Voting delegates representing Farm Bureau members from Daviess County were among delegates attending Missouri Farm Bureau’s 93rd annual meeting December 2-4 at Osage Beach.
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Almost 1,400 members and guests attended the meeting this year.
The voting delegates debated resolutions and passed official Farm Bureau policy stating the organization’s position on issues affecting agriculture and rural America for 2008. Among the policy positions discussed:
*Adopted policy expressing strong opposition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan for dumping millions of tons of excavated soil into the Missouri River to create potential habitat for pallid sturgeon.
*Advocated fighting increased theft of copper and other scrap metal materials by requiring scrap dealers to log identification information from sellers.
*Reaffirmed support for a voluntary (not a USDA or state mandatory) national animal identification system to provide support for animal disease control and eradication.
*Raised concerns about the increasing cost of agricultural inputs (e.g. fertilizer, seed, etc.)
*Reaffirmed support for removing tariffs on fertilizer imports
*Called for greater investment in the development of new high yield, disease resistant public seed varieties.
*Reaffirmed support for extending concepts of the 2002 farm bill into the new farm bill and opposition to shifting funds from the farm program safety net to other programs.
*Renewed the call for a comprehensive national energy policy for the production of traditional and renewable/alternative energy.
*Adopted new language in support of a 15 billion gallon corn-based renewable fuel standard by 2015.
*Renewed the call for incentives to spur the use of E-85 fuel and biodiesel.
*Expressed concern about regulatory requirements imposed on farmers hauling their own commodities.
*Defeated a proposal to change FB policy supporting limiting regulation of agriculture to state and federal government.
*Opposed expanding the scope of odor regulations to affect livestock operations smaller than those that are already subject to odor regulations.
*Supported creation of a Conservation Commission Advisory Board.
Selected delegates from Missouri will present Missouri policy during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s meeting in New Orleans, La., Jan. 13-16.