WASHINGTON Update Robert A . Smith Executive Vice President
LOOKING BACK AND FORGING AHEAD 40 YEARS IN PUBLIC POLICY For 20 years, I had the pleasure of writing this column for Financial Partner. As my Farm Credit East responsibilities shifted, my colleague Tom Cosgrove took over the column three years ago. Tom has done a great job, but as I close out my Farm Credit career, I have the honor of writing one last Washington Update. Throughout my 40 plus year career,
commercial fishing and forest
working for the New York Farm
products, someone else with
require a better understanding of
Bureau, the New York Department
different motives and beliefs will.
modern-day agriculture among
of Agriculture and Markets, CoBank and Farm Credit East, I have had the opportunity to advocate for farmers and rural businesses. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime! In 2005, I wrote a column titled, Farmers Beware: Congress comes back in Session. While it may (or may not) have been written in jest, the reality is that telling agriculture’s story in the halls of Congress or to state governments is a constant challenge. But, if producers and their organizations don’t tell the great (and very real) story of American agriculture,
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FINANCIAL PARTNER
As I think about success or failure with legislative efforts, a number of things come to mind:
“
• Sound agricultural policies
public policy makers. Participation in the public policy process and engagement with the media by those directly involved is the best way
… if producers and their organizations don’t tell the great (and very real) story of American agriculture, commercial fishing & forest products, someone else with different motives and beliefs will.