Capital Press: Farm Bureau leader talks tough on trade, immigration

January 7, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. - American farmers and ranchers need to stick together to confront major 2007 challenges -- from writing a new federal farm bill, beating back unfair trade barriers and achieving immigration reform.

Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, addressing nearly 5,000 members today in Salt Lake City, said the organization must present a unified position as Congress writes a new federal farm bill.

"We need to remember that we are a national, general farm organization representing all of American agriculture," said the rice and cattle producer from Columbus, Texas.

Farmers are coming off a mixed year in 2006, which saw farm prices surge for corn, soybeans and other grains. But net farm income sagged to projected $58.9 billion because of weak livestock and dairy prices, and soaring production expenses.

Stallman said a clear and united course on the 2007 Farm Bill will set the tone of world trade negotiations.

"We need a solid farm program so we can negotiate from a position of strength," Stallman said. "Trade matters to American agriculture. That is why we must open markets beyond our borders, to create demand that will keep us productive and profitable."

Stallman said farmers have had some success in opening overseas markets for U.S. farm goods in South America and Japan, but he called South Korea's recent rejection of U.S. beef shipments "a blatant trade barrier" because of the discovery of a few bone fragments the size of a half-grain of rice.

"It is time to play hardball with South Korea," Stallman said because U.S. beef is safe.

"South Korea is destroying its own chance to have free-trade agreement with the U.S.," Stallman said. "Trade is a two-way street. Korea's idea of trade is a dead-end street."

Among the other priorities in 2007 is long-sought reform of immigration laws, which Stallman described as "broken badly." Farm Bureau favors securing the nation's border and tightening enforcement on employers who knowingly disobey the law, but Stallman said Congress needs to solve agriculture's need for an adequate labor force.

"If we do not meet this goal, agriculture could face loses of up to $5 billion annually," Stallman said. "We already see ripple effects throughout agriculture."

To illustrate his point, Stallman mentioned Lake County, Calif., pear grower, Nick Ivicevich, who could not find sufficient labor to pick his pears and saw more than half of his crop rot on the ground last year.

"Farm Bureau will intensity our fight for comprehensive immigration reform with an efficient guest worker program... one that ensures productivity of our farmers and ranchers and enhances the security of our nation," he said.

Stallman's 30-minute address was punctuated several times by applause. Members applauded his comment about standing up to animal rights activists who helped pass a controversial measure in Arizona last November. Stallman's mention of Farm Bureau's recent petition to challenge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's air quality standards on agriculture also drew response.

"This is a huge issue for us, and science tells us that proposals to regulate agricultural dust are simply unjustifiable," Stallman said. "We have made our feelings known to EPA. Dust is a natural part of farming. We will not tolerate a posse of dust deputies staking out our fencerows."

Stallman concluded his remarks by urging farmers and ranchers to stick together to address major issues.

"Whether it is organic, conventional, grain-fed or grass-fed, whether you are large or small, we need to see the big picture," Stallman said. "Consumers demand all of our products. Let's work together as we produce the best food in the world."

The American Farm Bureau, the nation's largest farm organization, set a new mark in membership in 2006, reaching more than 6.2 million members.