Indiana farmers scored a policy victory during 2025 Shop Talk season

By Emily McNiff 

The Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) wrapped up the 2025 Shop Talk season in the final week of August. With three Shop Talks across the state, more than 120 farmers, ag professionals and legislative staff attended policy meetings to engage with legislators and farmer leaders on ag issues. 

Farmers scored a policy victory during this year’s Shop Talk season. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Dist. 1) agreed to support legislation for year-round access to E15 fuel – a blend of 15 percent ethanol with 85 percent gasoline. Mrvan announced he would co-sponsor the bill while attending a Shop Talk in Porter County, Ind.

Phil and Cindy Ramsey hosted a Shop Talk in Shelby County on August 5 with 43 attendees, including staff from the offices of U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Dist. 6). 

ICGA and M&P staff facilitated a farmer leader panel to share more about board priorities, farm policy issues and checkoff project success stories. The panel featured host farmer Phil Ramsey, Mike Koehne of Decatur County, Chris Eck of Shelby County and Phil Zicht of Randolph County. 

Koehne encouraged building farmer-legislator relationships. “You know that you are making an impact, and that our leaders in D.C. look to us for advice when you get a call from the personal cell phone of your elected official to ask you how a bill they are about to vote on might impact you,” he said. 

Max Engling, the Central Indiana Regional Director for Sen. Banks, shared that while he was a staff member based in Washington, D.C., he and his colleagues appreciated the professionalism and expertise that corn and soybean farmers bring to meetings on Capitol Hill. 

The August 12 Shop Talk in Spencer County was at the event venue of farmer and ISA board director Gary McDaniel. Nearly 50 attendees gathered to hear remarks from U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Dist. 9) and engage in discussions about how work in the nation’s capital impacts rural and agricultural communities. Tariffs, trade and access to medical care and insurance were the trending topics for participants. 

Messmer remained to listen in on the farmer panel featuring host farmer Gary McDaniel, J.R. Roesner of Dubois County and Larry Rusch of Knox County. These farmers shared their experiences and priorities while serving on the corn and soybean boards. 

“I serve on the ICGA Board, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council Board and the National Corn Growers Association Board,” Roesner said. “What I’ve learned is that farmers across the country have very similar concerns. We are our best representatives when discussing farm policy work with legislators, and we also care the most about checkoff work that finds new export markets or expands opportunities for commodities like ethanol.” 

The final Shop Talk took place on the farm of Robert Little, which is on the Lake County and Porter County line. 

The Shop Talk was co-hosted by Tom Murphy, a Porter County farmer and an ICGA director. 

Murphy and farmers Denise Scarborough of LaPorte County and John Peters of Carroll County discussed issues impacting corn and soybean growers and expanding market opportunities. Following the farmer panel, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Dist. 1) joined attendees and opened the floor for participants to share any concerns or questions they may have. 

Scarborough, who is ISA’s Board Chair and a director for the American Soybean Association, shared an ASA letter that was sent to President Trump urging his administration to prioritize soybeans in U.S.-China trade talks. 

China is the largest export market for U.S. soybeans going into the 2025 soybean harvest. Retaliatory tariffs make U.S. soybeans 20 percent more expensive causing China to turn to trade competitors like Brazil. 

Mrvan reiterated his commitment to support soybean and corn farmers through his work on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science that focuses on providing oversight and direction for the International Trade Commission. 

This Shop Talk season accomplished its goals of discussing many important topics with elected officials and legislative staff. These events offer opportunities for farmers and rural constituents share concerns and ask questions of those representing them in Washington, D.C. and at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. 

Become a member of M&P and ICGA to stay informed of more opportunities to engage with legislators and their staff to raise the issues most important to you. Reach out to Khyla Goodman at kgoodman@indianasoybean.com for membership details.