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Committee votes on grain bill

State Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) (left) explains to State Rep. Timothy Wesco (R-Osceola) (right) how legislation he co-authored would help Hoosier grain farmers recoup losses when facing grain mill failures Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Indiana Government Center South House Chamber in Indianapolis.
State Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) (left) explains to State Rep. Timothy Wesco (R-Osceola) (right) how legislation he co-authored would help Hoosier grain farmers recoup losses when facing grain mill failures Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Indiana Government Center South House Chamber in Indianapolis. Photo provided.

The House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee voted on Wednesday, Feb. 3, to advance legislation authored by State Rep. Craig Snow (R-Warsaw) and co-authored by Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) helping Hoosier grain farmers recoup losses when facing grain mill failures.

The Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund protects Hoosier grain farmers from financial losses in the event a state licensed grain buyer, grain bank or warehouse fails. The fund is supported by a 0.2 percent premium on the gross value of all grain marketed to licensed grain buyers. In the event of a licensed grain buyer failure, 100 percent of stored grain and 80 percent of other grain transactions are covered, up to 15 months before the date of failure.

Snow’s proposal would establish stronger standards for deferred pricing agreements, also known as delayed payment agreements, which farmers and grain buyers enter into so farmers can move their grain and set a selling price at a later date. Under Snow’s legislation, grain buyers could only enter into an agreement that extends one year from the date of grain delivery, following the market standard. Snow said this would help better determine who qualifies for compensation from the Grain Indemnity Fund when a grain buyer cannot fulfill its deferred pricing agreements.

“Between following market rates and counting on the weather each growing season, farming can be risky,” Snow said. “The Indiana Grain Indemnity Fund provides some layer of protection for grain farmers but we want to make sure it will continue to be useful for all parties involved in these massive transactions. This legislation will provide grain buyers and farmers tools to address potential problems before they result in catastrophic losses.”

Leonard said the legislation is the result of grain elevators Salamonie Mills and Agland Grain in Huntington and Wells counties failing and closing, leaving some farmers without payment.

“These local cases were unfortunate for all involved, but sometimes instances like these provide an opportunity to improve laws to help others in the future,” said Leonard. “After applying what we’ve learned, it’s my belief the bill offers better protections for our Hoosier farmers.”