Agricultural News
OFB Leaders Express Support for Direct Payments as Part of the Farm Bill Safety Net
Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:36:08 CDT
A resolution declaring the next farm bill should continue direct payments to farmers is among more than 90 proposals passed by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau state resolutions committee Oct. 26-27. The proposal will be voted on during the annual OFB convention Nov. 19-21 in Oklahoma City.
“Our top priority is the continuation of direct payments,” said OFB President Mike Spradling. “The payments provide producers flexibility to grow various crops while providing income support.”
There is concern direct payments may be eliminated since the administration is considering reducing the agriculture department’s budget.
The resolutions committee supported opposition to the government’s proposed renewable fuels standards (RFS) which would require a certain blend of ethanol in fuel.
“We want to reserve the right to purchase 100 percent fuel that is ethanol free,” Spradling said. “We believe ethanol-blended fuels could damage some of our older engines on the farm and ranch.”
Concern over a government requirement all businesses complete a 1099 form when purchasing supplies drew opposition from the farm group. The proposed policy calls for repealing the federal 1099 reporting changes.
“If anyone does business with a vendor amounting to more than $600 per year, they have to fill out a 1099 form and that amounts to costly and needless paperwork,” Spradling said.
Other proposed resolutions passed during the two-day meeting included support for increasing the Oklahoma wheat check-off from 1 ½ cents to 2 cents per bushel; oppose changes to the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regarding livestock trade; and request the Federal Corps of Engineers to hold annual public meetings in each corps’ district to seek public input.
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