to Hoosier farmers who use exceptional conservation practices to improve soil health and protect water quality. Additional sponsors of the award include the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Division of Soil Conservation and the the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Recipients were honored by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock. Also on hand for yesterday’s ceremony was USDA NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty and President Abraham Lincoln (played by Wilbur Tague of Brownsburg, IN) who helped celebrate the USDA’s 150th anniversary.

This year’s River Friendly Farmers are:

1. Adams County
   Michael G. Werling
2. Clay County
   Joe Edwards
3. Clay County
   Tim Stearley
4. Clinton County
   Clint Orr
5. Daviess County
   Randall Byrer
6. Dearborn County
   John Seubert
7. Decatur County
   Fred Fry
8. DeKalb County
   Douglas and Corinne Houser
9. Dubois County
   Norbert Begle
10. Dubois County
    Stan Leinenbach
11. Elkhart County
    Keith E. Miller
12. Elkhart County
    Mike Neff
13. Fayette County
    Steve Wollyung
14. Franklin County
    Lance Cox
15. Franklin County
    Calvin Finch
16. Gibson County
    Jeff, Joe, Mark, Rick, and Stan Ziliak
17. Hendricks County
    Charles Brown
18. Hendricks County
    Jack Maloney
19. Howard County
    Richard Byrum
20. Howard County
    Stephen Byrum
21. Huntington County
    Tom Reed
22. Jay County
    Barry Fennig
23. Jay County
    Stephen Fennig
24. Knox County
    Scott Hagemeier
25. Kosciusko County
    Randy Beer
26. Kosciusko County
    Darrel Byrer
27. LaGrange County
    Andy Green
28. Miami County
    Ronnie, Maxine, Clint, Beth, Ethan, and Brady Manning
29. Newton County
    Sigmund Boezeman
30. Newton County
    Douglas Gerbracht
31. Noble County
    Steve Phares
32. Owen County
    Steve Worland
33. Pike County
    Kevin and Kenny Mundy
34. Posey County
    Robert Fehrenbacher
35. Pulaski County
    Dale Gudeman
36. Putnam County
    Ron Alcorn
37. Putnam County
    Byron Gough
38. Scott County
    Marvin Rode
39. Spencer County
    Chad Goldman
40. St. Joseph County
    Bill Lappin
41. St. Joseph County
    Dale and Dorothy Stoner
42. Starke County
    Bob Coffin
43. Starke County
    Wayne Emigh
44. Tippecanoe County
    Brian Buck
45. Vanderburgh County
    Steve Jackson
46. Vermillion County
    Robert Ellis
47. Wabash County
    Clif and Randy Airgood, Airgood Farms
48. Warren County
    Mark and Carolyn Straw
49. Washington County
    David Hoar
50. Washington County
    Jerry Trueblood
51. Wells County
    Alan Schwartz
52. Wells County
    Alan Stout (deceased)
53. White County
    Steve Carlson
54. Whitley County
    Gary Hoffman
55. Whitley County
    Peter Rouch

Another look at HSUS and their deception to the public

HSUS Criticized For Minimal Donations To Pet Shelters

Aug. 8, 2012 2:40amby Amanda Radke in BEEF Daily

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• Full-page ad blasts the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) for paltry donations to America’s pet shelters.
   
• Read more about animal activist groups like HSUS and PETA here.

If you want to line your pockets, go work for the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS). But, if you want to help animals, you might want to seek work elsewhere. A watchdog group, Humane Watch, recently released a full-page ad in USA Today blasting HSUS for its minimal effort to support hands-on pet shelters.

HumaneWatch, a project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom, used the advertisement to warn Americans that only a tiny fraction of their contributions to HSUS actually goes to pet shelters.

With a multi-million-dollar budget, less than 1% of it actually goes to helping animal shelters. In my home state of South Dakota, for example, only $15,000 was given to help local shelters, leaving many, including one shelter in Sioux Falls, our largest city, barely able to scrape together enough money to keep its doors open.

“Despite most Americans’ belief to the contrary, HSUS is not a national umbrella group that represents community-based humane societies, and it shares just 1% of its income with underfunded pet shelters at the local level,” says Humane Watch.

“The ad features a statement from HSUS President Wayne Pacelle: ‘We never said we funded animal shelters.’ Yet the animal rights group continues to largely rely on the images of sad-looking cats and dogs to tug at the heartstrings and, most importantly, to HSUS, the wallets of America’s pet lovers. The ad goes on to explain where HSUS’s money is going: Millions into its executive pension fund, $32 million stuffed in hedge funds, and for its defense against charges of corruption in federal court.

“A new HumaneWatch study finds HSUS’s direct mail, telemarketing, and television appeals actively perpetuate the misperception that HSUS’s primary focus is to care for abandoned and abused cats and dogs. However, HSUS doesn’t run a single pet shelter and local shelters aren’t seeing much of HSUS’s donations, with several local organizations across America going so far as to change their names in order to prevent donor confusion.”

Do you think most Americans are aware of how HSUS uses its money? How many people do you know who have unknowingly donated to HSUS because they want to help animals?

By the way, if you are in Fayetteville, AR, on Aug. 9, join me at a University of Arkansas symposium sponsored by the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, for a discussion on food animal welfare. I will be one of the speakers featured at the symposium, and I would love to visit with you at the event.

Farm Bureau at the County Fair

The Putnam County Farm Bureau, Inc. was visible in a number of ways at this year's County Fair.  Pictured above are some of the 61 contestants in the Pedal Pull.  Contestants competing in four different divisions with those placing first, second, or third received toy tractors, along with a special coupon from Casey's.  All contestants received a coupon for a free glass of milk at the Farm Bureau Milk Barn which will be honored at the 2013 Fair if they were not able to use it this year.  The Antique Tractor show may have been small but the quality was excellent with a special treat of having one tractor on steel wheels and a one-of-a-kind John Deere sprayer tractor.  Next year's tractor show looks to bring back the awards and limit the required time they are asked to remain on the grounds.  Putnam County Farm Bureau also supported the Queen Contest, Master Gardner competition, the ultrasound program, and purchased the goat of ten year member Kyle Cunningham during the 4-H Auction.  The Milk Barn was also a success selling out of milk on the last day of the fair.