Page 8 • MCDFB • June 2009

Getting to Know Your Farm Bureau PolicyHow well do you know

Farm Bureau policy? Inorder to better understandit, MCDFB will run month-ly excerpts from the 2008policy book. Interested inlearning more about howour policy system works? Itall starts with you! Formore info contact the office!

69. ORGANIC AGRI-CULTURE

The growth of theorganic food and prod-uct markets providesnew income potentialfor Illinois farmers of allsizes. The integrity ofthis program andprocess should be main-tained.

We support:1. All methods of agri-

cultural production andmarketing provided theyoffer opportunities to allproducers who qualifyor meet required stan-dards.

2. Efforts to enhancemarketing opportunitiesfor producers of organi-cally-grown commodi-ties just as we support

such efforts for conven-tionally-produced crops.

3. The requirementthat all producers, han-dlers, and retailers mustbe certified by a UnitedStates Department ofAgriculture (USDA)-accredited certifyingagent to sell, label, orrepresent their productsas organic.

4. The current pro-gram requirement thatorganic producers beresponsible for takingappropriate measures(e.g., buffer strips) toprotect their crops frompollen drift or other fac-tors affecting the integri-ty of their crops.

5. Enhanced auditingand enforcement of theUSDA-certified organicprogram in line with itsincreasing economicimportance and growth.

6. Broad availabilityof information on theUSDA-certified organicprogram, certificationprocess, and labelingrequirements, as well asother unbiased informa-tion on organic productsor production.

70. PACKERS ANDSTOCKYARDS ACT

We urge:1. The Department of

Justice and the FederalTrade Commission, withthe support of the GrainInspection Packers andStockyardsAdministration (GIPSA),to more aggressivelyenforce current anti-trustlaws pertaining to pack-er mergers, market con-centrations, packer feed-ing, and contracting.Open, competitive mar-kets which includeaccess to slaughter spaceand the number of con-tracted slaughter daysshould be monitoredand enforced if neces-sary.

2. The Department ofJustice to watch for apotential monopoly on aregional, rather than anational basis.

3. United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture (USDA) beincluded in the decision-making procedure withrespect to proposedmergers and acquisitionsof meat packing firms.

4. Slaughter capacitybe added to the USDA’shog reports.

We will support:1. Legislation that

grants GIPSA authorityto prosecute violatorsand seek restitution forproducers in casesinvolving agriculturalproduction, processing,and marketing viola-tions.

2. Incorporation of adealer trust provision tothe Packers andStockyards Act. Thebonding requirement forlivestock dealers andpackers should bereviewed on an annualbasis and be adjusted toreflect the volume of themaximum financial

exposure to producersand/or their brokers andthen be made availableto the public.

We will seek changesto the administration ofthe Illinois LivestockAuction Market Lawthat will clarify, as wellas strengthen, languagerelating to the use ofcustodial accounts bylivestock auctions.

We oppose packersowning livestock beforeslaughter with the excep-tion of producer-ownedclosed cooperatives andproducer-owned live-stock fed and retail-mar-keted within the provi-sions of a specialty prod-uct marketing alliance.

71. PLANT PATENTSAND PLANT VARIETYPROTECTION

For decades, the PlantVariety Protection Act(PVPA) has played a crit-ical role in the protec-tion, maintenance, andpropagation of agricul-

tural seed varieties.While the advent ofbiotechnology and theapplicability of plantand utility patents toplants have complicatedthe plant protectionlandscape, PVPA shouldstill play a primary rolein the protection andpropagation of currentand future plant vari-eties. In order to do that,PVPA must remain rele-vant and effective.

We support:1. PVPA as the exclu-

sive statute governingthe Intellectual PropertyRights for the breedersof plant varieties.

2. Maintaining theinternational anddomesticgene/germplasmbanks/stores. Theseshould remain easilyaccessible to the public.

3. Continued plantvariety research in thepublic sector.

4. Compensation forthe public contributionin a joint public-privateventure.

How ideasbecome FarmBureau Policy

Farmers tell their countyFarm Bureau about anidea, need or concern.

The county FarmBureau researches

and considers the idea.

The idea is consideredat the state level.

Farmers throughoutIllinois vote on the

idea and if approved,it becomes Farm

Bureau policy.

Some Illinois FarmBureau policy is

turned into AmericanFarm Bureau

Federation policy.

The farmer benefitsfrom the new policy.

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6 steps

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Farm Fact of the MonthSoybean oil, a renewable

resource, is used to make soyink. More than 80,000newspapers in the United

States use soy inks.

Zucchini Puff

1 1/2 cups zucchini, grated (about 2 mediumzucchini)

3 tablespoons butter1/3 cup onion, grated1/2 teaspoon thyme2 eggs, separated1/2 cup milk1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs, divided1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated1 tablespoon butter, melted

Sprinkle zucchini generously with salt. Drainon paper towel, about 30 minutes. Press toremove excess water; pat dry. Melt butter insaucepan. Add onion. Cook until transparent.Remove from heat.

Add thyme, beaten yolks, milk, 1/2 cup bread-crumbs, and zucchini. Stir until mixed. Beat eggwhites until stiff. Fold into zucchini mixture.Lightly spoon mixture into buttered

1-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesancheese, melted butter and remaining bread-crumbs.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes or untilpuffed and top is golden.

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Illinois WindWorking Group- http://www.wind.

ilstu.edu/

American WindEnergy Association

www.awea.org

Illinois Wind www.illinoiswind.org

SEEYOUR

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The McDonoughCounty Farm Bureau

Harvester reachesover 2000 house-

holds in McDonoughCounty each month! We have the lowestcolumn rates aroundand many sizes are

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Contact Sarah at837-3350 or email

mcdfb@logonix.netfor more

information.

Lawrence F. KaneBranch Managerlkane@s-pelmwood.comCell: 309.231.0846

Cathy Ekstrand Market Advisorcekstrand@s-pelmwood.comCell: 309.231.9784

Toll-free 866.334.9779 • phone 309.742.3208fax 309.742.2208

119 W. Main Street, PO Box 199, Elmwood, IL 61529

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