Plan to Attend Farm Bill Informational Meetings
by Lynn Snyder The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 provides the agricultural community $190 billion over 10 years, including an additional $73.5 billion for commodity support, conservation and nutrition programs. Now that the Farm Bill has passed, it's time to figure out how it will impact your operation. Farm Bureau has teamed up with Ohio Corn Growers Association, Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Wheat Growers Association and Ohio Vegetable and Potato Growers to sponsor informational meetings across the state. "This is the shortest implementation for a new Farm Bill we've ever had," said OFBF Vice President for Agricultural Ecology Constance Cullman Jackson. "There is a short timeline to develop the rules, and farmers have a short timeline to make decisions on their operations," she said. "We want this information to go out as soon as possible so farmers can do analysis on their own operations and make decisions on how they will react." On Aug. 13 and 14, members are invited to meetings that will discuss the rules and regulations of the bill. Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service personnel will be on hand to answer your questions about the Farm Bill. Members will hear economists from Ohio State University and attorneys from Wright Law Company who are knowledgeable in farm programs at meetings on Sept. 11 and 12. "The first round of meetings is more black and white – what is in the Farm Bill and how is it different from 1996," said Keith Stimpert, OFBF vice president for government affairs. "The second round of meetings will show the implications of the Farm Bill on individual farmer's operations. We're hoping to give information that will help with decision making on the farm," he said. Here are the nuts and bolts of the meetings:
Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. No pre-registration is required. | |