PUBLIC POLICY POSITIONS

The Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is focused on keeping key policy issues affecting Indiana’s corn industry top of mind with local, state and federal decision-makers.

ICGA is a membership organization that is the voice for Indiana corn farmers’ concerns in local, state, and national decisions by legislative, regulatory, and judicial agencies that impact agriculture. Along with our national organization – National Corn Growers Association – ICGA works to promote corn and help improve corn farmers’ profitability.

Learn more about the issues we are currently working on and how you can make your voice heard.

Policy

General Public Policy

Policy

Biofuels Policy

Livestock & Aquaculture Policy

New Uses Policy

Production & Environment Policy

Transportation, Trade & Grain Marketing Policy

General Public Policy

ICGA members believe agriculture is a critical industry in the state of Indiana and the United States. We will work to promote and grow agriculture and corn production for the future of our state and nation. These are the positions on general public policy adopted by the ICGA Board of Directors:

  1. Support the state checkoff on all marketable corn to expand and enhance the use, marketing and efficient production of corn. The checkoff should be at a rate sufficient to promote the commodity to the fullest extent.
  2. ICGA supports state checkoff programs on agricultural products that provide for the development of new or larger domestic and foreign markets and promote the production and marketing of products, renewable fuels, and new technologies that use those products. (3/2016)
  3. ICGA opposes efforts to diminish or eliminate checkoff programs that have been beneficial to Indiana corn farmers. (3/2016)
  4. Oppose legislation or regulation that unfairly restricts the profitability of corn farmers.
  5. Support deficit reduction and spending cuts as long as they do not disproportionately impact farmers and farm programs.
  6. Oppose efforts to tax products used in the direct production of corn.
  7. Support a Farm Bill that facilitates and enhances robust crop insurance and risk management programs.
  8. Support the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) in its efforts to increase corn production and utilization.
  9. Support sound science and economic research in the taxation of Indiana farmland and oppose legislation that disproportionately or unevenly burdens farmland owners.
  10. Support food safety efforts to maintain a safe and plentiful food supply.
  11. Support all food, feed, and environmental safety be coordinated through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  12. Support a voluntary national standard for labeling of genetically-modified (GM) food products and oppose any Indiana-specific GM food labeling legislation.
  13. Support immigration legislation to provide a sufficient workforce for Indiana farmers, agribusiness and the food supply chain.
  14. Support a federally-issued photo identification and fingerprint system that verifies and tracks an immigrant’s employment status and payment of taxes, while also removing the burden of proving legal status from the employer.
  15. Oppose Indiana-specific immigration laws that would put farmers and agribusiness at a disadvantage.
  16. Oppose policies limiting the type of work minors can perform on family farms.
  17. Support the coordination and funding of education programs with Purdue Extension, FFA, and 4-H to educate corn farmers.

Biofuels Policy

ICGA members believe biofuels have reduced dependence on foreign oil and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. We believe ethanol should be a key component of the nation’s long term energy strategy. These are the positions on biofuels public policy adopted by the ICGA Board of Directors:

  1. Support policies encouraging the use of ethanol-blended fuels.
  2. Support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to expand the ethanol industry.
  3. Support funding and policies increasing blender pump installation.
  4. Support funding for the research and development of ethanol fuel with greater efficiency.
  5. Support policies promoting export of domestically-produced ethanol.
  6. Support requiring all domestic and foreign automobiles sold in the U.S. to be Flex-Fuel capable.
  7. Support the retention of Flex-Fuel vehicle production credits.
  8. Support a bio-based buying preference for federal, state and local governments.
  9. Support the use of biofuels and lubricants by federal, state and local government-owned vehicles.
  10. Support fair categorization of E85 and other mid-level ethanol blends under the Indiana Gasoline Use Tax.
  11. Support misfueling liability immunity for fuel retailers selling properly labeled ethanol blends.

Livestock & Aquaculture Policy

ICGA members support a growing livestock and aquaculture industry that continues to build demand for Indiana corn. These are the positions on livestock and aquaculture public policy adopted by the ICGA Board of Directors:

  1. Support policies to continue responsible expansion of the Indiana livestock industry (including red meat and poultry) and aquatic feeding operations for greater use of Indiana corn and corn products.
  2. Support policies and programs to promote increased domestic and international consumption of meat, poultry, fish and dairy products.
  3. Support responsible livestock producers who face unwarranted challenges by individuals or organizations through zoning, permitting, regulatory or legislative processes at the local, state and federal levels.
  4. Support full and adequate funding for the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH).
  5. Support the efforts of the livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries by vigorously opposing any initiatives to limit the use of modern and accepted production practices as defined by BOAH.
  6. Support BOAH oversight for animal care, husbandry and disposal standards.
  7. Support federal programs like Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to upgrade and expand livestock facilities.
  8. Support policies to encourage the responsible expansion of animal agriculture in a way that grows Indiana’s value-added economy.
  9. Oppose regulation or legislation that creates standards above and beyond veterinary science and best management standards.

