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By Joe Cornely

Helping the public better understand the Farm Bill was the goal of a brief public relations campaign carried out recently by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). Upon the bill’s signing by President Bush, newspapers and radio talk shows were quick to criticize the legislation. OFBF was equally quick to respond.

Farm Bureau’s message was not defensive. Rather, the organization explained the new law contained many positive components that simply were not getting attention in the general media.

To get the message out, news releases were sent to 319 newspapers, wire services and radio stations throughout Ohio. Staff worked directly with various reporters to share Farm Bureau’s views. A radio advertising campaign ran in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton, Lima and several other cities. Radio news reports were produced and distributed. An editorial column was delivered to select newspapers.

Following is the text of the news release. You also will find an editorial regarding the farm bill on page four of this issue.

Farm Bureau Backs New Farm Bill
The recently enacted Farm Bill is sound public policy that provides economic and social benefits for all Ohioans, according to the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). The state’s largest farm organization said the Farm Security and Rural Development Act of 2002 will boost the state’s economy, offer assurances about food quality and quantity, expand environmental protection measures and maintain the family-based structure of farming in Ohio.

"There’s not a person in Ohio who won’t be positively impacted by this bill," said John C. (Jack) Fisher, OFBF executive vice president.

The new farm bill provides a stimulus for the economies of rural and urban Ohio by encouraging investment by small business and industry. "More than 15 percent of the jobs in Ohio are tied in some way to agriculture. A strong agriculture means a strong economy," said Fisher.

Food safety and nutrition is another important component of the new bill. Programs to prevent food borne illness, protect against bioterrorism, and help consumers identify American grown foods are all part of the farm bill. Aid and assistance for the underprivileged, children, seniors and immigrants is increased. And the Farmer’s Market Nutrition program receives increased funding.

Efforts to protect Ohio’s air, soil, water and wildlife are also enhanced by this legislation. "This bill puts the tools in place for farmers and the public to work together to preserve our resources," said Fisher. Especially attractive are programs that encourage conservation on active farmland as opposed to programs designed to take land out of production.

The commodity programs in the bill have undergone some Farm Bureau supported changes compared to past farm bills. There are new crops and livestock covered, and payments will be counter-cyclical (paid only when market conditions require them).

The commodity provisions of the bill have undergone the greatest amount of scrutiny, according to Fisher. "That wasn’t unexpected," he said. "Both farmers and the public have legitimate questions about the role government should play in agriculture. I don’t think there’s a single farmer who’s completely satisfied with the way Congress answered that question in this bill." Still, Farm Bureau actively supported the bill in Congress and with the Administration. "Given current conditions in the farm economy, this bill commits an appropriate amount of public resources to the job," said Fisher.

Responding to concerns over the cost of the bill, Fisher points out that the farm bill authorization amounts to approximately 1 percent of the total national budget over the next 10 years. Fisher said, "That’s a pretty reasonable investment to feed us, protect our environment and keep families on their farms."