Archive for the 'Issues' Category
The “Buckeye Compromise” has been reached in Ohio between the State of Ohio (Governor Stickland), the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the Humane Society of United States (HSUS). Unfortunately, this “agreement” seems to put a leash on Ohio livestock regulation, and puts HSUS “at the table” for regulatory oversight.
The agreement was reached to prevent HSUS from putting restrictive livestock initiatives on the Ohio ballot for public vote. Fortunately, Indiana does not permit ballot initiatives, but Ohio is right next door to us, and Indiana could become a new HSUS target.
A copy of the agreement can be downloaded here: HSUS Buckeye Compromise. Note attention to paragraphs 6, 7, and 10 for a taste of HSUS’s intentions for “supervising” livestock production and retaining control over Ohio livestock regulation.
Sadly, this document does not require HSUS to give up anything – HSUS still retains the right to bring the ballot initiatives to Ohio if HSUS doesn’t think that Ohio is properly (or quickly) implementing the “recommendations” in the agreement.
More information can be found at a great website which operates as a watchdog for HSUS: Humane Watch
July 02, 2010 | Issues and News | No Comments »
On June 29 and 30, Carroll County producers are invited to join the Indiana Farm Bureau fact-finding tour to Ohio to discuss with fellow farmers and government officials the impact of HSUS and PETA. This trip is fully funded by the local Carroll County Farm Bureau Incorporated from District 3.
More information and itinerary available on the attached flyer: Farm Bureau Flyer
Contact Mike Beale (Carroll County Farm Bureau) or Kendell Culp (District 3 Director) for reservation information. Contact information is on the flyer.
June 23, 2010 | Education and Issues | No Comments »
The Carroll County Focus on the Future – Carroll County at the Crossroads II information sessions developed several priorities for focus. Among them are:
1. Create Job Opportunities
2. Youth and Family Recreation
3. Marketing the County
4. Tourism
5. Infrastructure
6. Government Unity with a Vision
7. Diversity
You are invited to attend a meeting to help develop goals and actions for these issues. Join in on Thursday, September 24, from 7-9 pm at the Burlington Community Center. Also, save the date for November 12, 7-9 pm at the Canal Center to hear presentations on these proposed goals. For more information, check out the attached letter: 09-16-09 Crossroads II Priorities
September 21, 2009 | Events and Issues and News | No Comments »
August 24, 2009 | Events and Issues and News | No Comments »
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is soliciting public comment on amendments to rules at
327 IAC 5-4-3 and
327 IAC 5-4-3.1 concerning concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO),
327 IAC 15-15 concerning the NPDES CAFO general permit rule program, and
327 IAC 16 concerning confined feeding operations (CFO). IDEM seeks comment on the affected citations listed and any other provisions of Title 327 that may be affected by this rulemaking.
August 24, 2009 | Education and Issues and News and Resources | No Comments »
The Indiana Farm Bureau has provided a nice summary of the ag-related legislation that was approved (or not) in the 2009 Indiana General Assembly. You can review the summary at this link:
may-22-2009-public-policy-dispatch
June 15, 2009 | Issues and News | No Comments »
Governor Daniels Signs A Number of Ag Bills
from Indiana Farm Bureau Public Policy Dispatch, April 23 ,2009, with thanks to Indiana Soybean Council and Jane Ade Stevens for the compilation.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has signed 33 bills into law. A number of these deal with agriculture and rural Indiana. Click on the Bill Number to go directly to the Indiana General Assembly data about the bill.
- HB 1193 (Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City, and Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette) adds school corporations, colleges and universities to the list of entities that are eligible to apply for a grant under the E85 Fueling Station Grant Program.
- HB 1203 (Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale, and Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen) establishes the invasive species council within the Purdue University College of Agriculture.
- HB 1204 (Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale, and Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn) provides that money in the Clean Water Indiana fund does not revert to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year.
- HB 1218 (Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City, and Sen. Ron Alting, Lafayette) increases to $10 million the balance that will trigger the reinstatement of the collection of producer premiums for the grain indemnity fund. The bill also provides that if premiums are reinstated, they will be collected through June 30 of the year in which the fund reaches $15 million.
