Agricultural News
Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association Approve a Variety of Resolutions
Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:48:11 CST
Wheat producers attending the 2011 Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association Annual Meeting approved resolutions for the organization to use as their policy positions on a variety of subjects. The following offers some of the high points of the resolutions okayed by wheat farmers:
USDA Farm Programs
Farm Bill - We support ideas for the Farm Bill that meet the goals of: 1) providing a safety net for the farm operator; 2) a safe environment; 3) the production of a safe and adequate food, feed, fuel, and fiber supply; and 4) continuing to support conservation programs.
-Government farm programs should focus on providing farmers with downside risk protection.
-We support a policy tool that continues to provide a fixed share of the federal budget allocation; as a safety net such as direct payments, revenue assurance programs and crop insurance for all crops including graze out.
-We support a program that is WTO green box compliant.
-All crops should be treated equally in government farm programs.
-We support strong Agricultural Research, Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs.
-Research should be done on ways to structure revenue based safety net programs such as revenue assurance programs and crop insurance so that they will be more WTO compliant.
-We support revenue based crop insurance options for all crops.
OWGA supports planting flexibility.
OWGA supports the continuation of receiving Loan Deficiency Payments when wheat is hayed or grazed.
International Trade
OWGA supports full funding and utilization of MAP, EEP, FMD, GSM 102, export credit programs, tax credits and other promotion and marketing programs for wheat.
OWGA supports free and open trade with Cuba.
OWGA supports Plains Grains, Inc. and its efforts along with the OWC to develop a Regional Marketing Plan for Hard Winter Wheat.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
OWGA strongly supports and urges Oklahoma's U.S. Congressional Delegation to take appropriate actions to insure the continued funding of the Expanded Wheat Pasture Research Program.
Conservation Programs
OWGA recommends CRP program enrollment criteria have more emphasis on wind and water erosion.
OWGA supports the continuation of local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) district offices as the local agency in meeting environmental concerns.
OWGA supports the concept of green payments.
OWGA supports CRP on a Nationwide Basis and on a Unit Bases not Per Farmer.
OWGA opposes CRP early out with no penalty.
USDA Risk Management Agency/Crop Insurance
OWGA recommends offering producers discounts for years of continuous coverage.
OWGA recommends USDA should increase its subsidized support of the Crop Insurance Program, making it more effective, and covering all crops including graze out acres.
OWGA supports the development of "Cost of Production" product pricing concerning crop insurance.
Internal Revenue Service
OWGA supports the capital gains tax exemption and investment tax credits on federal tax income.
OWGA recommends all medical insurance premiums be 100% deductible.
OWGA recommends the minimum reporting levels on Form 1099 be raised from $600 to $1000.
OWGA supports ending the Estate Tax.
Environmental Protection Agency
OWGA supports permanent exemption of farm fuel storage from commercial spill and containment regulations.
OWGA is opposed to any regulations that would limit or effectively ban the use anhydrous ammonia as fertilizer.
OWGA supports the continued classification of anhydrous ammonia as a corrosive gas and the labeling thereof.
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension/OSU Research
OWGA supports projects to educate the wheat industry on methods to improve the quality and cleanliness of the Oklahoma wheat crop.
OWGA recommends OSU cooperate with individual farmers, on "whole farm" test plots, on a long-term project of management practices (soil fertility, liming, and chemicals), that will improve grain quality, while using no-till and minimum tillage practices.
OWGA supports intellectual property rights, developed in wheat breeding research, be licensed and marketed by not-for-profit, producer-based organizations.
OWGA opposes the sale of Certified, Registered or Foundation seed of OSU wheat varieties to foreign buyers.
OSU Board of Regents
OWGA supports the current state law that requires a majority of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents derive the majority of their income from production agriculture. We also call for the Governor to follow this law in future appointments to the board.
OWGA should research and consider possible options for clarification of the restrictions as it pertains to state, national, or county officer eligibility for the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents.
Water
We do not support the use of Conjunctive Use Management anywhere in Oklahoma. We support the continued separation of groundwater and surface water.
We support surface owners continuing to own the groundwater under their property.
OWGA supports the surface owner having the right of capture of surface water for domestic use without being permitted.
Water policy should be controlled on a local and regional watershed basis.
Agricultural water use should always have senior rights over recreational water use.
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