PFB Members Only

Click on button above to go to Capwiz site.

Instructions on Using Capwiz

Report of the Actions of the Policy Review Committee - Please take some time to review the policies that have been recommended for deletion by the policy book review committee with your county policy development committee. If your county disagrees with any of these recommendations for deletion, your regular members should vote on submitting a recommendation to retain one or more of the policies at your Fall Annual Meeting.

Policy Development Toolbox

Documents in this section appear in either PDF or Word Doc format, and are searchable. Please see search guidelines below.

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Using Keyword Searches in
Microsoft Word documents and PDF documents

Microsoft Word:
When you have opened the document, under the main menu at the top left of the program, select the second menu item called “Edit” and then “Find”. Type in your key words and click on “Find Next”.

In addition (applies to PFB policy documents only), all words in the Table of Contents pages are linked to corresponding text in the body of the document and will jump you to that location by holding down the control key on your computer and clicking on the item with the mouse.

Adobe Acrobat
When you have opened the document, under the main menu at the top left of the program, select the second menu item called “Edit” and then “Find”. Type in your key words and click on “Next”.

In addition (applies to PFB policy documents only), all words in the Table of Contents pages are linked to corresponding text in the body of the document and will jump you to that location by clicking on the item with the mouse.

PFB and AFBF Select Priority Issues

 

The PA Farm Bureau State Board of Directors has approved a priority list of state legislative and regulatory issues for attention during the coming year.

The top issues are:
Property Tax Relief,
Health Care/Health Insurance Reform,
Energy Costs/Renewable Fuels,
Transportation Funding,
Water Rights,
Gas Leasing & Drilling Concerns,
Agricultural Education,
Environmental Regulations & Costs,
Commodity Markets & Pricing,
Immigration Reform/Farm Labor Supply,
Animal Welfare Challenges,
Wildlife Management.

The Board’s selection of priority issues was made after a review of recommendations forwarded by county Farm Bureaus.

The American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors has also adopted a list of priority issues for 2009. 

The priority list will focus Farm Bureau’s national policy implementation efforts on key issues in the following areas: Animal Agriculture (Animal Care), Energy & Transportation (Comprehensive Energy Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations), Environment and Land Use (Clean Water Act Jurisdiction, Climate Change), Farm and Food Policy (Farm Bill Implementation, Food Safety & Labeling), International Trade (Market Access and Expansion), Labor and Immigration (Ensure a Legal Workforce for Agriculture), Strengthen Rural Communities (Broadband Deployment), Tax Policy (Capital Gains Tax, Estate Tax Reform, Renewable Energy Tax Incentives).

2010 Backgrounders

• Charter Schools
• Constitutional Convention
• Crop Insurance
• Farm Bill 2012
• Forced Pooling or Compulsory Integration of Land Subject to Oil or Gas Well Development
• Game Commission
• Increased Scrutiny of Septic Systems
• Incremental Beef Trade
• Prioritizing Penn State Extension and Research
• Transportation
• Food Safety
• Legislation Lacking Policy
• Long-Term Dairy Policy
• Little Big Town - Local Government Consolidation
• State Bio-Fuel Mandates on Heating Oil
• Weights and Measures Inspections

   

  Backgrounders provide basic facts and insight that you can refer to or include when communicating about the subject.

  Below is background material on numerous issues which we encourage you to make part of your deliberations during this year’s policy development process. It is not expected that a county Farm Bureau will take up every issue – but instead focus on those that are likely to be of greatest interest to your county’s membership. 

   

  As always, you are encouraged to surface other issues and topics for policy resolutions. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau will provide additional research support – upon request -- for other issues that you decide to consider.  Please direct those requests to my attention ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ); fax – 717-731-3575; phone – 717- 761-2740). It would be very helpful if you can allow us at least 10 work days to complete such research.

   

  During the recent Policy Development kick-off meetings, we distributed the reports of Agriculture Advisory Council discussions on various issues during the past year to each county where such councils exist. The goal is to connect those discussions and members’ views with issues that your Policy Development Committee may consider.

   

  As you know, Policy Development is the foundation of our organization’s advocacy for agriculture and problem-solving. Sam Kieffer is staff coordinator of policy development. Your leadership and work in this area will be greatly appreciated.

   

   

   

Farm Bureau members are encouraged to be actively involved in legislative campaigns and elections so that candidates who support agriculture and rural values are elected to office. PEP committees work to increase the influence that Farm Bureau members have in elections by encouraging them to exercise their basic responsibilities of citizenship and participation in the election process. It motivates members to be active in the political party of their choice and encourages them to support candidates whose beliefs are consistent with Farm Bureau policy, issues and candidates.

Farm Bureau Member Political Education & Action Handbook (pdf)

Getting Involved in a Political Campaign

The MAAPP Purpose

MAAPP Papers

As Farm Bureau looks toward future U.S. agricultural policy, it is challenged with addressing several issues. Consideration of ongoing trade negotiations, changing societal expectations, potential budgetary issues, a mounting regulatory burden and the growing emergence of environmental concerns in agriculture, requires a structural framework for the debate. To address the impact of these issues and more on agriculture in the United States , AFBF conducted a two-year study project to develop policy options for consideration by the AFBF board and voting delegates. Policy options will be developed with an eye toward a comprehensive and integrated approach to help our members manage risks associated with the weather and markets as well as political and other risks they encounter in both the long and the short term. The policy options will be aimed at increasing the profitability of agriculture, enhancing producers' image as good stewards of natural resources and improving farmers' and ranchers' ability to provide a high-quality, safe food supply for consumers through the year 2019, the 100th anniversary of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

For more information on the MAAPP committee, committee members, and other work, please contact the committee’s AFBF staff below:  

Bob Young, Chief Economist  (202) 406-3620    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Megan Provost, Trade Economist   (202) 406-3622    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jamie Reid    (202) 406-3624 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it