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Space farm tour nets good communication

By Joe Cornely

Prior to Ohio farmers visiting Congress (see story above), a congressman came to them. Freshman Ohio Democrat Rep. Zack Space of Dover traveled throughout his 18^th district to hear from farmers and learn more about agriculture. It’s knowledge he’ll put to good use as a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Space said he’s been doing a lot of reading, trying to gain a better grasp of the complexities of farm policy.

"But for me, to actually sit down with a bunch of farmers, to look them in the eye and talk about the issues that are important to them, that is so much more meaningful for me and so much more helpful for me."

Ohio Farm Bureau worked closely with the congressman’s office to make Space’s week-long tour productive. OFBF helped organize five of Space’s eight public listening sessions and put together an additional eight farm tours. The congressman talked with more than 350 farmers, according to Adam Sharp, OFBF’s senior director of national and regulatory affairs.

"We wanted our Farm Bureau members to be able to sit down with their congressman," Sharp said. And the trip allowed Space to learn that agriculture is "a detailed business, sophisticated and technically advanced."

Much of the dialog between Space and his constituents focused on the writing of the 2007 Farm Bill.

Space told Buckeye Farm News that in Congress, "There’s a general feeling that the 2002 Farm Bill was a pretty good bill. But there’s also a feeling that more can be done to help farmers."

He said energy issues and pressures associated with WTO compliance will impact the 2007 bill.

Space said he’s enjoyed his work thus far on the Ag Committee when compared to some of his other early experiences with Washington politics.

"My involvement in the agriculture committee has really been refreshing in the sense that there doesn't seem to be any partisan agenda whatsoever. Members on both sides of the isle, Democrats and Republicans, clearly have exhibited the intention and the means of getting along."

As for the committee’s farm bill goals, Space added, "We have a strong interest on both sides of the aisle of maintaining an affordable food supply for the American public, of providing an equitable distribution of subsidies, of providing for a degree of predictability and certainly for sustainability in the event of a challenge through the WTO."

Sharp encouraged farmers who met with Space to communicate with their representative regularly so he remains well informed of their views.

Caption: Congressman Zack Space speaks during the Southeast Regional Cabinet meeting near Zanesville as Farm Bureau's Executive Vice President Jack Fisher and Southeast Regional Supervisor Tiffany Pattison listen in.