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When OFBF’s corn, soybean and wheat commodity advisory committees met in late August, they received information from commodity experts and then made recommendations to Farm Bureau’s state policy development committee for consideration. Information from the commodity experts was presented in the Sept.6 Buckeye Farm News. Following are recommendations the three committees made on policy issues:

Corn
Several issues were identified as areas of concern, including seed patents, anhydrous ammonia theft and availability, World Trade Organization talks, increasing costs for fertilizer and other inputs, drainage, fuel costs, ethanol education and agri-tourism liability.

The committee recommended that efforts to circumvent patent laws on seed technologies should be opposed "given that U.S. agriculture is dependent on new technologies to maintain its competitive edge."

The committee proposed the following statement in relation to global trade: "Comprehensive analysis of the impacts of domestic support restrictions and improved market access should be conducted to accurately assess various potential WTO agreements."

As for energy, the committee proposed: "An enhanced educational effort needs to be directed at the public and elected officials that highlights the need for a comprehensive energy plan that alleviates pressure on natural gas and expands the U.S. renewable fuels program."

Soybeans
Members of the soybean advisory committee had some of the same concerns as the corn committee. These included the state grain indemnity fund, seed patents and technology fees and soybean rust.

The committee proposed the state policy development committee examine the current policy on Ohio’s grain indemnity fund and discuss how it can be strengthened and improved.

The committee proposed an addition to AFBF policy about soybean rust: "We urge AFBF to work together with other agricultural organizations to make soybean research a priority, particularly to achieve greater equality of soybean research spending relative to that spent on corn, wheat and cotton."

The group also encouraged OFBF’s policy committee to analyze "protectionist policies that have been adopted and incorporated into AFBF’s international trade, ag import and trade negotiations policies to determine whether or not OFBF supports or opposes these specific policies."

Wheat
Discussion in the wheat advisory committee meeting wasn’t much different from the corn and soybean meetings with concerns including a state wheat check-off, biotech wheat and free trade.

Committee members discussed the possibility of a state wheat check-off and how it could impact Ohio Wheat Growers Association programs and activities. Participants said that if a state check-off is approved, it should include a refund process for producers who wish to opt out of the program.

Committee members said discussion on the 2007 Farm Bill should begin now. "Producers will need to start taking more responsibility for their own income level," according to meeting minutes.

Policy Development
All recommendations were delivered to OFBF’s state policy development committee that began its work with a two-day information gathering session in Columbus in mid-September, according to David White, OFBF director of commodity relations.