Corn Growers Focus On Tax Fairness

Dec 30, 2015

Directors of the Indiana Corn Growers Assn. have laid out a 2016 state legislative agenda focused on local road funding, property tax reform, and tax fairness for E85 fuel. The ICGA board approved the priorities this week ahead of the January start to the legislative session.

Farmers are calling on the General Assembly to increase funding for local roads and bridges.

"All across our state, local roads and bridges are crumbling," said ICGA president Mike Nichols, a farmer from Spencer County. "The legislature needs to step up and improve the condition of local roads to help us move equipment, crops, livestock, and inputs to and from our farms."

Numerous proposals have been revealed ahead of the spring legislative session. While Corn Growers aren't taking a position on any specific proposals yet, they are clear that local roads and bridges must be a priority.

"The state can't be solely focused on highways, cities, and towns," said Nichols. "Roads benefit our entire economy, and farmers are focused on improving local infrastructure."

Corn farmers have also outlined a reform of the state's farmland property tax formula as a 2016 priority. Rates have been driven up by over 33 percent in the past five years, and farmers are seeing increasing property tax bills while net farm income has fallen precipitously.

"The formula for property taxes on farmland does not take real-world conditions into account," said ICGA vice president Sarah Delbecq, a farmer from DeKalb County. "We need a formula that accurately values farmland while not forcing drastic cuts to struggling local school districts."

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.