The 2011 CFB Legislative Conference is still on schedule despite the weather. While the wind may blow and the cold may bite, the driving should not be too bad. Members are invited to hop in the truck and make a slightly slower trip to Denver for the conference. “If we could postpone the conference, we [...]
Archive for January, 2011
31 Jan
Weekly Links
Feds Drop Lynx Appeal, Will Revise Habitat Plan The Missoulian Wildlife officials have dropped their appeal of a court ruling that forces the government to revise its flawed plan to protect critical habitat for Canada lynx. The move means the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have to reconsider habitat areas in Colorado. Senators Weigh [...]
28 Jan
USDA Announces Deregulation of Biotech Alfalfa
The Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Thursday announced its decision to grant non-regulated status for alfalfa that has been genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide commercially known as Roundup. “After conducting a thorough and transparent examination of alfalfa through a multi-alternative environmental impact statement and several public comment opportunities, [...]
27 Jan
Guest Commentary
The Problem with Roundup Ready Alfalfa By Rob Jones Round-Up Ready alfalfa? When I first heard about this I was puzzled why a company would risk so much investment in a crop that is characterized by taking care of itself when it comes to weeds. Sure it takes a while to get it established, but [...]
26 Jan
EPA Approves E-15 Waiver for 2001-2006 Vehicles
On Friday, EPA extended the waiver for the general use of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E-15) to model years 2001-2006 cars and light trucks. EPA reached its decision after reviewing the results of tests of E-15 on 2001-2006 engines conducted by the Department of Energy. EPA announced that it will not [...]
26 Jan
Sweeping Lawsuit Filed Against EPA Could Hurt Farmers
Two environmental groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Pesticide Action Network North America, have sued the Environmental Protection Agency, challenging the agency’s overall ag chemical regulatory program. According to the suit, EPA did not consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the effects of EPA-registered pesticides on [...]
26 Jan
Get Involved- Congressional Redistricting Process Begins
The US Constitution requires state legislatures to redraw congressional boundaries every 10 years. This year, legislative leaders created a joint select committee on redistricting, a bold bipartisan step to bring cooperation to what has in the past been a bitter partisan battle. This select committee of 10 legislators from the House and Senate and looks [...]
26 Jan
U.S. House Ag Committee Formally Organized
Today, Members of the House Agriculture Committee met to formally organize and to adopt the Committee’s rules for the 112th Congress. The Committee rules approved today are designed to enhance transparency and increase accountability. One addition provides that the text of bills will be posted online for the public no fewer than 24 hours prior [...]
25 Jan
Colorado Farm Bureau President Don Shawcroft Statement Regarding the 2011 State of the Union Address
“Tonight President Obama laid out an ambitious agenda for the 112th Congress. The topics included the need for increased science and math curriculum, increased use of biofuels and clean energy, relief from Section 1099 of the Healthcare Reform bill, pushing trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia and reducing the burden of government regulation. [...]
24 Jan
Colorado House Ag Committee Recap
House Ag Committee met on Monday, January 24th, to address its first three bills under the new chairman Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling) and vice chairman Rep. Randy Baumgardner (R-Hot Sulfur Springs). They welcomed many new committee members as the Republicans hold a 7-6 majority over the Democrats. They passed HB 1004 (Farm Truck Registration) which CFB has [...]
24 Jan
YR&R Members Gather in Colorado Springs
CFB YF&R members gathered in Colorado Springs for their annual leadership conference this last weekend. With an unusually large crowd the conference was a fun an informative way to bring the younger generation of Farm Bureau members together. “We had a group of about 60 which is really great,” said Jayde Van Cleave, CFB Regional [...]
24 Jan
Washington Recap
Action was light in Washington, DC for the week of January 17th. The only major action taken in either chamber was in the House of Representatives, who voted for repeal of Obamacare by a vote of 245-189. As was expected the Colorado House delegation was split with Congressmen Lamborn, Coffman, Gardner and Tipton voting in [...]
21 Jan
CFB Board Takes Positions on New Bills
The Colorado Farm Bureau Board of Directors at their quarterly board meeting yesterday, took positions on the first bills of the legislative season. A total of 23 measures were given an official position by Colorado Farm Bureau. Bills were either classified under support, oppose or monitor. You can view the official tracking list by clicking [...]
21 Jan
Weekly Links
Which countries match the GDP and population of America’s states? The Economist Who would have thought that, despite years of auto-industry hardship, the economy of Michigan is still the same size as Taiwan’s? South Korea Vaccinating Against FMD Farm Futures Despite more concerted quarantine measures, South Korea has decided to vaccinate all livestock nationwide as foot-and-mouth [...]
21 Jan
U.S. Offers Proposal to Mexico to Resolve Trucking Issue
The Transportation Department has released a concept paper to Mexico in an attempt to begin negotiations to resolve the U.S.-Mexico trucking dispute. Contents of the concept paper can be found here. This concept paper is the first attempt by the Obama administration to resolve a two-year trade dispute between Mexico and the United States. The dispute [...]
