Farm Bureau Dates to Remember Pages 4, 5
County Fair Calendar Page 6
INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 State & Nation.............. 3 Around Indiana........ 6, 8 Around INFB................ 7
A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau
JUNE 20, 2016 Issue No. 81
Ag economy’s woes affecting farmers in several different ways —By Bob White Public Policy Team According to the old saying, “The cure for high prices is high prices.” That is, however, not the case for today’s agriculture economy because net farm income predictions are not a pretty sight. Purdue has re-
ported that net farm income will be down in 2016 and margins will be very thin for the next several years. While the U.S. economy continued to work its way out of the recession for the past eight years, the farm economy as a whole saw a rising net farm income. Farmers responded to the
Supreme Court ruling brings ‘needed relief’ to farmers —By Kathleen M. Dutro, Public Relations Team In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that jurisdictional determinations by the Army Corps of Engineers are appealable as final agency actions. “While this ruling does not impact the current litigation surrounding the new Waters of the U.S. rule regarding whether the agencies have exceeded their authority under the Clean Water Act, it does bring needed relief to farmers,” said Justin Schneider, INFB senior policy advisor and counsel. “If the EPA or the Corps claims jurisdiction, you now have the right to appeal that to a court without having to get a permit first. “The answer to the question of ‘What is a jurisdictional water?’ is still to be determined,” Schneider added. Prior to this ruling, the Corps and EPA asserted that farmers and other landowners could not appeal those decisions. Instead, they asserted that landowners
Indiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206
would have to apply for and obtain costly permits prior to appealing, Schneider said. The alternative was that landowners could choose to ignore the determination and face penalties of $37,500 per day if a court upheld the jurisdictional determination. The decision “removes a huge roadblock that has prevented landowners from obtaining relief from the courts when the Corps illegally claims their land is federally regulated water,” American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. AFBF filed “friend of the court” briefs in the lower court and the Supreme Court in support of the plaintiffs, who were represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation. The case was titled United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. Inc. Schneider added that it’s still unknown when the litigation regarding the new Waters of the U.S. rule will be settled. “It could be next week or next year. We really have no idea,” he said.
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID
Berne, IN Permit NO. 43
increase in prices with increased production, not only here in the U.S. but on a global scale. Combine that with the leveling of the ethanol requirements in the United States and lower demand from some of our larger export customers, and all of a sudden you have a depressed agricultural economy. For Hoosier counties that are largely dependent on agriculture, this also means a slightly depressed local economy. Many businesses in small rural communities know when the ag economy is weak as their own revenues are down. Efficiencies in business are typically found when prices are lower, and Hoosier farmers have responded by tightening their cash flows. Despite these negative influences, stable energy prices and the availability of credit are positive factors. The bigger reason for optimism is the increased
Crops in much of the state – including this corn found near the Madison-Henry county line – was thriving when this photo was shot June 7. But according to the state climatologist, some parts of the state are already abnormally dry, and a strong La Niña weather pattern could push the state into a drought. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
demand for protein around the world. Populations are growing in various areas of the world, and those populations have more money to spend for additional protein. This will also coincide with an increased demand for grains. So the long-term view is very favorable for
agriculture, just not as good as in the past eight years. The economy affects our members and their rural communities in many different ways. Be assured that Indiana Farm Bureau is watching these reports and their numbers carefully.
Long-time Farm Bureau leader dies —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Carolyn Hegel, long-time Indiana Farm Bureau second vice president and directorat-large, died June 10 at her home. The news was announced as this issue of The Hoosier Farmer was going to press. She devoted much of her life to Farm Bureau, serving as bookkeeper and office manager for what was then the Huntington County Farm Bureau Co-op; and as township, county, and district woman leader before being elected to the INFB Board of Directors and becoming second vice president, chair of the State Women’s Committee, and director of the women’s and health and safety divisions. She served 26 years as second vice president and director-at-large. For many of those years she averaged more than 40,000 miles per
year traveling for Farm Bureau. Even while devoting herself to Farm Bureau, she remained active in other organizations – with the Indiana Rural Health Association; as a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Wabash County; and with her church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Farm Bureau Foundation, care of Indiana Farm Bureau (225 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46206); or Bethel United Methodist Church (checks should be made out to Bethel United Methodist Church but mailed to GrandstaffHentgen Funeral Service, 241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, IN 46992, and marked “for Carolyn Hegel memorial”). Services were held June 14 at Bethel United Methodist. She is survived by a brother, Clair L. Lynn, and sister, Barbara Ann Lynn,
Carolyn Hegel being honored at the 2006 Spring Conference shortly before her retirement. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro
both of Lagro. Even a semi-comprehensive summary of Hegel’s life and what she meant to Indiana Farm Bureau would fill more space than The Hoosier Farmer has available at press time. Therefore, a more extensive obituary is available on INFB’s website, www.infb.org/CarolynHegel.