New Uses Policy

ICGA members believe corn is valuable in the creation of new products and will work to expand its uses in traditional and non-traditional products. These are the positions on new uses public policy adopted by the ICGA Board of Directors:

  1. Support expanded promotion and research for new uses of corn and co-products.
  2. Support research into the use of products generated by the corn industry for livestock and poultry feeding, aquaculture, and other new uses.
  3. Support increased funding for agricultural and food research.
  4. Support state and federal funding for research in bio-based renewable corn products.

Production & Environment Policy

ICGA members believe in growing corn efficiently and sustainably while protecting and enhancing our natural resources. These are the positions on production and environment public policy adopted by the ICGA Board of Directors:

  1. Support the development and approval of biotechnology-enhanced crop varieties and products that will benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.
  2. Support state and federal domestic environmental policies based on sound science and economic analysis.
  3. Support the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) as the environmental regulatory authority for corn and livestock production.
  4. Support environmental regulations that provide incentives for farmer compliance when significant changes in production costs are required.
  5. Support a policy of requiring input from agricultural professionals – including farmers and farm managers – in the development of best management practices.
  6. Oppose regulatory or legislative extension of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements to Indiana farmland.
  7. Oppose any rule or legislation expanding the definition of “navigable” or expanding jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) under the Clean Water Act.
  8. Support agriculture’s fair and open right to sustainably access and use groundwater and surface water in an environmentally sound manner.
  9. Support policies supporting competitive alternative energy sources in the production of electricity.
  10. Support enrolling or re enrolling environmentally sensitive land in federal conservation programs.
  11. Support government conservation programs for corn farmers that reward them for best management practices used in farming operations.
  12. Support voluntary measures to establish habitats for pollinators through conservation.
  13. Support voluntary conservation practices to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
  14. Support voluntary optimization of nutrient use and oppose legislative and regulatory efforts to control nutrient use not based on sound science.
  15. Oppose any climate change policies that do not support long-term opportunity for farmer profitability.
  16. Oppose labeling of animal manure as a hazardous waste.
  17. Oppose legislation or regulations restricting responsible use of animal manure as fertilizer.
  18. Oppose mandatory air quality standards for ozone and agricultural particulate matter.
  19. Support continued availability and use of environmentally safe seed treatments.

Transportation, Trade & Grain Marketing Policy

ICGA members support a state-of-the-art transportation system, increased trade opportunities, and policies to open and expand markets for Indiana corn. These are the positions on transportation, trade and grain marketing public policy adopted by the ICGA Board of Directors:

  1. Encourage state and federal funding for the building and upgrading of rural roads and bridges.
  2. Oppose state or local actions enacting lower weight limits on primary roads without providing alternate routes.
  3. Support policy changing the Indiana gasoline tax formula to more fairly fund rural roads and bridges.
  4. Support funding for the modernization of the inland waterway transportation system.
  5. Support appropriations for design and improvement of the waterway lock system.
  6. Support the use of monies deposited in the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for new construction and major rehabilitation of navigation infrastructure.
  7. Support upgrading the rail transportation system.
  8. Support federal legislation increasing weight limits on trucks to 91,000 lbs. or greater on six axles.
  9. Support free trade agreements that assure the greatest possible opportunities for U.S. corn farmers.
  10. Support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and U.S. participation in WTO talks.
  11. Oppose restrictions by the United States on the importation of fairly-traded goods that may lead to retaliation by other nations against the export of U.S. corn and co-products.
  12. Oppose legislation that would violate trade commitments and would invite retaliation by our trading partners against U.S. corn and meat.
  13. Support value-added export programs that include corn and corn products in their production or composition to meet the changing needs of the market.
  14. Oppose mandatory or voluntary Country of Origin Labeling laws that are not WTO compliant.
  15. Support funding of federal market expansion programs like Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD).
  16. Support responsibly opening trade with Cuba.
  17. Support fully funding the Indiana Grain Buyers & Warehouse Licensing Agency and maintaining its position inside the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
  18. Support a strong Grain Buyer & Warehouse Licensing law to protect farmers and the Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund.
  19. Oppose any state or federal legislation or regulation that would jeopardize state grain indemnity funds and/or merchandising regulations.
  20. Support adequate notification of any proposed changes in state or federal warehousing and merchandising regulations before changes are enacted in statute or regulation.