PROPERTY RIGHTS, WETLANDS, ETHANOL, BALANCED BUDGET FARM BUREAU ISSUES

Property rights, wetlands, ethanol and a balanced federal budget are among priority issues being discussed wherever farmers and ranchers meet.

"Legislation on state and federal levels has been introduced in most of these areas," said Lowell Mohler, chief administrative officer and corporate secretary of the Missouri Farm Bureau. "These issues and more were discussed recently at national and state Farm Bureau meetings."

Mohler and LeRoy Deles Dernier, director of field services and Young Farmers activities, were in Southeast Missouri recently meeting with farmers to discuss state and national issues concerning agriculture.

"A balanced federal budget is one of the primary national concerns of the Farm Bureau," said Mohler, during a stop at the Southeast Missourian. "Federal spending and taxes continue to increase with no end in sight. The last balanced federal budget occurred in 1969."

Mohler said the Farm Bureau was in support of a balanced budget amendment that would require the federal government to operate on a balanced budget.

The Senate will vote on the amendment in mid to late February, said Mohler. The House will vote on an identical resolution in mid to late March.

"This may not be a perfect answer to the nation's budget problems," said Mohler, "but it is an important first step."

Problems of property rights have increased in recent years, he said.

"Such statutes as the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act (wetlands and regulation), and the Rails to Trails Act are examples of laws which have impacted private property owners, "he said. "It's time that government becomes more sensitive to the protection of humans and their property rights as guaranteed by the Constitution."

Mohler said property rights are a major concern to Farm Bureau memberships and that "our members are going to be involved in gathering signatures on petitions to let legislators know the importance of this issue to everyone in the state of Missouri."

The petition will ask lawmakers to support the Private Property Rights Act, which requires governmental agencies to first determine if the "taking" of private property occurs before rules and regulations are issued.

Wetlands policy also continues to be a controversial issue for Missouri farmers.

"The Flood of 1993 provides additional interests in wetlands," said Mohler. "There are some efforts to convert significant amounts of productive river bottom farm land into wetlands following the flood."

The Missouri Farm Bureau supports the bill to provide a realistic wetlands definition. The new legislation would narrow the definition of a wetland and require compensation of landowners who would lose the use of the property.

In addition, Farm Bureau members support the Clinton administration's proposal to include the alternative fuel in new smog-reduction rules, but there is some skepticism about the new rule, said Mohler.

The new fuel formula mandates that 30 percent of the reformulated fuel market be based on renewable fuels such as ethanol, but that rule only has a six-month lifespan.

"It is estimated that the plan would allow additional usage of ethanol, which uses corn in its formulation, increasing corn usage by 250 to 400 million bushels," said Mohler. "Unfortunately, the rule isn't final and must go through a lengthy rule-making process in the coming months."

Mohler said he expects petroleum industry and possibly some environmental groups would be working to derail the proposed 30 percent mandate rule prior to being finalized early this summer.

"We're urging Farm Bureau members to submit written comments in support of the new rule to the EPA," said Mohler.

Other issues addressed during state and national meetings include health care reform, the 1995 Farm Bill and a Missouri resolution urging federal help in rebuilding levees damaged or destroyed by the 1993 floods.

"We'd like to see the levees go back the way they were," said Mohler.