March 16, 2016
www.gfb.org
Vol. 34 No. 11
YOUNG FARMERS TAKE AG ISSUES TO WASHINGTON, D.C. A group of 31 young farmers from across Georgia traveled to Washington, D.C., on March 811 as part of the 31st Annual Young Farmers to Washington trip hosted by the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee. The young farmers had a chance to tell Georgia’s congressional delegation how critical issues such as immigration and excessive regulation affect their farms. “This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate the importance of young farmers being engaged, active, and assertive in promoting and protecting our industry. Our nation's leaders must be made aware that we depend on them and the decisions they make to maintain our way of life and allow our future generations to enjoy agricultural pursuits the way we have,” said GFB Young Farmer Committee Will Cabe from Franklin County. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue met with the group in the Russell Senate Office Building and discussed several issues facing American agriculture. The U.S. House of Representatives was on recess the week of the trip, but delegates were able to visit with staffers of all Georgia congressmen and share the concerns from back home. The young farmers met with AFBF President Zippy Duvall and were briefed about the programs AFBF offers. The group also travelled to the offices of the European Union Delegation to the United States to talk about the trade partnership with European nations, and how trade partnerships affect them as farmers. GFB President Gerald Long addressed the young farmers and shared the importance of working with their elected officials and telling their story. While talking with Congressional staff, the GFB group presented information about the organization’s stance on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP), the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule finalized last year by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, GMO labeling, preserving crop insurance options in the 2014 farm bill and the possible designation of cottonseed as an other oilseed for purposes of farm bill programs. The young farmers also toured Washington, D.C., and visited with AFBF lobbyists on a number of priority issues including the recently passed GMO labeling, international trade, federal spending and clean water expansion.