Farm Bureau Sets Legislative Priorities for 2021
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Farm Bureau has released its list of policy priorities for the 2021 legislative session which begins in January.
The organization received policy suggestions from members in each county. Last month, the INFB board of directors identified the key issues to be presented.
The organization said several of the issues were highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on rural Indiana and agriculture.
“INFB’s policy priorities for the coming year, even in the midst of a pandemic, demonstrate our farmers and ag professionals’ ability to identify the most pressing issues facing agriculture,” said INFB President Randy Kron.
INFB’s policy priorities for 2021 include:
- Expand broadband to the unserved and underserved to support education, telehealth, remote work and ag technology.
- Fund local meat inspection and kindergarten-12 education.
- Increase flexibility for HBV (Home Based Vendors) local food processing and marketing of value-added products.
- Improve transparency and functionality of the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency and the Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund.
- Regulate uniformity of agricultural and renewable assessments.
Stay-at-home orders and remote learning have put additional pressure on internet and cable systems. Farm bureau says expanding broadband in rural Indiana is essential.
“Indiana has made significant steps toward getting broadband to rural Hoosiers, but the pandemic demonstrated that there are still many areas of the state that don’t have access to adequate and reliable broadband,” said Andy Tauer, INFB director of public policy. “With e-learning, telehealth and everyday connectivity, expanding rural broadband to the unserved and underserved is INFB’s number one priority for 2021.”