Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Meeting Feb. 22-23 in Cheyenne – Feb. 8, 2010
Appropriations and taxation in Wyoming, climate change, local television channels, grasshopper outlook and legislative reports are a few of the topics that will be presented at the 2010 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Meeting Feb. 22-23. The meeting will be at the Holiday Inn in Cheyenne.
Held annually to coincide with the legislative session, the meeting provides Farm Bureau members the opportunity to meet with their legislators one-on-one and receive updates on current issues.
The meeting begins at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22 with registration. Attendees will hear from House Agriculture Committee Chair Representative Mark Semlek and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Gerry Geis during the noon luncheon.
Following membership awards, Erin Taylor, the executive director of the Wyoming Taxpayer’s Association, will speak about “Appropriations and Taxation Issues in Wyoming.” Now that Wyoming is facing declining revenues, it’s more important than ever to discuss sustainable spending practices by the Wyoming Legislature. Taylor’s discussion will focus on trends with regard to both revenues and expenditures, and the most recent tax issues facing Wyoming Legislators in the 2010 Budget Session.
Monday’s afternoon activities also include legislative briefings from WyFB lobbyists. Monday evening provides the one-on-one visits with the legislators during the “Legislative Reception.”
Activities begin Tuesday at 8 a.m. with policy development meetings for WyFB’s standing committees. Informational speakers will follow the policy development meetings.
Ruth Van Mark, Chief of Staff for the Minority, Environment and Public Works Committee, will speak via a video presentation at 9 a.m. on “Climate Change and other Issues Affecting Agriculture.” Van Mark will speak about climate change, federal highway funding and much more.
Pete Obermueller, with Representative Cynthia Lummis’ office, will discuss “Ag Issues in the U.S. Legislature.” at 10:15 a.m. Obermueller serves as Representative Lummis’ legislative assistant for agriculture, transportation, and telecom issues. Among the topics discussed by Obermueller will be the issue of local channel availability on satellite television. “This is an issue that impacts many of our members and is a concern to them,” Ken Hamilton, WyFB executive vice president, said. “Pete will explain some background on satellite television and local channels as well as the law that regulates this issue.”
“Wyoming Grasshopper Outlook for 2010” will be the topic discussed at 11:15 a.m.
by Hank Uhden, Division Manager, Technical Services Division, Wyoming Department of Agriculture , and Scott Schell with the University of Wyoming. Schell is an Assistant Extension Entomologist for the University of Wyoming. The presentation will include information that is currently known about possible grasshopper infestations based on last year; species to expect in different areas of Wyoming; the crops and forages that will be at risk; and the methods available for control of the insects.
The meeting will adjourn after the noon luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Visit www.wyfb.org for on-line meeting registration and agenda or you may call 307.721.7723 or e-mail [email protected] to pre-register by Feb. 15.
The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agriculture organization. On the web, www.wyfb.org.
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Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation
Tentative Legislative Meeting Agenda
February 22 – 23, 2010
Holiday Inn, Cheyenne, Wyoming
(Please note this agenda is tentative & subject to change)
Monday, February 22
8:00 a.m. WyFB Board of Director’s Meeting
11:00 a.m. Registration
Noon Luncheon
Sponsored by Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance
Speakers Senator Gerry Geis, Senate Ag Committee Chair & Representative Mark
Semlek, House Ag Committee Chair
1:30 p.m. Membership Awards
1:45 p.m. Speaker – Erin Taylor, Executive Director, Wyoming Taxpayers Association,
“Appropriations & Taxation Issues in WY.”
2:25 p.m. President’s Comments; Perry Livingston, WyFB President
2:30 p.m. Legislative Issues; Ken Hamilton & Brett Moline, WyFB Lobbying Team
4:00 p.m. WyFB Sheep Committee – Herman Strand, Chair
6:30 p.m. Legislative Reception
Tuesday, February 23
8:00 a.m. Policy Development Meeting
9:00 a.m. Speaker Forum – Video presentation by Ruth VanMark, Chief of Staff for the Minority, Environment and Public Works Committee, “Climate Change and other Issues Affecting Agriculture.”
9:45 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Speaker Forum – Pete Obermueller, Legislative Assistant for Agriculture, Transportation, Telecommunications, Homeland Security & International Trade to Representative Cynthia Lummis, “Telecommunication, Transportation & Ag Issues in U.S. Legislature.”
11:00 a.m. Speaker Forum – Hank Uhden, Division Manager, Technical Services Division, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and Scott Schell, Assistant Extension Entomologist to University of Wyoming College of Agriculture Entomology Professor, Alex Latchininsky, “Wyoming Grasshopper Outlook for 2010.”
12:00 p.m. Luncheon
*Meeting Adjourned*
CONTACT:
Kerin Clark, WyFB Media Director, 307.532.2002 or [email protected]
Ken Hamilton, WyFB Executive Vice President, 307.721.7712 or [email protected]