INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Farm Bureau’s (INFB) legislative priorities for 2022 represent a longer-term view of policies that affect the organization’s members, according to INFB President Randy Kron.

The priorities, announced Nov. 12, are rural viability, energy and taxes.

“Through our policy development process, which starts at each county farm bureau, our members identified the issues of most concern now, as well as in the future,” Kron said in a press release. “This year, we are looking at those overarching issues that will impact members and their rural communities.”

Census data from 2020 showing a shift in the state’s population over the previous 10 years was a factor in setting the priorities, Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy, told Farm World. “We’ve seen a migration out of rural areas and into urban areas,” he explained. “There’s a pretty high number of counties that lost some significant population out of those (rural) areas.”

Most mid-sized and rural communities in the state lost residents from 2010 to 2020, according to census information compiled by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Forty nine of the state’s 92 counties saw population declines. Meanwhile, in metro areas, the population in Indianapolis (including Carmel and Anderson) jumped11.8 percent. Fort Wayne’s population rose 7.6 percent and Columbus was up 7.1 percent.

The state’s General Assembly, which already had few active farmers, might lose more, Tauer said, after it approved new legislative district boundaries in October. The maps are based on 2020 census data.

The subject of rural viability ties into INFB’s 2021 legislative priority, which was broadband, he said. The state has provided money for broadband, and funding ($65 billion) was included in federal infrastructure legislation passed in mid-November. “We want to make sure that the dollars that have been allocated get to the right place,” he said. “(Broadband) is important for rural areas to stay viable.”

Some farm bureau members have had to move because they didn’t have broadband access at a previous location, he noted.

The organization will also focus on workforce development, public rural health, education, early career development, infrastructure and regulatory issues.

As for energy policy, Tauer said with 40 percent of corn going into ethanol plants, “this creates an opportunity for us to talk about all the positive attributes ethanol brings to the table. Ethanol is so important to Indiana farmers, and it ultimately ties back to rural viability.”

There are concerns about the push for electric vehicles, solar and wind, he pointed out.

INFB said it will advocate for the evolution of carbon markets to find ways for producers that adopt conservation and innovative farming practices to participate in programs.

The tax policy priority includes working to protect stepped-up basis, capital gains and the estate tax exemptions at the federal level, Tauer said. At the state and local level, INFB hopes to address funding for such items as rural schools and fire protection, he added. The organization said it advocates for affordable and equitable growth in local tax base and local school funding alternatives.

INFB staff had the opportunity to meet with state legislators during the General Assembly’s organization day on Nov. 16, Tauer said. The next legislative session begins in January.

In addition to the three priority areas, INFB will weigh in with legislators on other priorities the organization feels are of concern to its members, he said.