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by Lynn Snyder

County presidents faced double trouble during their annual lobbying trip to Washington, D.C.—it’s an election year, and Senate votes are tough to get.

According to Mark Maslyn, deputy executive director, public policy, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the energy bill as a prime example: The bill made it through the House but came up just two votes short in the Senate. With this year’s election, any new legislation will have an uphill battle.

Still, Farm Bureau is hopeful Sen. Pete Domenici’s, R-NM, new version of the energy bill, S 2095, will pass. Nicknamed "Energy Lite," the bill has similar language to the bill that failed earlier, but is less than half the cost.

Farm Bureau favors energy policy that supports the production and use of agricultural-based energy products along with a state and national policy that promotes the sale of ethanol-blended gasoline and biodiesel and a federal ban on MTBE as a fuel additive.

During the three-day lobbying trip for presidents, Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, hosted a forum with members of the House Agriculture Committee. Cal Dooley, D-Calif., pulled no punches with the presidents: He is concerned about sugar and to a lesser extent dairy protection policies that have creeped into American Farm Bureau trade policy and ultimately into trade agreements. Dooley said when we exempt commodities we "mock free trade" and empower countries like Japan, the European Union and Brazil. He said a few commodities are unwilling to compete in a free market and hold us back in our ability to trade.

Ohio Farm Bureau President Bob Peterson told the presidents Ohio delegates to the American Farm Bureau annual meeting were opposed to the protectionist policy put in by sugar producers. He said it isn’t wise to pull out small segments that might make trade agreements hard to pass.

Armed with their knowledge of the issues, presidents took their support of the energy bill and trade to their elected representatives while in the nation’s capital, and made their voices heard on another issue as they signed petitions that were sent to the Assistant Director for Endangered Species. Farm Bureau supports the recently released proposed regulations clarifying that federal review and licensing of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act properly considers effects on "listed" species and critical habitats under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed joint regulation will minimize the potential restriction of pesticides by streamlining and clarifying the review process. The signed petitions communicated the presidents’ support for the proposed regulations.

Another issue brought to the presidents’ attention was the national animal identification system. Kelly Who?, AFBF TITLE, said animal identification is not a new idea but there are several issues to be resolved: Will the program be voluntary or mandatory? How much will it cost and who will pay? How will records be kept confidential? What is the producers’ liability? LAST NAME said USDA has come out in favor of a voluntary program.

USDA Chief Information Officer Scott Charbo said USDA’s goal is to establish a rapid, reliable and verifiable system. He said the program will be technology neutral, meaning USDA isn’t going to designate a single type of technology that must be used to identify animals. All livestock groups, including poultry, will be included in the national program.

Other events included a breakfast with Sen. Mike DeWine, a visit to USDA and the Austrailian Embassy. For an in-depth look at trade, see articles on pages 2 and 4.