Farm Bureau Policies 2022 (3) Requiring any entity or person seizing aquaculture spe- cies, horses, livestock, and/or poultry to first have the recom- mendation of a veterinarian licensed in the State of California whose professional activities involve the evaluation of the care and commercial production of the species subject to immedi- ate seizure. We oppose:
Royalty fees (minus patenting expenses) that are collected by the University of California and California State Universities on the sale of patented technology andmaterials should be allocated evenly between the researcher and the research program in the commodity area. The money returned to the research program should be used on further research of the commodity that gener- ated the royalty fees. The discovery that an agricultural commodity has a beneficial property should not entitle the discoverer to a patent for the com- modity’s production. (68/Rev. 2018) No. 127 Plant Variety Protection Act We support the following amendments to the Plant Variety Protection Act: (1) The farmers’ right to sell seed of protected varieties from their ownproductionwithout the agreementwith theowner of the variety would be eliminated; (2)The farmers’ right tosavepurchasedbut unplantedprotected seed would be retained; however, use of such saved seed would be limited to the farm(s) of the personwho purchased the seed; (3) It would be an infringement to clean, condition or treat pro- tected seed for sale as seed without the consent of the owner of the variety, or it would be an infringement for a conditioner to dispense seed to any person other than the one fromwhom it was received; and (4) It wouldbe an infringement tobuy protected seed for repro- ductive purposes without the consent of the owner of the patent on the seed. (93/Rev. 2017) No. 128 Biotechnology We support the ability, statewide, to use biotechnology to im- prove the quality and marketability of our products and to solve environmental and health concerns. We shall engage in activities that support and protect the use of biotechnology and its development. We recognize that the use of biotechnology is an individual choice and a private prop- erty right, enabling individuals to be globally competitive, and it should be protected. We support a national policy to encourage research and devel- opment of biotechnology. Regulations should encourage tech- nological advancements and should be consistent at all levels of government. New regulations should be based on science. We support the FDA’s effort to allowvoluntary labeling of prod- ucts that have been tested to determine the absence of bioengi- neered ingredients using a certifiedprocedure thatmeets uniform federal standards developed by the USDA. We favor strong patent support to encourage these new tech- nologies, and continued research and development of those new products. Research into and approval of new products should be based on safety and efficacy criteria. We oppose any lawor regulation requiring registrationof farm- ers who use or sell products that have been approved by the Food andDrug Administration. We oppose individual cities and coun- ties establishing separate policies on agricultural biotechnology. Agricultural goods that are produced using biotechnology tech- niques or products should not be required to provide this informa- tionontheproduct label, unlessa food is significantlydifferent from its traditional counterpart, orwhere a specific constituent is altered (e.g., nutritionally orwhenaffecting allergenicity). (91/Rev. 2017) No. 129 Sustainable Agriculture Agriculture provides society numerous benefits including, but not limited to, food security, a safe and healthy food supply, en- vironmental benefits and community stability. It is important to remember that agriculture needs the flexibility to alter cropping patternsandpractices tomeet thedemandsof operating inanopen marketplace where our competition comes from agriculturalists worldwide. When considering sustainable agriculture, there is only one constant and that is agriculture is only sustainable when it is profitable. Sustainable agriculture shouldbe an integrated systemof plant andanimal productionpractices having a site-specific application that will enhance the economic viability of agricultural operations andmay over the long term: A) Satisfy human food and fiber needs; B) Make most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and agricultural resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; C)Promoteenvironmental qualityand thenatural resourcebase uponwhich the agricultural economy depends; and D) Enhance the quality of life for agriculturalists, and conse- quently, for agricultural employees and society as a whole. Sustainableagriculture standards should recognize thebenefits
eligible for crop insurance, regardless of size or location of the operation; and (6)Preventedplantingprovisions that include the insured’s right to receive a prevented planting benefit due to lack of both surface and groundwater irrigation supply disruptions and deficiencies including equipment failure. We oppose: (1) Requiring irrigation after crop failure has occurred; (2) USDA’s FarmService Agencymanaging crop insurance; (3) Caps or l imi t s being appl ied to crop insurance premium assistance; (4)Means testing and payment limitations for crop insurance; (5) Policyholders being charged a farm visit fee to verify that a cover crop that includes a fruit and/or vegetablewas not harvested as a fruit or vegetable; and (6) The announcement of surface and/or groundwater supply deficiencies or curtailments that have any bearing on prevented planting eligibilities. (96/Rev. 2019) No. 123 Crop and Livestock Reporting Service The reports provided by the Federal StateMarket News Service andCaliforniaCropandLivestockReportingServiceare important tools for many farmers and ranchers in California. When deemed necessary by the farmers served, these services should be contin- ued and strengthened to provide producers with information on supply, demand, export demand, pricing and planting intentions in a timely and accuratemanner. USDA should provide timely and accurate reports of livestock market information. We support the continued mandatory re- porting of price, quantity, premiums and discounts, and terms of sale for slaughter livestock from federally inspected pack- ers who process more than a specified level of annual average slaughter. (Rev. 