| NATIONAL PRIORITY ISSUES
Each year, after the culmination of our organization’s policy development process, the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors adopts priority issues for the year. The list, by policy area, includes:
Environment and Land Use: Climate Change/Cap and Trade, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act
Farm and Food Policy: Ad hoc disaster assistance, Food Safety and Labeling, Dairy Policy – Economic Improvement
International Trade: Enactment of Free Trade Agreements
Tax Policy: Estate Tax Reform, Capital Gains Tax
Labor and Immigration: Immigration Reform
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Environment and Land Use
America’s farmers and ranchers strive to be good stewards of our air, water and land. Increasing regulation from state and federal regulatory agencies, however, threatens the viability of agricultural operations and the ability of farmers to do what they do best—produce food, fiber and fuel.
Climate Change: The U.S. Congress and Environmental Protection Agency are considering proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of addressing climatic changes allegedly caused by humans. Of concern are the impacts of such policies on agriculture and other sectors of the economy through new regulatory requirements and higher prices for energy and energy-related inputs. Farm Bureau opposes mandatory cap and trade legislation (search Bills on Thomas for HR 2454, S1733), as well as the regulation of greenhouse gases.
Clean Water Act: Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to expand jurisdiction of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) (search Bills on Thomas for S 787) to all intrastate waters, which would have far-reaching implications for production agriculture. Farm Bureau supports limiting authority to navigable streams and flowing streams that have continuous flow.
Clean Air Act: After finalizing an endangerment finding in December 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency intends to move forward with the regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Farm Bureau is urging the U.S. Congress to prohibit the EPA from such action.
Farm and Food Policy
From ensuring the 2008 Farm Bill is carried out as the U.S. Congress intended, to seeking improvements in the U.S. food protection system, Farm Bureau is working to make certain U.S. agriculture continues to provide consumers with a safe and affordable supply of food.
Ad Hoc Disaster Aid: Unusually wet weather in many parts of the country during the spring and fall as well as natural disasters in some areas resulted in crop losses. The 2008 Farm Bill included a crop disaster program, but it has not yet been implemented. Farm Bureau supports ad hoc assistance for producers who suffered quality and quantity losses in 2009. Assistance should be available to all segments of agriculture and delivered in a timely manner.
Food Safety and Labeling: Discussions are underway in the U.S. Congress aimed at strengthening our nation’s food protection system due to food recalls in recent years. Farm Bureau believes adequate funding must be available to carry out food and feed inspections and supports additional science-based inspection, targeted according to risk. The farm-level impact of proposed new regulations must be considered as the legislative process continues.
Dairy Policy: In 2009 many dairy farmers experienced the most devastating milk price/input cost squeeze of their careers, prompting discussions on the long-term economic viability of the U.S. dairy industry. Changes in the federal milk marketing system to improve price transparency and market responsiveness will be among the options discussed by Farm Bureau.
International Trade
U.S. agricultural exports are important to the economic success of America’s farmers and ranchers, accounting for about 25 percent of farm income. U.S. agriculture must ensure international trade barriers are reduced and markets opened for our products.
Free Trade Agreements: Pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea are expected to increase U.S. agricultural exports by billions of dollars by eliminating tariffs and other barriers that currently limit the entry of U.S. goods. Farm Bureau urges congressional approval of the agreements.
Tax Policy
Federal tax policies not only influence the financial well-being of farm and ranch families, but also the number and size of operations, their organizational structure, and their use of land, labor and capital.
Estate Tax Reform: Federal estate taxes were repealed January 1, 2010 and replaced with a 15 percent capital gains tax for certain estates. Legislative action is needed to prevent the reinstatement of estate taxes at pre-2001 levels in 2011. Farm Bureau believes estate taxes should be eliminated permanently. Until then, Congress should enact legislation (search Bills on Thomas for HR 3905) to provide significant estate tax relief (with a continuation of stepped-up basis), which does not sunset.
Capital Gains Tax: Legislation enacted in 2003 lowered the top capital gains tax rate, but the lower rate will sunset in 2010. Farm Bureau supports making the top 15 percent capital gains tax rate permanent.