Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention "For all FB members"

Pre-registration for the 94th annual Indiana Farm Bureau state convention ends soon. The convention at the JW Marriott is December 7^th and 8^th and the planners have prepared events that will help members “Engage” in opportunities that can help with family farm decision making.

Kim Vail, Director of Organizational Development for IFB, says valuable breakout sessions all day Friday and Saturday morning include starting a retail agriculture venture.

“And that breakout is titled ‘Is Entrepreneurship for You?’ (Friday, Dec. 7, from 10-11 a.m.) and it really tries to focus in on what we see as a trend that’s been going on recently in Indiana agriculture of looking for other ways to add value to the products that we produce on the farm and what it takes to build that business and harness that passion that entrepreneur might have.”

Another session deals with establishing a successful cover crops program, 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, and this convention is a good place to be coming off the drought of 2012.

“There are going to be a number of opportunities not only in the breakout sessions but also when we really have nothing planned or scheduled that are opportunities for farmers to network and have those specific conversations about how they dealt with what we’ve endured this past summer,” Vail told HAT. “We also have a breakout session on Saturday that talks about the competing demands on our water resources and how that’s going to impact us in the future.”

Pre-register online through this Friday November 30^th. “And that doesn’t mean that if you don’t pre-register that you cannot attend. We will be able to register you on sight as well. And we do look forward to seeing as many people there as can make it.”

The most current schedule can be found on the convention website, and here is the link for registering.

Property Tax Relief

Property Tax Relief Top Ag Priority for Ellspermann

Posted on 18 November 2012 by Gary Truitt

Sue Ellspermann

Indiana Lt. Governor-elect Sue Ellspermann is wasting no time in dealing with tough agricultural issues. Still well over a month away from taking office, she is speaking out about her top priority for agriculture in 2013: property taxes. Last year state government attempted to use a controversial and outdated formula for determining the productivity of farmland.  The soil fertility formula would have resulted in substantial increases in farmland assessments, in some cases increasing taxes on farmland as much as a 35%.  Indiana Farm Bureau lobbied hard and obtained a 1 year delay in the implementation of the formula by the General Assembly. Sue Ellspermann told HAT that getting another 1 year extension is a top priority for the incoming Pence administration, “One thing we do need to get done in the first quarter of 2013 is the property tax assessment fix.” She favors a 1 year hold on implementing the soil productivity factor and then do a comprehensive benchmark study on other states to assess their taxation approach to farmland, “And, from this, develop the best model for Indiana.” She said implementation of that model would not likely take place until 2014.

Ellspermann believes that a better system can be found, but it will require some time and research which is something she hopes to get out of the General Assembly in the upcoming session.  She said legislation will be introduced to deal with the farmland tax issue, “Yes, legislation dealing with this issue will be introduced.” She did not give details on who would be sponsoring the bill, but gave the impression plans were already in the works.

Research by Purdue University supports the claim that the formula being proposed by the state is inaccurate and outdated.  Making changes in the soil productivity factor was part of the Pence/Ellspermann plan for agriculture outlined during their campaign.

Ellspermann also told HAT work would begin early in 2013 on the Agriculture Innovation Corridor, another key component in her campaign platform. She indicated the first step in the process would be gather all the players together in this proposed public/private partnership. A recommendation of the Indiana Biocrossroads study, the Innovation Corridor would be bring together research efforts to drive innovations in agriculture and to center those research efforts in Indiana.

Putnam Co. Election Results

Putnam County Election Results

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Greencastle Banner-Graphic

County ElectionsCounty Auditor
Laurie Hallett -- 8865 (66.43 percent)
Wilma Phipps -- 4480 (33.57 percent)

County Commissioner District 1
David E. Berry (Rep.) -- 7610 (57.46 percent)
Jeffrey Oliver Blaydes (Dem.) -- 3,925 (29.64 percent)
Charlie Boller (Ind.) -- 1,709 (12.90 percent)

County Council At-Large
Gene R. Beck (Rep.) -- 9,124
Larry L. Parker (Rep.) -- 7,954
Phillip J. Gick (Rep.) -- 7,750

County Treasurer
Sharon Owens -- 10,515 (100 percent)

County Coroner
David R. Brown (Rep.) -- 10,147 (100 percent)

County Commissioner District 3
Donald K. Walton (Rep.)

North Putnam School Board -- Russell Township
Darrell Wiatt -- 218 (69.87 percent)
Jacquelyn Simpson -- 94 (30.13 percent)

North Putnam School Board -- Monroe Township
James Bowling -- 296 (54.71 percent)
Dustin Osborn -- 245 (45.29 percent)

North Putnam School Board -- Franklin Township
Jill Summerlot -- 454 (100 percent)

North Putnam School Board -- At-Large
Mark Hoke -- 3,075 (100 percent)

Cloverdale School Board -- Cloverdale Township (Includes Owen County precinct)
Donna Fidler -- 1,559
Christopher Mann -- 1,296
Rob Schroer -- 1,174
Tim Powell -- 1,102
Kaufman -- 921

Cloverdale School Board -- Jackson Township
Barbara B. Nees -- 1,230

South Putnam School Board -- At-Large
Anthony Heavin -- 1,676 (66.04 percent)
Trisha Shrader -- 862 (33.96 percent)

South Putnam School Board -- Washington Township
Angie Nichols -- 1,634 (65.41 percent)
Tim McKean -- 864 (34.59 percent)

South Putnam School Board -- Marion Township
Steven E. Cash -- 2,129 (100 percent)