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Getting to Know Your Farm Bureau Policy How well do you know Farm Bureau policy? In order to better understand it, MCDFB will run monthly excerpts from the 2008 policy book. Interested in learning more about how our policy system works? It all starts with you! For more info contact the office! 69. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE The growth of the organic food and product markets provides new income potential for Illinois farmers of all sizes. The integrity of this program and process should be maintained. We support: 1. All methods of agricultural production and marketing provided they offer opportunities to all producers who qualify or meet required standards. 2. Efforts to enhance marketing opportunities for producers of organically-grown commodities just as we support
such efforts for conventionally-produced crops. 3. The requirement that all producers, handlers, and retailers must be certified by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)accredited certifying agent to sell, label, or represent their products as organic. 4. The current program requirement that organic producers be responsible for taking appropriate measures (e.g., buffer strips) to protect their crops from pollen drift or other factors affecting the integrity of their crops. 5. Enhanced auditing and enforcement of the USDA-certified organic program in line with its increasing economic importance and growth. 6. Broad availability of information on the USDA-certified organic program, certification process, and labeling requirements, as well as other unbiased information on organic products or production.
Zucchini Puff 1 1/2 cups zucchini, grated (about 2 medium zucchini) 3 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup onion, grated 1/2 teaspoon thyme 2 eggs, separated 1/2 cup milk 1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs, divided 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1 tablespoon butter, melted Sprinkle zucchini generously with salt. Drain on paper towel, about 30 minutes. Press to remove excess water; pat dry. Melt butter in saucepan. Add onion. Cook until transparent. Remove from heat. Add thyme, beaten yolks, milk, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, and zucchini. Stir until mixed. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into zucchini mixture. Lightly spoon mixture into buttered 1-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, melted butter and remaining breadcrumbs. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until puffed and top is golden.
70. PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ACT We urge: 1. The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, with the support of the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), to more aggressively enforce current anti-trust laws pertaining to packer mergers, market concentrations, packer feeding, and contracting. Open, competitive markets which include access to slaughter space and the number of contracted slaughter days should be monitored and enforced if necessary. 2. The Department of Justice to watch for a potential monopoly on a regional, rather than a national basis. 3. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) be included in the decisionmaking procedure with respect to proposed mergers and acquisitions of meat packing firms. 4. Slaughter capacity be added to the USDA’s hog reports. We will support: 1. Legislation that grants GIPSA authority to prosecute violators and seek restitution for producers in cases involving agricultural production, processing, and marketing violations. 2. Incorporation of a dealer trust provision to the Packers and Stockyards Act. The bonding requirement for livestock dealers and packers should be reviewed on an annual basis and be adjusted to reflect the volume of the maximum financial
exposure to producers and/or their brokers and then be made available to the public. We will seek changes to the administration of the Illinois Livestock Auction Market Law that will clarify, as well as strengthen, language relating to the use of custodial accounts by livestock auctions. We oppose packers owning livestock before slaughter with the exception of producer-owned closed cooperatives and producer-owned livestock fed and retail-marketed within the provisions of a specialty product marketing alliance. 71. PLANT PATENTS AND PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION For decades, the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) has played a critical role in the protection, maintenance, and propagation of agricul-
tural seed varieties. While the advent of biotechnology and the applicability of plant and utility patents to plants have complicated the plant protection landscape, PVPA should still play a primary role in the protection and propagation of current and future plant varieties. In order to do that, PVPA must remain relevant and effective. We support: 1. PVPA as the exclusive statute governing the Intellectual Property Rights for the breeders of plant varieties. 2. Maintaining the international and domestic gene/germplasm banks/stores. These should remain easily accessible to the public. 3. Continued plant variety research in the public sector. 4. Compensation for the public contribution in a joint public-private venture.
Analysis. Advice. Action. Lawrence F. Kane
Branch Manager lkane@s-pelmwood.com Cell: 309.231.0846
Cathy Ekstrand
Market Advisor cekstrand@s-pelmwood.com Cell: 309.231.9784
Toll-free 866.334.9779 • phone 309.742.3208 fax 309.742.2208 119 W. Main Street, PO Box 199, Elmwood, IL 61529
SEE YOUR AD HERE! Advertising Space is Now Available The McDonough County Farm Bureau Harvester reaches over 2000 households in McDonough County each month! We have the lowest column rates around and many sizes are available!
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Wind Energy Links Illinois Wind Working Grouphttp://www.wind. ilstu.edu/ American Wind Energy Association www.awea.org Illinois Wind www.illinoiswind.org
How ideas become Farm Bureau Policy 6 steps 1 Farmers tell their county Farm Bureau about an idea, need or concern. 2 The county Farm Bureau researches and considers the idea. 3
Farm Fact
of the Month Soybean oil, a renewable resource, is used to make soy ink. More than 80,000 newspapers in the United States use soy inks.
The idea is considered at the state level. 4 Farmers throughout Illinois vote on the idea and if approved, it becomes Farm Bureau policy. 5 Some Illinois Farm Bureau policy is turned into American Farm Bureau Federation policy. 6 The farmer benefits from the new policy. gvxx4477NT0206