GLENMONT, N.Y. New York Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm advocacy organization in the state, re cently announced its legislative priorities for the upcoming year. At their State Annual Meeting held last month in Buffalo, New York Farm Bureau Delegates voted upon their federal and state policies for the year 2001. Policies are developed originally at the County level, and then make their way up to the State Annual Meeting. Farm Bureau leaders then select priority issues from the over 1,000 member driven policies. Legislative priorities are based on several factors, such as whether the issue has a broad based agricultural impact; is of significant interest to county Farm Bureaus; impacts farmers’ ability to conduct business; at tracts active member participa tion and has a reasonable chance of being resolved. The 2001 legislative priorities for New York Farm Bureau are as follows: Federal Priority Issues Dairy Continue to work toward ex panding the Northeast Inter state Dairy Compact to include New York; establish a Southeast Dairy Compact; and support legislation that prohibits the use of ultra-filtered milk in cheese making. We will also engage in a critical review of the impact of imported milk solids into our markets; and work to modify the unified strategy on Concen trated Animal Feeding Opera tion’s by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). - files., Wed., Thurs. & Fri. Feb. 13,14,15 & 16, 2001 * “ at Our New Home - 339 King St, Myerstown, PA * (West of Wenger’s Farm Machinery off Rt. 501) 10% CASH DISCOUNT ON PARTS DURING OPEN HOUSE Company Representatives will be present to receive your comments on their Equipment and answer your Questions. Exhibits Free Lunch Farm Bureau Announces Legislative Priorities for 2001 FQPA Implementation Actively monitor EPA’s risk assessment of pesticides used to protect New York crops, provid ing comments consistent with Farm Bureau policy, and pursue active communication between Farm Bureau and EPA. We will continue participation in state wide coalitions to monitor FQPA’s impact on New York agriculture. Secure passage of a guest worker program and H2A reform. We will address agricul tural worker supply issues; work with coalitions to obtain a freeze on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate; and continue to monitor ergonomic standards implemen tation and other initiatives that would have a negative impact and place unnecessary restric tions on agricultural employers. Continue to work with New York commodity organizations on trade issues and support the efforts of Northeast coalitions for equal consideration of all U.S. crops during trade negotia tions; and work with USDA to quantify the impact of imports on New York agriculture. Continue to work with New York commodity organizations, the Department of Agriculture & Markets and our congres sional delegation to identify and rectify unfair trade practices having a negative impact on our producers. Risk Management/Market Loss Assistance Develop a Northeast coalition to identify and support neces- Cedar Crest Equipment OPEN HOUSE CEDAR CREST EQUIPMENT Labor Trade O Pan M ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■ —m FEED HANDLING EQUIPMENT manure handling equipment Feed Carts Performance Strong as Steel H SCHAEFER ISalfwG II -.Sjjfiiy w Fro»t-Free Livestock Waterer Bfll’VS" A I.H. RISSLER MFG. I^MSi^T TMR Mixers slh equipment with a heriUge of quality \jjM~\l /jg>\ UImNORBCO, INC. ZIMMER FANS St<Ul FEED BINS ah hammer I~ ~ 7 | vnberdomey LAPP m M,LLS Curtain'SyTte'ms Energy-Free Waterers Itttf'hgg 3 ® EmSS'fapyt. LEBANON VALLEY ENTERPRISES, INC. Pasture Mat aero teen Manufacturing •Powder Coating • Precast Cow Mattresses sary changes to current crop in surance programs; secure direct financial assistance for weather related crop disasters; and pursue a voluntary based con servation program to enhance the viability of agriculture while preserving open space and clean water. We will also work to establish proactive risk management tools as “eligible projects” under the Risk Management Act of 2000. State Priority Issues Agricultural Investment The agricultural industry needs to be a significant part of the state’s plans to revitalize the economy in upstate New York. We support full funding of the Agricultural Initiative and Grow New York, a promotion, marketing and research pro gram administered by the De partment of Agriculture and Markets. Environmental Protection Fund Increased funding is needed to address the tremendous pres sure on agriculture in urbaniz ing areas. Additional funding is also needed to assist farmers in meeting environmental regula tions for non point source pollu tion prevention. Farm Bureau will work to increase the farm land protection and the non point source pollution preven tion funding sources in the Envi ronmental Protection Fund. Civil Justice Reform Support of legislation to rec tify the current abuses of New York’s Civil Justice system and liability initiatives consistent with Farm Bureau policy. Parts Stores: East Earl—7l7-354-0584 • Quarryville—7l7-7' Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 10,2001-Al9 Equine inherent risk legislation and liability relief for U-Pick or ganizations are vitally import ant to reduce the high cost of liability insurance for New York farmers. School Property Tax Credit Support inclusion of Christ mas tree growers and rented land within the School Property Tax Credit, expansion of STAR to all farms, and the inclusion of “C” corporation family farms in the School Property Tax Credit. Agricultural Biotechnology We recommend full support See Lancaster Farming Cow Cam Visit our Website at www. lancasterfarming.com 800-646-66 717-86 339 King Street, Myerstown P / for the initiative, designed to promote New York as a leader in biotechnology re search and innovation; and the continued investment in life sci ences, particularly the applied research into agricultural biotechnology. We also recom mend full public disclosure of all research results, so that the public may be better educated on the benefits and risks of biotechnology. Additional information is available on all of the above mentioned issues by calling New York Farm Bureau at (518) 436- 8495. %
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