Indiana Farm Bureau president visits county
Farmers discuss tax bills, food prices

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

About 75 local farmers gathered at a Farm Bureau “toolshed” meeting Monday evening, August 25 at the Geisler residence south of Versailles. State officials for Farm Bureau in attendance were Don Villwock, president; Randy Kron, vice-president and Isabella Chism, second vice president and director at large.

Straight out of the gates, the property tax hike that farmers realized this year, was questioned by Edgar Swinney, Osgood. Kron responded by saying “things have been a challenge with House Bill 1001.” He further commented that the total effects remain to be seen, but the first portion heavily favored the homeowner, not the farmer. There was no relief to farmers for personal property such as farm equipment and farmland. Some farmers saw up to a 38% hike. Villwock and Kron both spoke to the upcoming constitutional amendment that is a part of House Bill 1001 and felt it was not fair for homeowners to pay less, while farmers pay more. They further noted that the Farm Bureau has been in contact with legislators and will continue to hammer away at the situation.

Richard Hanson, Holton area farmer, asked “Could property taxes be replaced with an increase in income taxes?” Farm Bureau officials said that wouldn’t be “politically savvy.” Villwock noted that while he lives in a county where most of his crops were lost to the 500 year flood this year, he still has to pay property taxes. Income doesn’t come into play.

Brewington said his wife Jeannette figured what someone paying taxes on a $700,000 home would pay. He said they were about a third of what a farmer pays. “They’re not trying to earn an income from the house, we are from the farm ground,” noted Jeannette.

Much more was discussed on the issue with the end conclusion being “agriculture is getting the short end of the stick and not being treated fairly or equally,” Villwock told those gathered. He said the average farmer was paying anywhere from $8,000 to $40,000 in property taxes. He noted that his personal taxes increased by $5600 this year.

While the discussion mostly centered around the high property taxes farmers are now forced to pay, it did eventually come to the high cost of food and what the farmer’s take is on it.

“General Mills pays Michael Jordan more for his endorsement than they pay the farmers (for the product in the box of cereal)” stated Villwock. He told the crowd that the farmers are a small portion of the escalating food costs, a “very small portion.”

“We (consumers) pay for labor, packaging and convenience,” Villwock continued saying while it’s easy and convenient to blame high prices of food on the farmers, it’s not the case. Several times throughout the hour and a half meeting, Villwock reiterated that fuel and transportation costs are the direct causes for food increases.

Villwock noted that farmers are as susceptible to the rising costs as everyone else. He noted that as a farmer himself, he is paying nearly double for products critical to the farming industry such as anhydrous, phosphate, and potash. For example, last year a ton of anhydrous was about $600. This year it’s $1075, and that’s if you ordered and paid for it by July 1. The projection is it will be even higher in the spring. He stressed that it’s not agriculture that raises the price of food.

Dispelling the talk that manufacturing ethanol was causing food prices to go up, Villwock said it was only a directed effort to blame farmers. In reality, he said ethanol brought the cost of fuel down. “What would have been $4.60 a gallon was $4.00 a gallon because gas in Indiana has ten percent ethanol in it. He noted that we haven’t built a refinery in over 40 years thanks to environment conscious efforts and therefore have to pay for it by purchasing our fuel and even refining it in other countries.

Surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of the farm, Villwock told those in attendance that people are flocking to the country to live the good life. However, Villwock noted that subdivisions are moving out to the farmer’s fence and then petitions made to commissioners to shut down the farmer because they don’t like the smells, sounds, or inconvenience of hearing a combine run after dark.

While the state president said farmers want to be good neighbors, he also sighted a case that was petitioned in Wabash county where the people didn’t want farmers working after dark.

Ripley County Commissioner Robert Reiners was in attendance at the meeting and noted that Ripley County is a farming community with safeguards built in the planning and zoning division for the farmer. He noted there are ordinances in place to protect issues such as the one in Wabash County. He said if you move to Ripley County, next door to a farm, “you’re going to smell manure.” Villwock commended the commissioners’ effort to preserve agriculture.

Issues were raised such as daylight savings time by Owen Menchhofer; the need for a simplified formula for figuring taxes by Dave Osborne; and the need to research where political candidates really stand on farming before voting by Commissioner Chuck Folz.

Of all the questions and discussion, the bulk was centered around the property tax issue.
“How long have we been talking about property taxes?” questioned Joe Menchhofer. Villwock didn’t hesitate when he answered, “About 75 years.”

Menchhofer said he felt it was useless to call state legislators because nothing gets done. But, Villwock disagreed saying it does make a difference and farmers have to stand up. Isabella Chism agreed saying, “When we leave here today, write the letters, make the phone calls, don’t back off.” She continued by saying, “We’re at a place where we can make a difference.”

Chism highlighted the importance of the agricultural industry in a simplified statement, “They’re not going to eat if we don’t grow the food.”

She stressed the importance of educating the public about where food comes from, nutritional values, and what the farmer’s role really is. She said people do care and when they understand the process, they will support it. She encouraged farmers to be vocal. “We can’t let other people tell our story.” Connie Beckley, Ripley County women’s leader for Farm Bureau agreed. She lives on a small farm and is excited about her new position with Farm Bureau and knows that educating people is key to their understanding the farming process.

Villwock agreed with Chism urging those present to get involved and write and call legislators now. Just before election is a good time to let those being voted on know how the farmer feels, he noted.
Chism noted that farmers gamble every season when they stick hundreds of thousands of dollars in the ground and try to grow something that will support their family and benefit thousands of others. They are dependent on the weather, economy, and politics. “We do it because we love what we do,” she reminded the farmers.

Paul Anderson, president of the Ripley County Farm Bureau chapter drew for door prizes at the end of the session. The Brewingtons of Milan won a sampler box of free meat, which they promptly donated to the local food bank. Saying farmers are a generous lot, Villwock encouraged others to participate in the hopper program and donate what one hopper of grain would make to their local food pantry.

Three generations of Geislers, Danny, his father Richard, and grandfather, Raymond Geisler, were commended for their dedication to agriculture and thanked for hosting the toolshed event on the Geisler farm. South Ripley agriculture teacher Pat Holland was also recognized for bringing a group of his students to the event, where they agreed they simply wanted to learn more about the process.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTOS ABOVE: Several local farmers met at the Richard Geisler farm just south of Versailles on Monday for a question and answer type meeting with state officials. Many farmers expressed their views on the new property tax reform. The "toolshed" meeting was held in a pole barn with plenty of farm equipment for background decor. BELOW: Ripley County Farm Bureau President Paul Anderson, left, speaks with Marge Harmeyer, Ripley County Assistant Women's Leader.