In a room full of Wyoming farmers and ranchers, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed his first proclamation as Governor designating the week of March 4th as “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week.”
“I can’t be more proud than to have Farm Bureau here,” Governor Gordon stated as he took pen to paper declaring the importance of agriculture literacy and Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation’s “Ag Books for Kids” program.
“Ag is important to Wyoming,” Governor Gordon stated. “There is a work ethic on the farm and ranch that is second to none.”
(more…)
The American Farm Bureau Federation today released its top public policy goals for the year. The AFBF board approved its 2019 Strategic Action Plan following delegate action during the organization’s 100th annual convention in New Orleans.
AFBF will use the goals as a guide for strategic planning and grassroots activity throughout 2019. The five top issues are:
- 116th Congress: Build relationships to educate and work with members of Congress, with support from Farm Bureau’s grassroots leaders and lobbying programs, to promote policies that benefit farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
- Agricultural Labor: Enact legislation that helps farmers and ranchers meet their labor needs.
- Infrastructure: Work for greater investment in rural and agricultural infrastructure, including broadband internet access; rural roads and bridges; inland waterway locks and dams; sea ports; and agricultural research.
- Regulatory Reform: Work for reform of the rulemaking process to ensure that federal rules are supported by science and created in a transparent manner, while identifying specific regulations and regulatory opportunities that improve the ability of farmers and ranchers to remain productive and competitive.
- Trade: Defend and expand trade opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
The AFBF board also approved a set of “watch-list” issues at the New Orleans meeting. AFBF will monitor these issues as part of its ongoing strategic planning process. These include:
- Animal Agriculture: Increase efforts to defend animal agriculture production and promote meat consumption, as well as work for policies to enhance animal ag producers’ productivity and profitability, such as transportation issues unique to livestock and poultry production, aquaculture and apiculture.
- Energy: Ensure policy that enhances the availability and affordability of energy for farmers and ranchers and encourages the growth of renewable energy production. Monitor climate legislation to ensure it does not unduly burden or restrict agriculture.
- Farm Policy: Monitor implementation of the 2018 farm bill to ensure farmers’ and ranchers’ needs are met.
- Labeling: Monitor rules and practices dealing with labeling of food and agricultural products, including milk and milk substitutes, cell-based food and food containing ingredients that are products of biotechnology.
- Mental Health: Promote resources for farmers and their families who are struggling with substance addiction, depression and other mental health challenges.
- Taxes: Continue working to eliminate the estate tax, promote other tax policies that benefit farmers and ranchers, and preserve the Unrelated Business Income Tax exemption that allows Farm Bureau to be a voice for farmers and ranchers.
The priorities and watch-list issues are only some of the topics the organization will address in 2019. AFBF continues to identify opportunities to take action consistent with the policies set forth by the organization’s farmer and rancher delegates from across the country.
(Washington, D.C., January 16, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, in addition to Tuesday, January 22, during normal business hours. The offices will be closed for the federal Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 21. (more…)
In front of a celebratory gathering of approximately 7,000 farmers and ranchers from across the nation, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall opened AFBF’s 100th Annual Convention by outlining a few of the organization’s many historic accomplishments – from leading the way on the nation’s first farm bill in the 1930s to helping develop the Food for Peace Program in the 1950s. As AFBF heads toward a new century of service to America’s farm and ranch families, Duvall said the organization will continue to be guided by the honorable principle that “farmers want to feed people.” (more…)
Legislative and agriculture issues will be presented at the 2019 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Meeting. The meeting will be Jan. 30-31 at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne. (more…)
Denver, CO. – December 21, 2018 – Mountain States Legal Foundation filed an appeal Thursday, urging the Ninth Circuit to overrule the District Court in Montana and to return management of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear to state and local wildlife management authorities. (more…)
By Robert Giblin
Christmas and other December holidays have changed a lot over the years, but even amidst wide-scale, rapid transformation, many holiday season traditions and ideals that have been influenced by farm communities and rural America still endure. Rural America continues to symbolize the American ideal of what the Christmas and holiday seasons are all about, as it has since the early days of our country. (more…)
“Classic Traditions, New Solutions” is the theme of the Jan. 18-20, 2019 Wyoming Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Conference in Sheridan, Wyo. The conference is geared towards young farmers and ranchers over the age of 18 (no membership necessary). Children are welcome.
(more…)
Laramie, Dec. 11, 2018—The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) supports clean water and clear rules. WyFB is pleased with today’s new water rule proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corp of Engineers. “Farmers and ranchers need a common-sense water rule that protects water quality and gives them clear rules they can follow,” said Ken Hamilton, WyFB Executive Vice President. “The 2015 WOTUS rule was a land grab that put property rights of Wyomingites at risk and would have done nothing to benefit water.” (more…)
Lakewood, CO. – November 21, 2018 – Eight agricultural associations joined forces yesterday to file an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court. The eight associations, represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation, seek to protect land usage rights from American Indian tribes that wish to hunt, out-of-season and without a license, on nearly all federal lands, including those leased and permitted to farmers and ranchers in the State of Wyoming. (more…)
