PA Farm News - PA Farm Bureau Resolutions Adopted at National Convention

PA Farm Bureau Resolutions Adopted at National Convention
CAMP HILL -- Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) had a productive trip to New Orleans, as 12 national policy resolutions recommended by PFB’s voting delegates were adopted during the recent American Farm Bureau Federation 89th National Convention.

“With the number of Pennsylvania resolutions passed at the national level, it’s obvious that farmers in Pennsylvania have their finger on the pulse of many issues that concern farmers across the entire country,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer.

Delegates at Farm Bureau’s national convention also unanimously approved a resolution to support swift enactment of a new farm bill that maintains an adequate safety net for farmers and a resolution that reaffirms support for a comprehensive immigration reform plan to improve agriculture’s timely access to legal farm workers.

“The Farm Bill and Immigration Reform remain at the top of the list of Farm Bureau priorities. The resolution of both issues is critical to the future success of U.S. farmers, who provide Americans with the safest and most affordable food supply in the world,” added Shaffer.

The following Pennsylvania Farm Bureau recommended policies were adopted during AFBF’s Annual Meeting:

National Security: We support measures whereby farmers who are required to register with the Department of Homeland Security for propane or fertilizer storage, are not assessed registration fees.

National Dairy Program: We urge U.S. Department of Health inspectors to leave a full report upon completion of a dairy inspection which includes: deficiencies, items inspected, equipment disassembled for inspection and overall score.

Marketing Philosophy: We support legislation to require payment in full within 30 days of sale for all agricultural commodities, unless otherwise agreed to by the seller, at all levels of the agricultural marketing chain.

Labeling: AFBF Policy now supports mandatory implementation of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Program.

Labeling: We oppose false, misleading, or deceptive marketing and promotion and/or label claims.

Labeling: We encourage all levels of government to vigorously enforce laws regarding the fraudulent and misleading labeling of dairy products.

Agricultural Education: We support incentives for school districts who maintain agricultural education programs and “10x15: The Long Range Goal for Agricultural Education” initiative on the local, state and national levels.

Honey and Apiculture: We support research efforts to control or reduce Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

Fruit and Vegetable Grades and Standards: We support legislation requiring that Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) standards be crop specific.

Biofuels and Ethanol: We support harvesting of lowland and riparian areas for biomass use except land enrolled in retirement programs.

Wetlands: We support keeping private farm ponds from coming under federal regulation under the Clean Water Act.

Railroads: We support legislation to exempt private, farm railroad crossings, used for the purposes of agricultural production, from user fees, maintenance charges and liability insurance requirements.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a volunteer membership of more than 42,500 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.

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