The smoky smell of many pounds of bacon will again fill the halls of the Indiana Statehouse from 8-10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, to bring together Hoosier farmers, ag industry stakeholders and state lawmakers to talk about farm policy.
The Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership & Policy Committee (M&P) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) will host their annual legislative breakfast, known as the Bacon Bar and Brunch.
This year’s Brunch menu will feature several varieties of pork bacon – all from Indiana Kitchen, also known as Indiana Packers. This year’s bacon list features pork bacon, candied bacon, applewood smoked bacon and bacon with cracked pepper and fresh rosemary. The menu will also include beef bacon and turkey bacon. In addition, the Perdue poultry company is providing turkey sausage links, and Maple Leaf Farms is donating duck sausage. Milk is being provided by Prairie Farms in partnership with American Dairy Association Indiana. Other breakfast items include egg bake with bacon, vegetable egg bake, sweet corn casserole with duck sausage and maple syrup, plus orange juice and a coffee station. The breakfast is sponsored by the United Soybean Board.
Other Bacon Bar and Brunch sponsors include Farm Credit Mid-America, Corteva Agriscience, Indiana Pork, Indiana Beef Cattle Association, Indiana Dairy Producers, Indiana State Poultry Association, Indiana Ethanol Producers Association, Indiana Farm Bureau and the Bose Public Affairs Group.
But the Brunch is much more than good food. The event offers a chance to network with others.
“The Bacon Bar and Brunch offers farmers an opportunity to build important relationships with state lawmakers,” said ICGA President Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, Ind. “These discussions don’t have to be about bill numbers and committee hearings, although we do have a detailed agenda to accomplish this year. Sometimes, it’s important just getting to know your representatives, sharing your knowledge of agriculture or inviting them to your farm. We want each elected official to have a network of farmers they can turn to for advice and expertise.”
The soybean and corn policy organizations hope these conversations will encourage lawmakers to “bring home the bacon” for farmers during this year’s General Assembly.
“Featuring bacon at the legislative breakfast is a way to highlight Indiana’s livestock industry, which is a key customer for Indiana soybean and corn growers,” said M&P Chair Brian Warpup, a Warren, Ind., farmer. “These breakfast foods are a tangible way for us to communicate why a healthy Indiana livestock sector means healthy Indiana farms and a healthy Indiana economy.”
Steve Howell, the senior director of industry affairs for M&P and ICGA, said the food will be fun, but the important work will involve farm policy discussions.
“ICGA and M&P closely monitor all potential legislation that may affect Indiana farmers’ lives,” he said. “The Brunch allows farmers to engage our state legislators and share our priorities for this session.”
Some of the policy issues that will be discussed include property taxes, a biofuels tax credit, carbon sequestration, farmland assessment and preservation and more. For corn and soybean growers, a focus will be on approving a biofuels tax credit.
State Rep. Dave Heine (R-New Haven) and State Sen. Brian Buchanan (R-Lebanon) have filed companion bills, HB 1127 and SB 254, respectively, to incentivize fuel retailers to offer higher blends of biofuels. If passed, this legislation will provide a 5 cent per gallon income tax incentive for fuel retailers who offer gasoline fuel blends higher than E10. Incentives for diesel fuel blends begin at 5 cents for B5 with higher credits of 10 cents for B10 and 18 cents for B20 and above.
For more information about the Brunch, contact Khyla Goodman, Industry Affairs Outreach and Membership Manager for M&P and ICGA, at kgoodman@indianasoybean.com or 317-677-3137. Go online to bit.ly/BaconBar to register.
