|
|
|
|
|
|
| Iowa Farm Bureau sets biofuel, farm bill policies |
|
|
|
| By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — The state’s largest agricultural group’s voting delegates concluded their year-long policy development process late last month at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) second annual Summer Policy Conference, after debating and adopting policy on such issues as biofuel research, conservation and the 2007 farm bill.
“Farm Bureau members believe the biofuels economy needs to be taken to the next level through much-needed research,” said Craig Lang, IFBF president and keynote speaker at the two-day meeting, which was held Aug. 29-30 in West Des Moines.
“(This) means research for new uses of the co-products as well as improved feeds for the entire livestock and poultry industries,” he said.
“We believe the Iowa legislature should increase funding for research and development, and Iowa citizens support this request.”
Lang said areas where continued research is necessary include maximizing the use of enhanced co-products such as soybean meal and distiller grains (DDGs) for the growing livestock industry.
“They also realize the importance of research to effectively manage soil and water conservation issues related to energy crop production,” he said. “We can do this the right way and the entire state benefits.”
The proposed polices that IFBF delegates voted and later approved included funding for biofuel research, focusing on energy efficiencies and maximizing the use of DDGs in the livestock industry; provisions of the upcoming farm bill; and conservation initiatives.
“Farm Bureau members have worked hard over the past 12 months on their grassroots policy development process,” Lang said. “All 100 county Farm Bureaus asked for the opinion of their members, discussed the issues and established well-thought-out policy statements to provide direction to their voting delegate.”
The policy conference was moved up for the first time last year from the end-of-year IFBF annual meeting schedule to give members an earlier start on grassroots implementation of state and national policy, Lang said.
“(Members) acknowledged the importance of trade programs in the farm bill,” he said. “Expanding access to foreign markets is very important to the entire agriculture industry.”
Among the other farm bill-related issues discussed included conservation funding that was more targeted for watersheds with increased funding support, as well as commodity and energy titles. “The commodity title was debated and then strongly supported because farmers felt this was the only title providing the best access for a safety net,” Lang said.
“The energy title was discussed in detail, and unanimously supported with a request for increased funding to provide more money for research and discovery to help increase renewable energy development and efficiency.”
IFBF voting delegates also voted to reaffirm support for “continuous,” site-specific enrollments in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is set to expire Oct. 1. Lang said the delegates agreed that CRP should be more focused on offering enrollment options that specifically benefit water quality and soil conservation.
“Continuous CRP is the best way to target fragile acres and make the strides of improvement necessary for water and soil retention,” he said.
“Our delegates firmly believe in the concept of maintaining those conservation acres and using other viable acres for economic benefits for farm families and community.
“At the same time, they believe dedicating long-term soil conservation to continuous CRP is the best way to improve water quality.”
In addition, IFBF voting delegates recognized the importance of maintaining and improving Iowa’s aging bridge and road infrastructure.
“Obviously, our leaders recognize the importance of good roads and bridges to help the bio-economy but most importantly, for the overall safety of Iowans,” Lang said. “In order to effectively address these needs, members believe they should be financed through the fuel tax.”
Lang said the policy conference was a step in IFBF’s grassroots policy development process, with the organization’s national policies to be submitted to the American Farm Bureau Federation in January 2008.
This farm news was published in the Sept. 12, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 9/12/2007 |
|
|
