2025 legislative priorities: Indiana Farm Bureau announces policy focus for next year

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Farm Bureau will focus on issues like property taxes and water rights during the 2025 legislative session.

“Neither of these policy priorities is new to INFB or Hoosier farmers,” said Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy.

“INFB formed tax and water task forces with members and subject matter experts who dug deeper into these specific issues that farmers are dealing with daily. Those discussions helped inform the priorities we will be advocating for at the Indiana Statehouse.”

Property Taxes

INFB members are concerned about increased farmland tax burdens. In 2023, the base rate for farmland property taxes rose 17%, followed by another jump in 2024 of 26.4% and a projected jump of 20% next year, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also predicts net farm income is set to decline nearly 25% in two years, with substantial losses in crop receipts and continued pressure from rising costs, making it difficult for farmers to break even.

The INFB policy team will advocate for a manageable and predictable tax system. This includes a modernization of farmland taxation, realigning tax burdens based on the demand for services and ability to pay and reducing the reliance on property tax with effective controls and income taxes.

Water Rights

INFB will work to ensure the accessibility of water by advocating for expanded groundwater protection rights. This includes adding language that protects agriculture from potential negative impacts from water withdrawals by other industries.

INFB will advocate for the implementation of a statewide, dedicated groundwater well monitoring network to inventory the current groundwater supply in the state.

“We are advocating for an increased protection of agriculture’s right to water resources, not just farmers’ rights, which broadens protection beyond just irrigation to livestock, food processing industries and others,” Tauer said.

“Farmers are more efficient and effective on fewer acres than ever before. Water accessibility is critical to protect investments made by production agriculture and ag and food manufacturing to continue to fuel the future of our state.”