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Hoosier farmers involved in ag policy

2019 was a challenging year for farmers and highlighted the importance of contacting lawmakers about top issues.

Kendell Culp, a northwestern Indiana farmer and American Soybean Association board member, says he’s made valuable contacts with elected officials.  

“What’s really important is building those relationships and that can start right here in your hometown, your home county, and your home district in Indiana and when you go to Washington D.C. it’s really important and impactful when they know you and recognize you and can call you by name,” he says.

Getting involved in public policy was a hot topic during the recent Ag Policy Forum by Indiana Corn Growers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance.

His advice to growers is to become comfortable sharing experiences with lawmakers.

“Just be very comfortable in talking in general terms – are their certain hardships maybe due to prices or weather or labor shortage issues or maybe there are federal regulations causing hardships – and just have a casual conversation with them,” he says.  

Culp says trade and small refinery exemptions are some of the issues that are top of mind for him.

Denny Maple, an Indiana farmer and NCGA Corn Board member, says it’s important that farmers have a voice about policy.

“It’s important they know who we are and the more contact we have with them I think the more chance that they’re going to have a listening ear to what we have to say,” he says.

When talking to lawmakers, Maple says farmers should take control of the conversation and tell them what issues impact their farm.