For The Record
Editor’s note: As our page one story points out, Ohio farmers can take pride in their important influence over Ohio’s election results. Two American Farm Bureau leaders share their comments from a national perspective. by Bob Stallman The 2004 election was an example of American democracy at its best, as voters turned out in record numbers to elect candidates and play their part in the political process. Rural Americans, in particular, took the time to make their votes count. The election results provide continuity and an opportunity for progress on key agricultural issues, such as energy policy, death tax repeal, common sense regulations and environmental policy – all matters that are near the top of Farm Bureau’s priority list. We look forward to continuing our cooperative work with the Bush administration on a national agricultural agenda that supports farm and ranch families. We will continue to support the president in his pursuit of policies that lessen the tax load on farmers, create new opportunities to sell our products abroad and recognize the positive roles of farmers and ranchers in conserving our natural resources. Also notable is the fact that farmers and ranchers in three California counties – Butte, Humboldt and San Luis Obispo – succeeded in defeating anti-biotechnology referenda. Because of their work, agricultural biotechnology continues to have a bright future as a tool to help farmers grow better, safer products for consumers. All farmers and ranchers owe the farmers in those three California counties a debt of gratitude for protecting biotechnology as a valuable agricultural tool.
Mark Maslyn Regarding the election defeat of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-SD, and Ranking House Ag Committee member Charlie Stenholm, D-TX,: Farm Bureau continues to be a nonpartisan organization. We work with both sides of the aisle. I think anytime that you have a member of the leadership from a farm state, it's a good thing. You get additional attention and exposure. Sen. Daschle has been a good friend of agriculture for the time that he's been in the House and later in the Senate and agriculture owes a lot. Congressman Stenholm has been a terrific friend of agriculture and Farm Bureau for many, many years and has done great service for this industry and he will be missed. Regarding the 109th Congress: One of the issues that Farm Bureau and agriculture will have to deal with is the growing deficit and the likelihood that Congress will try to engage in some sort of budget reconciliation to reduce overall federal spending and to reduce the deficit. If that's the case, then the farm bill and other programs could be subject to revision. That's a concern of ours. We don't know if it's going to happen, but it's something that Farm Bureau members need to be thinking about and be prepared to act on. | |