- HB 1473 (Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, and Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus) requires that residential, agricultural and commercial rental agreements entered into or renewed after June 30, 2009, must disclose if a structure on the property is located in a flood plain.
- HB 1524 (Rep. Terry Goodin, D-Austin, and Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette) allows the State Egg Board to set fees rather than return to the General Assembly for fee increases. It also makes other changes regarding the sale of eggs in Indiana.
- SB 271 (Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, and Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City) provides that a request for an increase in funds for the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University must originate from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, subject to the written approval of the treasurer of Purdue, and will allow fee money to be used for any purpose except for faculty salaries.
- SB 424 (Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, and Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale) allows the director of the Department of Natural Resources to set the boundaries of an area where a pest or pathogen is located and to declare the area to be an infested area. It also changes the definition of “pest or pathogen” for the purposes of certain laws concerning entomology and plant pathology.
- SB 545 (Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, and Rep. Bob Bischoff, D-Greendale) makes a number of changes to the state’s fish and wildlife laws. Most significantly, it changes the procedure for establishing a controlled hunt in a state park and increases how old you can be to fish without a license from 17 to 18.
- SB 27 (Sen. Teresa Lubbers, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City) renames the state’s educational technology fund as the Sen. David C. Ford Educational Technology Fund. Renaming the fund is a tribute to the late Sen. David Ford (R-Hartford City), who was instrumental in establishing it.
April 27, 2009 | Issues and News | No Comments »
NYT Columnist Nicolas Kristof wrote an article about the late Doctor Tom Anderson, and his crusade against livestock farms as a cause of MRSA. You can find the article at this link:
NYT Our Pigs, Our Food
Purdue and Indiana Pork were quick to respond and noted the lack of “real” data, and the very speculative nature of the article. Certainly, the intent was to leverage the recent and unexpected death of Doc Anderson with yet another attack on the livestock industry. Below is the link to the Purdue article which addressed the topic, the response from Indiana Pork, and local news articles.
Purdue Experts on Livestock and Antibiotic Resistance
indiana-pork-ny-times-mrsa-statement
ny-times-mrsa-article-producer-talking-points
WLFI TV 18 Article March 16 NYT Article Upsets Local Farmers
WLFI TV 18 Article March 17 US Bill Aims to End Antibiotic Misuse
Lafayette Journal and Courier Article March 18 Push to Limit Antibiotics for Livestock
Randy Curless, Indiana Pork President letter to NY Times Response to Kristof
March 17, 2009 | Issues | No Comments »
NASS has posted the 2007 Census of Agriculture to their website. The overview reports, including Indiana and Carroll County are also available, below
NASS Census of Agriculture (website)
Carroll County Data
Indiana Data
US Info – Farm Numbers
US Info – Economics
US Info – Demographics
February 28, 2009 | Education and Issues and News | No Comments »
The Carroll County office of the UDSA-FSA will be hosting two workshops about the New Farm Program. Each workshop will include an overview of the Program, eligibility and payment limitations, as well as information for the SURE, SADA and ACRE programs. Forms will be available, with staff assistance to help. Jacob Maxwell, the Executive Director at the Carroll County FSA office, presented the educational program at the January 17 CCAA Members Meeting. He has generously shared his presentation and links to the USDA website for more information (below).
Workshops – both on February 5, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Carroll County 4-H Building.
New Eligibility Forms:
Form 902I – For Individuals
Form 902E – For Entities, Partnerships, and Husband-Wife operations
Form 926 – AGI Statement
Form 901 – Member Information
Form 902 – Continuation form for Farm Numbers
2008-farm-bill-overview (PDF)
More information about the Farm Program is available at the UDSA website:
For commodity programs, including payment limits and eligibility: Commodity Programs
For disaster assistance information: Disaster Assistance
February 03, 2009 | Education and Events and Issues and News | No Comments »
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The “Buckeye Compromise” has been reached in Ohio between the State of Ohio (Governor Stickland), the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the Humane Society of United States (HSUS). Unfortunately, this “agreement” seems to put a leash on Ohio livestock regulation, and puts HSUS “at the table” for regulatory oversight.
