In farming and farm policy, it’s wise to trust – but verify

Farming, like a lot of things in life, requires trust. We trust that there will be enough dry days in the spring to get a crop in the ground. We trust that our equipment will hold out long enough to get the job done. We trust that the seed varieties we select will give us a good yield. We trust that the prices we get at the end of the season will cover the costs of producing the crop.

I believe it is important for us to trust because it can develop a bond with those who we work with. Still, as President Reagan advised years ago, whenever possible, it’s wiser to “trust, but verify.”

I know a lot of you have been concerned about cost of inputs this year. And for those of you who can afford the cost, the next worry is the supply and delivery of those fertilizers and chemicals that we need to produce a good crop.

On our farm, we had paid for a lot of inputs that got delivered awfully late. Those of us who have been in this business for a while understand that, until it’s on your farm, it’s not really yours.

The same idea also applies to farm policy work. As a part of a large farm group, we will often travel to Washington, D.C., or to the statehouse in Indianapolis and talk with lawmakers about policies that affect our lives. Sometimes, these politicians will tell us that they care about agriculture. They say that farmers and the food supply are primary concerns for their legislative work – and we trust those words. But we are also there to verify those words by watching their votes.

Until we have those votes and those policies written into law, they really don’t help farmers.

Like many of us, I love what I do. Sure, there are tough days, expensive repairs and discouraging times that suck the joy out of a day. In the end, though, I really believe there’s no better way of life. It’s a great way to raise a family. Our work has purpose. Countless numbers of people have faith and trust in us to do our job well.

These are just a few of the reasons why I am so passionate about representing farmers in meetings and policy discussions. There aren’t very many of us who do this for a living. There are many senators and congressmen with good intentions who support policies that have unintended outcomes that hurt U.S. farmers. We need to be there, with the support of many farmers behind us, to explain to lawmakers how every idea can have an impact on agriculture.

You can help us do this job. No one represents farmers better than farmers. Reach out to me for ways to get involved. Send an email to Mrchapma2004@yahoo.com

Ag Policy Summit on July 21

ISA’s Membership and Policy Committee will partner with the Indiana Corn Growers Association to host the annual Ag Policy Summit on July 21 at the Shops at Perry Crossing in Plainfield, Ind. The Ag Policy Summit invites state and federal policymakers to discuss issues and regulations that affect Hoosier farmers. More details about this event can be found at www.incorn.org/summit.