Congressmen Stutzman, Yakym and Baird take part in August meetings with farmers 

By Emily McNiff 

The Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership and Policy (M&P) Committee and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) hosted another Shop Talk and August meeting series, reaching more than 130 farmers, industry partners, community leaders and legislators. 

Indiana grain farmers and stakeholders engaged in candid conversations about trade relationships, labor, biofuels and the perpetual legislative limbo of the Farm Bill. 

U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-Dist. 4) met with a group of farmers and industry professionals at the Beck Agricultural Center at Purdue University on Aug. 3. Prior to the Congressman’s remarks, ICGA and M&P staff led a farmer panel discussing critical focal points for Indiana producers, including a streamlined approach farm labor under House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA). 

Along with U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Dist. 3), Rep. Baird is a co-sponsor of the bill modernizing the H2A temporary agricultural work program. During his remarks, Rep. Baird reiterated that the bill is not an avenue for permanent legal status of citizenship, but a narrow transition for certain experienced farmworkers to apply for a temporary, non-immigrant work visa. 

Applicants must demonstrate that they’ve worked in U.S. agriculture for at least 180 days in the last two years, pass a background check, and meet all other H2A eligibility requirements. Approximately, 250-300 operations in Indiana utilize the program annually. 

Yakym biofuels roundtable 

Joe Stoller, a Marshall County, Ind., farmer member, hosted a biofuels round table with Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Dist. 2) on Aug. 17 with around 20 farmer leaders and members and biofuel industry leaders representing Indiana Ethanol Producers Association (IEPA), POET, Verbio, and South Bend Ethanol. 

Rep. Yakym voted in favor of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (H.R. 1346) to allow the year-round sale of E15 that passed in the House. The proposal is now under consideration by the Senate, with companion bill S. 593, introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). 

Yakym shared with attendees that the companion bill is the fastest route to passage of year-round E15, despite similar language being packaged into the Senate Farm Bill. He encouraged constituents to reach out to Senate members to continue the momentum and finally pass the important biofuel legislation. 

Wyss farm hosts Stutzman 

Finally, Don Wyss and his family at Wyss Farm Enterprises, hosted the last Shop Talk of the season on Aug. 25 in Fort Wayne with more than 80 farmers, industry professionals and community leaders in attendance and Rep. Stutzman providing remarks and discussion. Conversations focused on the state of current federal trade negotiations, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and President Trump’s executive proclamation to temporarily waive tariffs on imported ground beef. 

While foreign imports allow for cheaper prices for consumers, domestic beef prices allow U.S. farmers to profit and rebuild operations after years of high-input costs. 

During the weekend prior to the meeting, the Trump Administration announced 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products and upcoming reciprocal tariffs on Sept. 8, raising questions about the future of USMCA. 

Rep. Stutzman was one of 168 House Republican signatures on a letter led by Rep. Yakym highlighting the benefits of USMCA. Other Indiana delegation members who signed the letter include, Rep. Baird, Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Dist. 6), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Dist. 8) and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Dist. 9). 

The Shop Talk season and other events hosted by the Indiana corn and soybean policy organizations offer opportunities for farmers and rural constituents to share concerns and ask questions of leaders 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 discuss key issues. Contact Khyla Goodman at kgoodman@indianasoybean.com for membership details.