2004) No. 124 Hay and Forage Standards We urge the State of California and the USDA to develop con- sistent laboratory standards for all labs in the state of California for the purposes of testing alfalfa hay. Labs should report results in accordance with a standardized methodology and uniform analysis. (Rev. 2000) No. 125 Weather Reporting We support the maintenance and adequate funding of cur- rent weather analysis and information dissemination systems, and encourage federal, state, and private agencies to constantly work together to improve these systems. To assure continuity and improvement of specialized weather programs, coordination of user support and federal funds is encouraged. Efforts to advance weather forecasting technologies shouldbe concentrated inareas which will benefit fruit frost protection, crop residue burning, fire management, integrated pest management, and cultural practices. (Rev. 1997) No. 126 Agricultural Research It is important for the entire agricultural and food industries to place ahighpriority on supporting agricultural research. Research should be supported by any entity interested in providing such services to the industry, including the University of California (Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension), the California State University colleges, the USDA Agricultural ResearchServiceandprivate industry.Aclosecooperative relation- ship between agricultural researchers and the private production sector is crucial to a successful program. California agriculture recognizes that its success on the global level is ensured through advances in technology and research. All California commodity sectors should provide unified support for agricultural research that overarches in- dividual commodity priorities. The California agricultural industry recognizes the value of research into programs that keep us competitive in the global marketplace, including im- proved agronomic practices, mechanization, improved genetic and varietal advances, disease and pest control programs and value-added products. To this end, we encourage Congress and the USDA to develop and fund such programs. The federal farm bill should include grant funding for mechanization research and development. Federal and state funding of research should be increased to assure a supply of basic research and to channel those findings into applied research. Although we urge commodity groups to contribute to agricultural research, their funding should be con- sidered an addition to, not a substitute for, government funding of research.
(1)Theultra-short dockingof lambsbasedonscientific research indicating health hazards to sheep of extreme short tail docking; (2) Attempts to impose restrictions on animal care and han- dling practices whereby the concerns over the well-being of animals are elevated to the same or similar status as the rights of humans; and (3) Any legislation that would pay bounties to complain- ants. (Rev. 2012) No. 120 Livestock Health The principle of calfhood andmature cattle vaccination for the control and eradication of brucellosis should be supported. Strain RB-51, live culture, should be used until facts reveal that the cattle and dairy industries will be protected from outbreaks following elimination of the vaccination programs. The testing of exposed and inshipped beef and dairy cattle is an important part of the surveillance program. The California Department of FoodandAgriculture (CDFA) shouldmake recom- mendations and proposals for testing that will lead to the eradica- tion of the disease. The cattle industry and concerned organiza- tions should be involved in changes of rules and regulations in the CDFA. We support: (1) Indemnity payments for herds that are in the whole herd vaccination plan; Protection of human health and the human food supply is of the highest priority. Consumer perceptions regardingmeat safety issues canhave adevastating effect on theU.S. beef industry. Farm Bureau supports continued research directed toward determin- ing if bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is transmitted to livestock through the feedingof ruminant by-products.We support a ban on the inclusion in ruminant feeds of any animal proteins shown to transmit BSE; (2) Theprogramdevelopedby the cattle industry requiring that all bulls 18 months of age and over offered for sale, at auctions or at private treaty, be for slaughter only unless verified trichomono- sis-free with written certification of a negative trichomonosis test within thirty days prior to sale; (3) Enforcement and self-policing of CDFA’s entry requirement for sheep regarding Brucella ovis and industry efforts to take a leadership role where appropriate; and (4) The USDA Minor Use Animal Drug Program (National Research Support Project-7) that works in collaboration with FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine and the pharmaceutical companies to facilitate approvals of veterinary products for minor food animal species and for minor use in major food animal species. We will coordinate with CDFA to engage all relevant agen- cies to ensure uniform availability of the most effective bio- logics and pharmaceuticals for all species throughout the U.S. (Rev. 2019) No. 121 Rendering Facilities and Collection Points We support: (1) The streamlining of the permitting process for rendering facilities and/or collectionpoints toencourage livestockproducers to use these facilities; and (2) Legislation that provides economic and regulatory relief to rendering facilities and encourage further development and con- struction of rendering facilities and/or collection points. We encourage research that adds value and marketability of rendering facility products. (2009) No. 122 Crop Insurance We support: (1) The availabilityof cropyield, revenue, andmargin insurance for all agricultural producers; (2) Continuation of the private sector as the deliverer of crop insurance regulated by USDA’s RiskManagement Agency; (3)Continuationof federal government financial support, but at percentages, levels, and amounts sufficient to cover the full cost of selling and servicing and to provide a reasonable return to private capital andmanagement; (4) Annual reviews to ensure proper premium ratings that are actuarially sound by crop and county; (5) Continuation of every farmer, rancher, and grower being
16 Ag Alert January 26, 2022
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