20 Jan
AFBF, Industry Groups Welcome President’s Regulatory Reform
President Obama took to the pages of the Wall Street Journal this week to announce an executive order that would impose on federal agencies the requirement to “ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth.” The order requires a government-wide review of current rules and will require eliminating those rules [...]
20 Jan
HSUS Targets Washington State
Earlier this week two animal activist groups, The Humane Society of the United States and Farm Sanctuary, filed initiative language on egg production in Washington State. The language is similar to the text of Prop 2 in California in that it would require egg producers in the state to give hens enough room to turn [...]
19 Jan
Let’s Play: New and Improved Ag Online Game Launched
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture launched its new and enhanced version of “MyAmericanFarm.org,” a free online interactive gaming platform, that focuses on third- through fifth-grade students. The new version offers more agriculture-related games and activities for kids coupled with additional educator resources. “My American Farm” was developed to engage millions of youth, teachers [...]
19 Jan
Stabenow Pledges Bipartisan Approach to Farm Bill
In an address to the Michigan Agri-Business Association’s Winter Conference, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the new chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, promised a bipartisan approach to the 2012 farm bill. She also said sound science must drive agricultural policy. “With almost 7 billion mouths to feed around the globe, we need American leadership in [...]
19 Jan
Farm Bureau Backs Bills Ending Form 1099 Requirements
Farm Bureau supports legislation introduced in the House to repeal IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements that is part of the health care law. H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, was introduced by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.). To date, the legislation has 245 co-sponsors. Sen. Mike Johanns (R- Neb.) plans to [...]
19 Jan
House to Vote on Health Care Repeal Today
**Update** In a vote of 245-189, Republicans were victorious in passing a measure to repeal President Obama’s signature health care overhaul law. The House is set to vote today on H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act. The bill is expected to pass the Republican House but fail in the Democratic Senate. In [...]
19 Jan
NISP Delayed Again
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is saying that the supplemental draft environmental impact statement for the Northern Colorado Integrated Supply Project — or NISP — is being pushed back into the latter part of this year. Army Corps Projects Manager Chandler Peter said more time is needed to weigh the complexity of NISP. “This [...]
19 Jan
Foundation for Agriculture Presents Awards
Colorado was one of six state Farm Bureaus that were recognized for outstanding financial support of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The awards were presented during the Flapjack Fundraiser, a pancake breakfast at AFBF’s 92nd annual meeting last week. State Farm Bureaus receiving the Scholar Award, a new award, are: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, [...]
17 Jan
Becker Blocks Ag Fee Increases
The Joint Budget Committee, with freshman legislator Rep. Jon Becker, (R-Fort Morgan), began making decisions this week on legislation they would carry in the 2011 session, and Becker’s first decision was to prevent increases in agricultural fees. Becker filled the empty seat created when Rep. Cory Gardner was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. [...]
14 Jan
Weekly Links
‘Brown’ Energy Brings Prosperity The American The biggest story in domestic oil production is . . . North Dakota. Facebook Paid Farm Bureau $8.5 Million To Acquire Fb.com TechCrunch On November 15th, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Facebook had acquired Fb.com. But what he didn’t reveal at the time? The acquisition price. Move Over, Cow [...]
14 Jan
New Bills Drop as Session Begins
With the official start of the state legislative session on Wednesday, lawmakers released a slew of bills for consideration. In all a total of 98 bills were dropped, with many more expected over the course of the next couple of weeks. Republicans issues measures that focused on scaling back health care requirements in an effort [...]
13 Jan
Farm Bureau, U.S. Chamber, New Congress Leave EPA with No Friends
With the start of a new congress and with policy action from AFBF and other organizations, the EPA will have few friends over the next few years. Politico reports this morning that the EPA is desperate for friends in the Senate. With a large number of new House members pledging to limit the EPA’s authority [...]
12 Jan
CFB Policy a Success at AFBF Annual Meeting
CFB President Don Shawcroft, Vice President Carlyle Currier, delegates Mike Mitchell and Phyllis Snyder capped a successful policy session at the annual American Farm Bureau Federation meeting on Tuesday. The four successfully argued for policy forwarded to the delegate body by CFB delegates in November. CFB policy in the areas of elected officials, regulatory review [...]
11 Jan
The EPA at 40
With all the anticipation of Christmas and New Years over the last month, I would venture to guess most of you missed out on an important news item; important only to bureaucrats, enviro-nutters, and climate alarmists, but important nonetheless. On the 2nd of last month, the United States Environmental Protection Agency turned 40. I know, [...]
11 Jan
Direct Payments Remain in Policy Book
It was supposed to be one of the biggest and most controversial issues in Farm Bureau policy this year. The showdown between states that supported the elimination of direct payments and those that favored keeping them was supposed to take up much time on the delegate floor. Except that’s not what happened. The much anticipated [...]
Shawn Martini
Chad Vorthmann
Rachel Vermillion
Garin Vorthmann
Crystal Korrey
Troy B
El Sagehorn
Brent Boydston
