August 10, 2016
www.gfb.org
Vol. 34 No. 28
GFB COMMITTEES BEGIN PD PROCESS AT COMMODITY CONFERENCE Georgia Farm Bureau’s 20 commodity committees began their work on the organization’s policy book and heard updates on national issues and other topics during the 2016 GFB Commodity Conference, held Aug. 4 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. GFB presented retired state senator Ross Tolleson with the GFB Commodity Award, given to recognize individuals who have supported Georgia agriculture, and conference attendees had a chance to view presentations on a dozen ag research projects being conducted by UGA. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Executive Director of Public Policy Dale Moore reviewed AFBF’s work on key national issues, including agricultural labor, GMO labeling, trade, Dale Moore regulatory reform and the next farm bill. “We brought a number of congressional staffers down to Georgia and Look for the showed them what the impact is when folks don’t get the workers they need to next issue of harvest crops,” Moore said. “Fruits and vegetables don’t like to wait too much. GFB News When they’re ready to be picked they’ve got to be picked. We had a number of Alert on Georgia farmers that have shared what is happening to them when they don’t August 24. get enough workers.” Moore pointed out the recent GMO labeling bill signed into law by President Obama on July 29 made labeling of GMO products mandatory and pre-empted state labeling laws. He also emphasized the importance of ratifying the Trans Pacific Partnership. “Trade is one of the critical factors that adds to the farm economy,” said Moore. “Where we have ag trade agreements with countries, our agricultural trade runs about a 65 percent increase over those countries where we do not have agricultural trade agreements.” Moore said the next farm bill is likely to be radically different from the 2014 farm bill currently in effect. He noted that groups on the political right and the political left are gunning for the commodity title of the farm bill and want to remove the nutrition title, or food stamps, from the farm bill. Moore urged farmers to vote, even if they can’t stand either presidential candidate, because they can have an impact on other elections on the November ballot. AFBF, which does not endorse candidates, has put together a website containing information about the campaign. It can -continued