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Farm Bureau’s national legislative victories in 2002 have been mighty, and they mean much to members of the organization throughout the state and nation.

In his November column, The Ag Agenda, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman wrote: "It is difficult to choose our most important achievement in 2002."

In addition to passage of the Farm Bill and approval of Trade Promotion Authority, Stallman cited President Bush’s signing of legislation that will phase out the "death tax" by 2010 as just a few of the victories. "Through Farm Bureau, farm and ranch families brought this issue (the death tax) to national attention, and we will do it again with the 108th Congress to eliminate the tax permanently," Stallman said.

He credited grassroots involvement as being "instrumental in obtaining a new farm program that addressed many issues critical to our roles of improving the environment, providing national food security, contributing to economic productivity and feeding and clothing people."

He continued: "One of our top priorities in the farm bill, aside from adequate economic support for farm and ranch families, was expanding conservation opportunities and incentives. Proudly, we point to a record amount of funds devoted to assisting farm and ranch families implement conservation practices and wildlife habitat improvement."

About Trade Promotion Authority, Stallman wrote: "Producing our commodities efficiently and abundantly is one goal. Selling our goods at a profit is another, and more markets mean more opportunity. Our efforts to support foreign trade expansion met a great deal of success this past year."

Farm Bureau has long been a vocal supporter of giving the administration the authority to negotiate binding trade agreements that can later be ratified or rejected by Congress. "We wanted this power for the past president, we want it for this president, and we want it for every future president," Stallman wrote. Trade Promotion Authority was granted to President Bush this year, in time for the U.S. to play a significant leadership role in international trade discussions among members of the World Trade Organization. "Our country's goals mirror Farm Bureau policy to eliminate export subsidies, improve market access and reduce trade-distorting domestic subsidies," he said.

Fair implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act required a bit of effort by Farm Bureaus throughout the country. Ohioans did their part by testifying at a sub-committee hearing in Findlay about the impact how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was interpreting FQPA rules. OFBF President Terry McClure and State Trustee Jeff Zellers testified.

About FQPA, Stallman wrote: "Farm Bureau was able to influence changes that were more beneficial to agricultural producers. The EPA will now use more realistic risk/benefit assumptions in their determinations and pay greater attention to science-based criteria. This awareness will protect our ability to use organophosphate chemicals. In addition, water quality standards will more realistically address farmland run-off."

There are still some loose ends, however.

Congress was expected to address disaster aid legislation and final passage of an energy bill when it returns to session after November elections.

Just before leaving Washington D.C., for their home states and districts, members of Congress passed a fourth continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through Nov. 22. Despite vows by some members not to support the CR unless weather disaster aid for agriculture was attached, the House voted 228-172 in favor of the CR, which the Senate had already approved by unanimous consent.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) had reportedly promised to bring up disaster aid legislation when the House returned after Election Day.

"Farmers are still going to be in great need," said Richard Newpher, executive director of the American Farm Bureau Federation's Washington D.C., office. "In fact, the need for assistance is only going to worsen with time. We hope Congress will respond quickly when it returns."

The energy bill also was on Congress' post-election agenda. As of press time, energy conferees still had not reached agreements on electricity, a renewable fuels standard and phase-out of the groundwater-polluting gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether, or oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.