The 2007 farm bill is not “your father’s farm bill.” That’s the message a group of nationally-known speakers will share with Oklahoma farm and ranch leaders during a May 10 forum on the 2007 farm bill. The forum is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel, Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City.
“It is absolutely necessary our producers become involved in the farm bill process,” said Steve Kouplen, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president and Beggs rancher.
Kouplen will begin the forum with an overview of Farm Bureau’s policy on farm programs. Current Farm Bureau policy calls for an extension of the 2002 farm bill.
Following Kouplen will be a panel discussion featuring Barry Flinchbaugh, Kansas State University economist and agricultural policy analyst and Michael Dicks, agricultural economist at Oklahoma State University. They will analyze past farm bills and give producers an idea of what to expect in the 2007 farm bill.
World-renown trade expert Dana Brooks will be the luncheon speaker. Brooks is director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau and is respected for her work on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues.
“International trade issues will be a major factor in determining the direction of the 2007 farm bill,” Brooks said.
Specifically, Brooks will address the question “How will U.S. program payments fit into WTO rules?”
After lunch, Jim Phillips, former business editor and Washington, D.C. correspondent for Progressive Farmer magazine, will provide the national media’s perspective on reporting farm bill negotiations.
The forum concludes at 2 p.m. with a question and answer period with the presenters followed by reports from OFB commodity committee members. Interested participants are requested to contact OFB Event Coordinator Melisa Maney, (405) 523-2475 by May 5 for reservations.
