Did you ever wonder how Farm Bureau defines the position it takes on issues affecting farmers and rural residents?
Well, it truly is a “grassroots” process, and it all starts here in the county…
This grassroots policy development process leads to the creation of policy position that guides legislative and regulatory action by Farm Bureau on important issues. Policies cover virtually all aspects of farm activity and rural, governmental, environmental and educational interactions that may affect the community, county, and state. The 2013 process has started and will continue through the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting which will be held January 12 through 15, 2014.
Here’s how the process works . . .
The Summit County Farm Bureau board selected our county policy development team, made of Farm Bureau members from a variety of involvement areas within our county organization. They came from county action teams, advisory councils, boards and young ag professionals.
Once the team was put together, they held a policy resource meeting to identify issues or concerns that should be addressed through the policy development process. Groups outside of Farm Bureau such as OSU extension educator, county commissioners, legislators and agricultural organizations also were invited to share their issues or concerns.
After the resource meeting had been held, the county policy development team considered the recommendations. They developed a plan of work, timeline and strategies to write our county’s policy proposals. These policy proposals were voted on at the Summit County Farm Bureau annual meeting, held on September 26, 2013.
From county to state . . .
As soon as the county policy development process ends, the state process begins. Deadlines for county policy submissions to Ohio Farm Bureau and the first meeting of the state policy development team, was held last month. Members of the state policy development team are appointed by the state president, typically state board members and county Farm Bureau presidents.
The state team also holds resource meetings, hearing from individuals and organizations that have state and national level policy concerns and issues.
Recommendations from the state advisory teams are also considered during these meetings. Advisory teams are groups of Farm Bureau members who discuss current issues within the team’s area of expertise (i.e. feed grains) and then submit policy recommendations to the state policy development team for consideration.
After considering proposed and recommended policies, the state policy development team writes policy proposals on state and national issues.
These policy proposals are discussed and voted on by the delegates, representing every county, at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting which will be held December 4 through 6, 2013.
Then on to national . . .
Following the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting, any policy proposals that are about national level issues are submitted by Ohio Farm Bureau to the American Farm Bureau for consideration and voting at their annual meeting.
Ohio sends delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting to vote on the national policy proposals. These delegates are appointed by the board president, and are typically Ohio Farm Bureau Federation board members. The approved policies are published and strictly supported in Farm Bureau’s actions throughout the year.
With American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting being held in January, the process starts over as soon as it ends. Counties begin recruiting and appointing county policy development team members in January.
Would you like to be a part of our county policy development team for 2014?
If so, contact us today for more details!