Helping Shape AG Policy

(AgriNews) –  Farmers who want their voice to be heard by policy makers may be glad to hear there are several ways to do so.

Steve Howell, director of public affairs at Indiana Corn Growers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance, said that it’s important for farmers to stay engaged with lawmakers.

“Obviously, things have changed on your farm in the last few years,” he said at the Indiana Corn and Soybean Forum.

“We know that things in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., will operate a little differently, so we need to get our folks involved to push what we need to have happen in agriculture. There are three things we need (farmers) to do to help out.”

1. Focus on policy.

“This one is pretty simple,” Howell said. “You can follow the information from American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association.

“You can also follow the state organizations and read farm newspapers. They are great sources of information to figure out what is going on in agricultural policy.”

It also is important to read local newspapers and talk to your neighbors, he said.

“It’s important to find out what local issues are going to impact agriculture,” he said. “A lot of zoning issues impact our livestock industry, and we need to be aware of that.”

2. Engage your lawmakers.

“Sign up to get email alerts and updates from them,” Howell said. “Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Really stay engaged with them. Attend town hall meetings, stop by their office. Most importantly, you can host them on your farm for a shop talk or just to show them what you’re doing on your farm.

“Many of them may be familiar with agriculture, but may not know the latest technology you’re using or the volumes you deal with. It’s great to get policy makers out on the farm. Also stay in touch with both state and federal policy makers.”

3. Get involved.

“Contribute to campaigns that support your industry,” Howell said. “Campaigns cost a lot of money. Also reach out and let them know what your concerns are. Share your story. Nobody does a better job of letting them know the issues than the farmer themselves.

“Get involved with policy action teams for corn and soy (organizations). What I’d really like to see is a handful of producers in each congressional district that are really plugged in with issues.”