News from the Farm Bureau Convention

Farm Bureau Convention Points to Future of Agriculture

Andy Eubank
December 14, 2013
Andy Eubank



Ted McKinney at IFBThe 95th Indiana Farm Bureau Convention moved to Ft. Wayne this year and highlights during the Friday general session included a brief address from Ted McKinney who takes the reins at the state department of ag next year. With the everyday explosion of the world’s population, he is bullish on agriculture.

“I know where prices are. I do watch the markets,” he said, “but I’m still bullish for the long term and I think this is the time we’ve got to all come together, get our story, and get our work stitched together so that we can go forward as a state. I for one am going to give it my best shot and I know I will not be able to do it without the strength and the talent of the Farm Bureau.”Don Villwock 13 address

Members heard from Purdue’s Maury Williamson who received one of Don Villwock’s president awards.

“I can thank so many people out there. Earl Butz and I figured up over 40 years I’ve given about 1,000 speeches. Now Earl said I gave 1 speech one thousand times.”

Retiring CEO of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Jerry Canada was honored with the other president award.

And IFB President Villwock outlined concerns about EPA’s RFS proposal and priorities for the upcoming Indiana legislative short session. One priority is to improve Indiana trespass laws.

“You know it doesn’t matter if you’re a grain farmer, a livestock producer or a specialty crop grower, we have all known and have witnessed an increase in trespassers on our properties in recent years. I imagine very few of you have had a grain field that doesn’t have 4-wheel drive pickup tracks going across part of them or along the side of the road as someone ventures Villwocks and Oscarout in our fields and cuts ruts across our farms. We all spend extra time at night hiding machinery so that vandals or thieves can’t have access to this machinery.”

Farm Bureau wants the same trespass protection homeowners receive. That means they will work toward elimination of the obligation to post trespass signage.

Villwock’s message about securing the future of agriculture was themed around his brand new grandson Oscar.

“In case you choose agriculture, I’m buying your first membership in Indiana Farm Bureau.”

Listen to the complete Villwock address:
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Don Villwock IFB 2013 address
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Ted McKinney's vision for the ISDA

A Different Vision of Agriculture

December 8, 2013
Gary Truitt

It is common for people to talk about their vision of agriculture. But usually those visions are limited.  They are limited by the individuals’ pre-conceived idea of what they want agriculture to be.  For example, HSUS would have a vision of agriculture where all the animals ran free and were not consumed for food.  Organic groups would have a vision of agriculture where farmers did not use any chemical products or biotechnology. Some environmental groups would have a vision of farmers working the land with hand tools.  Such visions fit into these artificially-constructed worldviews of food production but do not fit into the real world of a global population who wants safe, affordable, and plentiful food supply. A more accurate vision of agriculture is one that is much bigger and far more diverse. Such a vision was recently articulated by the new director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Ted McKinney was appointed last week to take over the ISDA. This was the second time he had been offered this position, and what made him say yes this time is known only to him and the Pence administration. But his willingness to serve may finally provide the young agency with a vision and a purpose it has not had before.   Created to fulfill a campaign promise made during the first Daniels administration, Indiana’s Department of Agriculture is unlike most of the state ag departments in the nation.  ISDA has only two regulatory functions, those involving soil conservation and grain warehouse licensing.  All the other regulatory functions are divided among a handful of other state agencies. So what is the vision and purpose of ISDA? Past directors have struggled with this concept. Some have sees the department as a government-supported advocate for agriculture, while other have seen it as an economic catalyst designed to drive economic development at home as well as on the foreign market.  McKinney, in his first public appearance as Director, articulated a vision that was bigger and more cohesive than any of these.

McKinney used the analogy of a puzzle.  Agriculture has many different pieces; but, when all brought together, they make a very powerful force. He sees the role of ISDA as the agent that connects and brings together these pieces.  Indiana, as well as Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and other states, all have the resources of a powerful agriculture puzzle which involves commodity products as well as specialty crops, food processing, exports, local food brands, farmers markets, biotech, and organic. All of us, when connected together, can be a major factor in our state, our nation, and our world.

