An Update From Our President

What a difference a year can make!  Last year was the year of delayed planting and the summer that never came and on into the harvest that would never end.  This year, most crops in the area were planted in a much timelier manner, rain was fairly regular over the summer in our immediate area and now harvest is in full swing by early to mid-September!  Add to this, grain prices continue to rally during harvest and so, attitudes in our county and immediate area seem to be pretty good out in farm country.

The general economy continues to be very sluggish and we all are wondering how that will impact the elections coming in November.  The political analysts’ have their ideas but only the election results will tell.  It remains to be seen if the changing political winds may change some of the pace of added regulation on agriculture coming from Washington and various state agencies.  “Cap and Trade” type initiatives from the EPA or legislation would wipe out nearly all agricultural profit potential.  Add to that threat, potential regulations that could come for dust coming from Agricultural enterprises along with added state by state animal production controls and we could have a recipe for regulating agriculture from any competitive form in the United States.

We all need to remain aware that the Anti-Ag forces in the country are continuing to push and push hard!  Many misinformed people think that we can just rely upon “Local Foods” to supply all of our food needs…It seems that we did that already, that’s the way my Grandparents and Great-Grandparents lived.  If you look back at history the lack of proper nutrition back then kept life spans short and the people were short in height as well!  What exactly nutritious are people in Indiana going to eat that is fresh in November through March?

Our State is set to vote on placing Tax Cap legislation into the State Constitution.  Remember with this legislation it would be legal for the tax burdens for different property tax classes to be different.   Your house will be capped at 1% of Assessed Value after the homestead credits, while your farmland will be capped at 2% of Assessed Value and all your machinery, building and bins will be capped at 3% of Assessed Value.  Which of these assessment areas sends kids to school, drives the roads, needs police and fire protection the most?...Well I can tell you by Cost of Community Services Studies that have been done, that it isn’t in the 2% and 3% cap areas.  I just don’t understand how this is good public policy.  If you give those who demand the most services the greatest break, we will end up with those tax payers no longer feeling the cost effect of the services they will demand from local and state government.  We need to keep the conversation alive and see if maybe common-sense can win this subject come November 2^nd.

We can worry about the things we can’t control or we can allow the One who made and controls the universe to handle these things.  Sometimes faith is the thing that we in agriculture have more of, than others in the rest of society and it’s the thing that will get us through times like this.

As the harvest rush continues take time to thank the Maker of all things for His provision for us, the harvest and the bounty despite the issues that we continually face.  I know that I will!

Take Care and Be Safe!

Kevin Underwood
President
Tippecanoe County Farm Bureau, Inc.