Bob Stallman
SAN DIEGO — American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said here Sunday that he fears some members of Congress will soon be focused on the presidential election and that Farm Bureau members will have to work hard to convince them to act on important legislation.

“We’ve had a long winter of division and inaction in Congress, but we will never stop working for the solutions that farmers and ranchers need,” Stallman said in his speech to the Farm Bureau annual convention.

But he added, “By this fall, the focus will be squarely on the 2016 elections, and unfortunately, not on passing legislation. All of this means that Farm Bureau members will need to be aggressive, and we will need to begin our advocacy efforts as soon as possible.”

“We cannot ignore the extremes of the left and right,” he continued. “But we must speak to the center: the legislators in both parties who go to Washington because they want to make policy and get things done. “

Stallman said Farm Bureau’s priorities for 2015 would be:

• Opposition to the Waters of the United States rule because “under their Waters of the U.S. proposed rule, agencies want to sweep into federal jurisdiction … vast numbers of small, isolated wetlands, ponds and, yes, ditches … features that are not “waters” under any common understanding of that word. What they really want to do is take away your control over how you use your land.”
• “A real solution on immigration reform — one that provides a reliable and legal workforce for America’s farms and ranches.”
• “Maintain the farm safety net of the farm bill that we worked so hard to put in place.”
• Change endangered species protection rules to “common sense rules that balance species’ needs with human needs.”
• “Tax policies that encourage economic growth and multi-generational farming.”
• “Solutions to congestion on our railways and at the ports so the animals, crops, timber and other goods you produce can get to market.”
• “Continue growing our nation’s energy independence through the production of all forms of energy, including those that come from America’s farms and ranches.”
• “Open more markets around the world by breaking down barriers standing in the way of America’s agricultural exports.”
• “Maintain farmers’ access to better seeds and technology, whether it’s through today’s biotechnology or innovations yet to come.”
• “A national, fact-based approach to food labeling, not patchwork regulation that will do nothing for food safety but will raise the cost of food.”
• Funding for waterways, ports and other infrastructure projects.

▪ American Farm Bureau Federation — President Bob Stallman Annual Address to Members