Hoosier farmers are heading into the 2027 Indiana legislative session with a clear message for lawmakers: the economic pressure on agriculture is not letting up, and state policy needs to keep pace.
On the latest edition of the Indiana Ag Policy Podcast, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) Executive Director of Public Policy Katie Nelson laid out the organization’s top priorities, beginning with a call to increase state investment in agriculture and rural communities.
“Agriculture is such a big industry here in Indiana, and we hope that the state can really look at that and support it to that level,” Nelson says.
A major concern for the organization is the lean funding allocated to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), especially compared to neighboring states aggressively promoting their ag sectors.
“It is wild how little money our Indiana State Department of Ag has to put towards economic development, things like international trade, compared to what other states are doing, right?” Nelson says. “And if we can’t compete with them, how are we able to keep agriculture strong here compared to other Midwest states who are putting more money into agriculture?”
Nelson pointed to programs like Indiana Grown, which operates on just $250,000 annually—a total that must stretch to cover both marketing initiatives and employee salaries.
Property taxes also remain a central concern for rural Hoosiers after farmers saw assessments on agricultural buildings skyrocket over the past year. Nelson says INFB will monitor all incoming tax measures closely to ensure proposals align with the organization’s policy book.
Additionally, Farm Bureau is seeking a crucial technical correction to the business personal property tax exemption established in 2025’s Senate Enrolled Act 1. While the legislation intended to exempt personal property up to $2 million, its current statutory structure functions as an all-or-nothing cliff.
“What that actually meant in practice was if I had $2 million in assets, those full $2 million were exempt. If I had $2 million and $5, none of it was exempt,” Nelson explains. “And we don’t think that’s right. We think it should be the first $2 million. So if I have $2 million and $5 of equipment on my farm, the first $2 million is exempt, that $5 is not exempt. We’re hoping to get that change made.”
The full conversation—including INFB’s third legislative priority focused on strengthening Indiana’s food system—is available on the Indiana Ag Policy Podcast, streaming on the Hoosier Ag Today Facebook page and all major podcast platforms.
