Barack Obama Sworn In
How will agriculture fare under President Obama?
In a historic ceremony today, Sen. Barack Obama became President Obama on the steps of the nation’s Capitol. The 44th President of the United States will no doubt have much work ahead of him in the coming weeks, and healing the nation’s economic turmoil and instability will be priority No. 1. But in the next few months — and years, for that matter — how will agriculture fare under the influence of the former Illinois senator?
President Obama himself may provide some indications for rural America’s future well-being through a web site developed during his presidential campaign. There, he and now-Vice President Joe Biden outlined key priorities providing insight into what potentially lies on agriculture’s horizon.
Seven of them could influence the cattle industry, including suggestions for payment caps, a packer ban, regulation of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), country-of-origin labeling (COOL), organic and local agriculture, young producers, and conservation practices.
The following is directly from the site, available here:
- Strong Safety Net for Family Farmers: Obama and Biden promise to fight for farm programs that provide family farmers with stability and predictability. They will implement a $250,000 payment limitation to help family farmers — not large corporate agribusiness. They will close the loopholes that allow mega farms to get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations.
- Prevent Anticompetitive Behavior Against Family Farms: Obama is a strong supporter of a packer ban. When meatpackers own livestock they can manipulate prices and discriminate against independent farmers. 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.
- Regulate CAFOs: Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency will strictly regulate pollution from large CAFOs, with fines for those that violate tough standards. Obama also supports meaningful local control.
- Establish Country-of-Origin Labeling: Obama supports immediate implementation of the COOL law so that American producers can distinguish their products from imported ones.
- Encourage Organic and Local Agriculture: Obama and Biden will help organic farmers afford to certify their crops and reform crop insurance to not penalize organic farmers. He also will promote regional food systems.
- Encourage Young People to Become Farmers: Obama and Biden will establish a new program to identify and train the next generation of farmers. They will also provide tax incentives to make it easier for new farmers to afford their first farm.
- Partner with Landowners to Conserve Private Lands: Obama and Biden will increase incentives for farmers and private landowners to conduct sustainable agriculture and protect wetlands, grasslands, and forests.
Visit www.barackobama.com/issues/rural for further information.
Where Do Ag Issues Rank?
According to agriculture and trade issues consultant and reporter Jim Wiesemeyer, President Obama’s administration will have plenty on its plate.
Wiesemeyer, of Washington-based Informa Economics Inc. says first on the administration’s agenda will be crisis issues, including an economic stimulus package, taxes, health care and energy. The long-term to-do list includes wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, global warming/cap-and-trade issues, Social Security, budget deficits and immigration reform.
On the agricultural front, Wiesemeyer expects cap and trade legislation addressing greenhouse gas emissions, efforts to cut farm programs, and tinkering with food safety policies. Wiesemeyer looks for a phase-out of subsidies for mature biofuel processors and more incentives for cellulosic ethanol production.
With regard to foreign trade, Wiesemeyer warns that both political parties are turning protectionist, and that’s not good for livestock producers. He also foresees a continuing link between energy and grain prices. As the price of oil goes, so goes prices for corn and soybeans.