Farmer and rancher delegates from across Mississippi recently attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention Business Meeting to adopt policies on key topics that will guide the organization’s work during its centennial year.
“As our organization has done for the last 100 years, grassroots delegates from across the nation came together to express a unified voice on issues vital to the success of our farms, ranches and rural communities,” Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick said.
“It was fitting to have President Trump and numerous members of Congress among our attendees as we kicked off our centennial celebration,” McCormick continued. “We continue to face a challenging farm economy and we stand ready to work with Congress and the Trump administration to address the issues important to our farm and ranch families.”
The delegates representing Mississippi this year were Mike McCormick, Donald Gant, Louis Breaux IV, Ted Kendall IV, Bowen Flowers, John Bush, Billy Tabb, Charles Danna, Austin Smith, Dot Cole, Brian Rhodes, Reggie Magee, and Tyler Huerkamp.
Some of the major policies delegates considered included federal milk marketing orders and whole milk policy, trade, cell-based food, rural broadband and standards of identity on United States rice. Here is how the delegates voted on these key issues.
Federal Milk Marketing Orders & Whole Milk Policy
Delegates voted in favor of a recommendation put forth by Mississippi to change to multi-component pricing in federal marketing orders 5 and 7. Also, McCormick submitted an amendment that was adopted to further emphasize the need to promote whole milk through government purchasing programs.
Trade
Delegates voted to favor negotiations to resolve trade disputes, rather than the use of tariffs or withdrawal from agreements. They also voted to support the United States’ entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Cell-based Food
Delegates adopted a comprehensive policy to support innovation in cell-based food products while ensuring a level playing field for traditional protein. Delegates affirmed the USDA is best equipped to be the primary regulator of new cell-based products and it encouraged USDA to utilize the Food and Drug Administration’s expertise in food safety. The policy also calls for complete and accurate product labels to ensure that consumers have all the pertinent information they need.
Mississippi delegate Ted Kendall IV authored an amendment which was adopted to even further restrict the labeling of certain cuts of meat from cell-based foods.
“It may just be me, but I think you ought to have a rib before ribeye” Kendall said while on the delegate floor.
Rural Broadband
Delegates supported improved broadband coverage maps through better data and third-party provider verification. AFBF will work with the Federal Communications Commission to address map inaccuracies.
Standards of Identity on U.S Rice
Mississippi delegate Charles Danna proposed a floor amendment that would place the need to create a standard of identity for U.S rice in AFBF policy. The amendment came from the growing pressure from rice imitations in the grocery aisle. The amendment was unanimously approved.