Backgrounders

Antibiotic resistance in human medicine is a serious and growing public health concern. While antibiotic use in health care increases, it is agriculture that continues to come under serious scrutiny for its production practices. Critics advocate for reduction and restrictions despite the absence of scientific evidence indicating a relationship between antibiotic use in livestock production and human antibiotic resistance. Is there common ground on use of antibiotics in agriculture? Should veterinary oversight of livestock antibiotics change, and if so, what is the proper role of the veterinarian? 
     Antibiotics          Produced by American Farm Bureau

Two or three times over the last several years have seen us reach very tight stocks for grains and oil seeds. Would an early-out, penalty-free, release of non-environmentally sensitive CRP cropland help encourage increased grain supply and benefit farm families? Would this help meet the demand for both food and feed? What are the ramifications to U.S. agriculture of doing this both in the public eye and environmentally?
     CRP - Early Out          Produced by American Farm Bureau

Food safety and marketing issues continue to be front and center in the media and in the minds of consumers. Food traceability has become mainstream in some countries, and its popularity is growing in the U.S. More and more stores and corporations are touting the traceability of their products. What level of food traceability can we live with and support? How can we use traceability to our benefit? 
     Food Traceability          Produced by American Farm Bureau

The Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the regulations that are now being developed to implement that legislation represent some of the most sweeping changes to financial markets in decades. There are several who feel that some of these proposed regulations will go too far for agribusiness firms, particularly farmer-owned cooperatives. Are there circumstances where firms, including cooperatives, should be exempt from some of the provisions of Dodd-Frank? What would those circumstances be? What is it that would make agriculturally related firms “special”?
     Futures Contract Regulation          Produced by American Farm Bureau

If infrastructure investments are needed, and no federal funds are available, what can we do to make it happen? Which are most critical to the American farmer and rancher: roads, bridges, rail, dams, levees, waterways, electric, broadband? What is the impact of these infrastructures on your business and rural America in general? Are there programs we can afford to give up to gain funding for infrastructure?
      Funding Infrastructure Projects          Produced by American Farm Bureau

The health care law continues to be debated at all levels. Odds are that complete repeal will not be the end result. To ensure that rural America has the health care it deserves, which specific areas in the new law definitely need reform? Which specific pieces are improvements? What can we live with? Should government focus more of its efforts on federal health care spending as opposed to the health care system itself?
     Rural Health Care          Produced by American Farm Bureau

Tax exemptions are extended until the end of 2012 to allow time for Congress to tackle tax reform. As in 1986, when the tax code was last rewritten, Congress will probably opt to modify the code instead of doing a full rewrite. Farm Bureau is on record in support of estate tax and AMT repeal and lowering income and capital gains tax rates. Are there tax code provisions so important to farmers and ranchers that they should be off the tax reform table? How do things like cash accounting, deferring income, prepaid expenses and section 179 and other depreciation rules compare in importance to things such as payment of wages to children under age 18 without payroll taxes, farm income averaging and deductions for farm inputs in the year purchased rather depreciating them over time?
     Tax Reform          Produced by American Farm Bureau

As legislators seek to ensure a fair, equitable, and sufficient sales tax base, some are taking a closer look at taxing agricultural inputs, most of which have never been taxed. What tax policy should Farm Bureau promote?
     Sales Taxes           Produced by South Dakota Farm Bureau

Discussions about immigration reform must address the need for a legal, stable supply of agricultural workers. Some believe that the federal government is not doing an adequate job, and therefore states must adopt individual immigrant workers policies. Does South Dakota need its own immigrant worker policy, and if so, what should it look like?
     Agricultural Labor           Produced by South Dakota Farm Bureau

Agricultural Research Funding
SDSU's College of Agricultural and Biological Sciences has faced state and federal budget cuts over the past three years amounting to $4 million. This is having an impact on the college's ability to conduct agricultural research, which benefits all consumers. How should SDFB address this issue?
     Agricultural Research Funding          Produced by South Dakota Farm Bureau

For the past two years, legislators have tried to deal with the relationship between insurance companies and their clients and how payments should be allocated in cases where insurance coverage is not enough to cover all expenses arising from a claim. Should SDFB get involved in this issue? What should be our policy?
     Subrogration and the "Made Whole" Doctrine          Produced by South Dakota Farm Bureau

The SD Department of Revenue uses two broad classifications for valuing agricultural land: cropland and non-cropland. Although the phrase "highest and best use" is not found in state law, it is often used in deciding which category land should be assessed at, rather than how the landowner is using the land. This creates concerns about fairness...whether cropland is subsidizing the tax burden of land that could be cropped but isn't, whether grassland owners are subsidizing crop production through various farm programs, and whether county Directors of Equalization should have the responsibility for assigning land use choices. SDFB policy does not specifically address this issue. Should it?
     Land Valuation         Produced by South Dakota Farm Bureau

South Dakota uses two different systems for valuing agricultural land for tax purposes: yield and prices for cropland, and cash rent for pasture land. Discussion at the most recent Ag Land Advisory Task Force centered around whether cash rents should be used for both types of land. SDFB Policy does not directly answer this question.
     Cash Rents for Cropland Valuations     -     Produced by South Dakota Farm Bureau