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by Bob Stallman, AFBF President

On the farm, and in Farm Bureau, results are far more important than processes. Saying work "needs to be done" is one thing; doing the work is quite another. Farm Bureau is blessed with farm families who do what they say they will do to achieve the policy goals they have written.

No event better exemplifies the Farm Bureau "can do" spirit than the passage of the new farm program legislation last month. Farm Bureau people have been working for more than two years to attain the necessary reforms and innovations that would provide a stronger, more effective federal farm program. In that period, there was a time when the farm bill was almost shelved to deal with other issues of national security. Farm Bureau leaders convinced those in Congress that ensuring a safe, sound and stable domestic food and fiber industry was just as vital.

Just as crucial, the legislation had to be sound. Members of the U.S. Senate and House blazed diverging paths for federal farm legislation and left it to conference committee leaders to hammer out a final bill. Members maintained continual contact with their members of Congress to assure that Farm Bureau policies were acknowledged and adopted. America now has a farm program that promotes planting flexibility, provides a strong counter-cyclical safety net and recognizes, emphasizes and helps fund even greater conservation efforts on our farms and ranches. And Farm Bureau members' contacts helped thwart various proposals that were detrimental to our rights, our incomes and our management abilities.

State Farm Bureaus offer great assistance as well. So far this year, leaders from 36 state Farm Bureaus have gone to Washington D.C., to visit their members of Congress in person. In total, almost 2,400 Farm Bureau farmers personally presented our policy positions to their members of Congress and heads of various departments. Through the widespread political acceptance of their input, volunteers see that their efforts do make a difference.

There is an old proverb that says: "None of the strategies for success will work unless you do." Farm Bureau's strategies work because members do.