Ag groups have wishlists for Obama

By Ag Weekly
Friday, November 7, 2008 3:26 PM CST

WENDY SWEETER/Lee Agri-Media Barack Obama spoke on many issues, including agriculture, energy and rural America during a campaign stop in Sioux Falls, S.D., last spring.

TWIN FALLS, Idaho - Following the historic election of Barack Obama as the 44th U.S. president, agriculture groups across the country are hoping the new president will work with them toward meeting the needs and challenges of the food and fiber industry and rural America.

“Farmers and ranchers, like all Americans, have a list of issues that they expect the administration and Congress will address. The issues include the economy, energy, immigration, trade, implementation of the farm bill, and many others,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

“We look forward to working with the new administration and Congress to create those opportunities that will improve agriculture and rural America,” he said.

In August, the American Corn Growers Association announced its endorsement of U.S. Senator Obama, D-Ill., for president citing his support of corn and cellulosic ethanol and the 2008 Farm Bill.

“Following a meeting with the Obama campaign at our board conference in Omaha last week (mid-August), the decision was clear to us. ACGA endorses and supports the election of Senator Obama for president of the United States,” said Keith Bolin, ACGA president and a corn and hog farmer in Obama’s home state of Illinois.

This is a “time of great opportunity to rebuild not only rural America, but all America through an aggressive national commitment to renewable energy of all kinds,” he said.

Unlike his opponent Senator John McCain, Obama supports the expansion of renewable energy such as advanced ethanol, biodiesel and wind-generated electricity, he added.

“Senator Obama also supported the recently passed Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 -or as it is commonly called, the farm bill,” Bolin said, adding that McCain called for a veto of the legislation. “Farmers and rural voters understand the importance of farm bills. These packages not only address agriculture and farms, but cover the full dynamic scope of issues vital to rural America: conservation, trade, rural development, research, nutrition, rural credit, and more.”

The National Corn Growers Association praised Obama and his campaign staff and advisors on its positive working relationship with NCGA, saying they reached out to the agricultural community and developed a variety of policy positions that would impact the industry.

“We have appreciated Sen. Obama’s leadership on issues ranging from strong safety-net programs within the farm bill to the promotion of corn-based ethanol as an important source of domestic energy,” said NCGA President Bob Dickey.

He said NCGA recognizes the major challenges facing the new president, including a number of priorities in the agricultural sector such as renewable fuels, trade and farm bill implementation.

“On behalf of all the members of NCGA, I extend congratulations to President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden,” Dickey said. “We look forward to working with them during the next four years to bring a prosperous future to American agriculture.”

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association echoed that sentiment

“As one of America’s largest agricultural organizations, we look forward to working with the Obama transition team and providing information, advice and counsel as needed on the many challenges the next administration will face in regards to food and fuel policies,” said NCBA President Andy Groseta, a rancher from Cottonwood, Ariz.

“In the coming years, ranchers, farmers and rural Americans will be significantly impacted by tax policies, environmental regulations, international trade, renewable fuel subsidies, and food safety and nutrition. NCBA worked closely with the Obama campaign on each of these concerns, and we have been assured a seat at the table when decisions are made regarding these and other issues of importance to America’s cattlemen and women,” he said.

“We appreciate Senator Obama’s commitment to basing decisions on sound economic and scientific evidence,” he added. “NCBA is eager to share the stories of our cattle producers and discuss the challenges they face today, from estate taxes that cause families to lose century-old ranches, to the high corn prices resulting from ethanol subsidies that create unfair competition in the marketplace.”

R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America is also concerned with unfair competition, which it hopes the new administration will address.

“The changes we seek are straightforward,” said R-CALF President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, DVM, MBA, in a press release. “We seek to: restore the competition lost to our industry caused by years of neglect of our antitrust laws and laws to prevent anti-competitive practices; reverse the failure to update laws to reflect the changed structure of our industry; reverse the failure to incorporate the unique sensitivities of our industry in trade negotiations; halt the failure to differentiate domestic products from imported products; stop the failure to adequately protect our industry from the introduction of foreign animal diseases; and reverse the general failure of the government to protect the rights and property of independent U.S. cattle producers.

“R-CALF USA members look forward to working with the new administration and Congress to swiftly implement the reforms needed to restore competition and opportunities for U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers in the United States, knowing that this will help to generate renewed economic activity on main streets all across America,” he said.

For more information on Obama’s positions on ag and rural issues, visit his Web site at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/ruralplan/

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