McKinney, who views agriculture as a global industry, sees how states can come together and play a significant role in the local and world marketplace.  Too often we in agriculture are so focused on our puzzle piece, we don’t see how we fit into the larger picture. “We in agriculture are all friends, but perhaps we need to become better friends,” McKinney told me. He believes the many and diverse sectors of agriculture can learn a lot from each other, if we only do a better job of communicating.

McKinney also believes in being an advocate for agriculture; but, here to, his vision may differ from the norm. He sees being an advocate as presenting the facts about agriculture — not only to consumers, but to law makers, lobbyists, and other state agencies. This fact-based approach allows him to present the truth about biotechnology, organic agriculture, exports, and local food sources, all with equal passion. While some has already criticized his big business connection, having come from Elanco where he was Director of Global Corporate Affairs, this background and international perspective has given McKinney a vision that is larger than many of his predecessors. 

McKinney also brings to the position a passion for agriculture that is infectious and a passion that is focused by his vision of what agriculture can be.  Whether a small specialty crop producer or a large commodity farmer, we should all latch on to the big vision of what agriculture is and can be.

By Gary Truitt

Remembering Christmas on the Dairy Farm

Christmas on our family Dairy starts out like any other day with the alarm ringing at 5 am telling me its time to head to the barn.  Santa’s helpers were busy late that night making sure all the gifts were wrapped and stockings were stuffed so I tiptoed out of the house to the barn as quiet as a mouse.  I reached the barn to begin the daily ritual of starting the pipeline rinse, turning on the heater in the parlor and preparing the feed troughs for the cows.  Next, I remind the cows what time it is as many have already made their way to the barn for the morning milking.  Some of them usually decide to sleep in so it’s off to the pasture to round everybody up.  It’s a good chilly walk as far as ½ mile to the back of the pasture in the cold morning air.  Counting as I go so I know when I’ve got all the cows heading to the barn I head back to the barn singing Christmas carols on the way with the occasional moo approval of the cows.  After the cows are locked in the holding pen its back to the milk house to finish getting ready to milk.  Carrying the milkers into the parlor and connecting the pipeline to the bulk tank would complete the preparation along with getting all the teat dips and frost guard to protect the teats after each cow is milked.  At 6 a.m. cows enter the parlor 4 on a side and I begin prepping and milking them 4 at a time.  Milking all the cows normally take about an hour.  Back in the house the kids begin to stir in anticipation of seeing what Santa left.  They also begin to shout to their mom asking how long they would have to wait.  Back at the barn around 7 a.m. the cows have been all milked and cleaning begins.  The barn is washed out, the milkers are cleaned and the pipeline begins its wash cycle.  The kids get excited when they hear the silo begin pouring out silage and the conveyer and bunk feeder motors are fired up to distribute the cows forage for the morning.  While the cows are being fed I continue to feed the calves and heifers their morning diet.  Milk for some, feed for others and water for all of them.  Real cold mornings mean taking time to bust some ice.  With the silage feeding complete I make one final walk through the milk house and parlor to make sure all the work is done.  Usually about 8 a.m. or so I make it back to the house and find a good seat to watch the kids run to the tree and find the one present Santa had left them unwrapped along with a well filled stocking full of goodies.  Can we open more shouts the kids but mom says not till we’ve had some cinnamon rolls and milk.  After the quick breakfast everyone begins opening the packages under the tree.  Play time is short as there are grandparents to visit.  By late morning everyone enjoys the company of all the family at grandpa’s house to open more presents and enjoy a great Christmas lunch.  About 4 p.m. I head to the barn for another 2-3 hours work in milking and feeding the cows and heifers.  This time some of the other family members offer some help and things go a little faster.  A nice dinner of leftovers is enjoyed by all and then it’s off to bed as 5 a.m. will come again tomorrow to start another day on the Dairy.