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OFBF emphasizes importance of passing CAFTA-DR through lawmaker, media contacts/P>

by Amy Beth Graves

An informational blitz is how Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) has been getting the word out that passage of the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is vital for the agricultural industry.

With a vote looming in Congress on the trade agreement, OFBF has been sending letters to Ohio congressmen and the media and setting up meetings with lawmakers, emphasizing the benefits of CAFTA-DR for Ohio and the United States. If passed, CAFTA-DR would eliminate most tariffs between the United States and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. In Ohio, that would mean a gain of at least $17 million per year for the state’s major commodities.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to complete its final version of the CAFTA-DR bill June 14. The House Ways and Means Committee will then work on the bill with a goal of having the full House and Senate vote on it before the Independence Day recess.

Jack Fisher, OFBF’s executive vice president, said passage of CAFTA-DR would set the tone for other trade negotiations and even the 2007 Farm Bill.

"CAFTA-DR is the driver of several things to happen that will impact farmers and agribusiness for years to come," he said.

On May 27, OFBF, in coordination with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and other state Farm Bureaus, launched a major grassroots initiative for members to contact their congressmen in support of CAFTA-DR. The lead organization directors in U.S. congressional districts were asked to coordinate the scheduling of meetings between key Farm Bureau members and their congressmen.

Farm Bureau members also were asked to contact their congressmen via e-mail or letter by June 24. The goal was to generate 25 contacts per county. A sample letter and talking points about CAFTA-DR have been posted on OFBF’s Web site. To access that, go to www.ofbf.org and click on "legislative action center," followed by "contact officials, view action alerts, track legislation" and then "support passage of CAFTA-DR."

OFBF also may send some of its board members to Washington, D.C. to meet with House and Senate members, said Adam Sharp, OFBF’s director of national affairs.

"CAFTA-DR is a clear win for Ohio agriculture and American agriculture," Sharp said. "The number of activities undertaken shows the level of support for passing this trade agreement."

Another letter-writing campaign involved OFBF teaming up with seven agricultural groups: Ohio Pork Producers Council, Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Dairy Producers, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Corn Growers Association and Ohio Wheat Growers Association.

"We believe passage of CAFTA-DR is imperative to our future as individual producers, and, ultimately, as a state," said the letter, which detailed how CAFTA-DR would benefit Ohio.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s County Information Coordinators got into the act by sending letters to their local newspapers about CAFTA-DR.

Also as part of OFBF’s media campaign, the organization sent out a news release and worked on getting radio interviews, newspaper editorial visits and opinion pieces printed.

"CAFTA-DR needs to be passed; it need to be dealt with as quick as possible," Fisher said. "It sends a signal to the international business world that the United States wants to be a free trader and intends to back that up."