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Keynote
Speaker Ed Schafer – CNO Photos by Lyn Bliss
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Research
and development leads to cheaper food
A Report on the Boehner Farm Forum
By Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane
Congressman John Boehner's 22nd Annual Farm Forum was well attended by
many from Darke and surrounding Counties.
I had the pleasure sitting with Gwen Wolford, PhD who is Director,
Government Relations of Ohio State University Extension and OARDC for
the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) along with Don and
John Lecklider and several others.
I was very impressed with the panel of speakers who were assembled to
represent International Trade, Food Security and Biotechnology and
included Corn and Soybean Growers Associations, the United States
Department of Agriculture and Dupont (Pioneer Seeds). They were
Michael T. Scuse, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services in the U.S. Department of Agriculture; John Campbell, Senior
Vice President, Industrial Products and Government Relations, Ag
Processing Inc.; Jerry Flint, Ph.D, Vice President, Biotech Affairs and
Regulatory, Pioneer; and William (Bill) Hoffman, Trade Policy and
Biotechnology Action Team, National Corn Growers Association.
This panel was chaired by Jim Zehringer who did an excellent job in
keeping things moving and presenting the questions to the panel that
were derived from the audience. One of my questions along with several
others on the same topic was the thought of corn (grain crops) grown
for fuel for the vehicles or food for human consumption; and is this a
problem to be able to harvest and provide enough product for
both. I believe I understood that all the panelist agreed that
with our expansion of agricultural biotechnology - which has enhanced
the grain crops production over the years - it is substantial to be
able to provide enough for both food and fuel for consumer needs here
at home and abroad.
Some mentioned that we need to keep lobbying for the research and
development of renewable fuels since this has already helped
tremendously for the United States to be less dependent on foreign
fuels. Ethanol usage and many forms of by products from this process
have helped our economy.
Another topic discussed concerned the subsidies that rancher/farmers
may receive. A response was that only 1 percent of our United States
population are farmers and they supply Americans with the safest and
most abundant food source -- which costs the average American family
approximately 10% of their total income. Indonesia has to spend
approximately 60% of their income to feed their families.
Keynote Speaker Mr. Ed Schafer, former Secretary of United States
Department of Agriculture and former Governor of North Dakota shared
some great information on how their state came from a deficit to a
thriving economy. They lowered unemployment, cut government spending
and are not relying on revenues to be more solvent. They put in
strong standards for the fracking industry, which has brought them to
being number two in oil production in the nation. He also stated that
there has not been one proven incident of contamination in the water
source from this process. Mr. Schafer talked about working with all
sectors and reaching out to help others to create a common bond. Do
this at home, office, organizations and beyond.
Congressman Boehner and Schafer then answered more questions from the
audience. Boehner answered some questions regarding the budget and said
that the House and Senate are to present their budgets in April and the
President was to present his by February 4. So far, the House has
done their part in presenting their budgets on time in the past years.
Boehner also stated that he plans on continuing his Farm Forums and
welcomes everyone to keep attending.
Mr. Schafer mentioned that we need to stay involved. Several of the
panelists said to share the Agriculture story, processes and production
with the youth in the early years and speak to organizations that are
not always farmers. We need to keep people educated about the
environmental practices and regulations that farmers are dealing with
especially in regards to foreign trade. Our organizations, such
as USDA and EPA, are trying to work together to help with keeping our
products marketable.
These forums are very enjoyable and a learning tool for helping address
agriculture concerns in Darke County.
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Speaker
John Boehner and ODNR Director Jim Zehringer
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Panel:
Michael T. Scuse, John Campbell, Jerry Flint, Ph.D, and William (Bill)
Hoffman
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