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Anonymous
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Don't know if it will happen- but at least Obama supports many of the same issues I do regarding Agriculture...It would be nice to see a USDA director put in with these ideas in mind....I have only heard of one name thrown out as Ag Secretary- Montana Governor Brian Schwietzer...But also heard his name mentioned as Secretary of Interior....
As President, what will Obama's policies mean to rural America? The former Illinois Senator, according to his Web site, will base his administration's plan for farmers on seven priorities:
Payment limits: Obama says he'll implement a $250,000 payment limit and "close the loopholes that allow mega farms to get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations."
"I would have liked to have seen some additional reforms in the bill," Obama says in an American Farm Bureau Federation report. "I would like to see some tighter payment limits for example, but on balance the bill did a lot more good than bad because it dramatically increased the funding to fight hunger, it increased funding for conservation and it provided farmers with at least some stability in an increasing volatile market."
Packer ban: President-elect Obama supports a ban on packer ownership of livestock. "Obama and Biden will strengthen anti-monopoly laws and strengthen producer protections to ensure independent farmers have fair access to markets, control over their production decisions and transparency in prices.
Local control: Under Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will "strictly regulate pollution from large CAFOs, with fines for those that violate tough standards." This includes "meaningful local control," according to Obama's Web site.
Country-of-origin labeling (COOL): Country-of-origin labeling will be moved toward implementation by President Obama, "so that American producers can distinguish their products from imported ones," according to his Web site.
Organic, local production: The new administration will take steps to promote organic farm production, including helping organic farmers "afford to certify their crops and reform crop insurance to not penalize organic farmers." In addition, the Obama administration will "promote regional food systems."
Young and beginning farmers: Obama and vice president-elect Joe Biden will, according to Obama's Web site, "establish a new program to identify and train the next generation of farmers," as well as provide tax incentives to "make it easier for new farmers to afford their first farm.
Conservation: The new administration, Obama says, will boost incentives for landowners to "conduct sustainable agriculture and protect wetlands, grasslands and forests."
Taxes - I have a comprehensive plan that would provide a tax cut for 95% of working Americans and simplify the tax code. I support a reasonable estate tax policy that would exempt all estates under $7 million per couple, effectively repealing the tax for 99.7% of estates. For the remaining 0.3% of estates that have more than $7 million per couple, I will retain a rate of 45%. This policy would cut the number of estates touched by the tax by 84 percent relative to 2000. My plan for capital gains is to maintain the current rate for families with incomes below $250,000. Those in the top two income brackets would pay a new rate of 20%, which is equal to the lowest rate that existed in the 1990s and the rate that President Bush proposed in 2001.
Trade - Trade is vital to our agriculture sector. About 50 percent of the wheat, 20 percent of the corn, and 35 percent of the soybeans we grow in the United States are exported. These markets increase demand for our homegrown products and provide American farmers with additional revenue. Our farmers are among the most efficient in the world, and if given a level playing field, can compete effectively with anyone in the world. There are several steps we must take to remain competitive and expand our access to markets. I support providing full funding to vital market promotion programs that enhance our access to important international markets. I have fought to break down trade and investment barriers that restrict our access to markets and will continue to do so. I supported bipartisan efforts to lift Korea's and Japan's bans on American beef. It's also important that we ensure that our trade agreements create a level playing field for American businesses and workers, and that our farmers and businesses secure robust market access as a result of these agreements. Trade agreements must contain strong and enforceable labor and environmental standards so that American farmers are able to compete on a level playing field. I will also continue to support providing resources to research and technology that enhances the productivity and profitability of our farmers.