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Post to postIf ever there was an important year to get involved in farm organizations it is this year. First and foremost the farm bill is being written. While most farmers and ranchers would rather leave the government out of their business, the fact is, they are smack dab in the middle. The farm bill affects nearly every inch of your farm, from fence post to fence post. So it is essential that you stay engaged and farm organizations are a good way to do that. They employ staff whose entire job is to answer questions like, "What exactly is ACR?" and "Would a ban on packer ownership affect my marketing agreements?" As a member, you then have the opportunity to work with other producers like yourselves to ensure the farm bill is the best it can be for you. It has been my experience as well, that the discussion among farmers on policy teaches producers more than they could learn anywhere else. But, if you do nothing else, stay informed. Simply reading about policy and knowing what legislators are considering is mostly likely enough to get you fired up. I don't care what side of the aisle you are on, but I can guarantee there is a part of the bill that you'll disagree with and another part that you'll believe is a "must have." And that should be enough to make you place the call or write an e-mail to your senator or representative's local office. Farm organizations also offer a host of benefits beyond affecting policy. Many work with allied industries helping to improve the supply chain for everyone involved. Others offer help when dealing with environmental agencies or legal situations. At a time when commodity prices are high, other groups work with their members to help them decided how best to reinvest into their operation. So protect your investment with a farm organization membership. This is the time. Get involved. Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-7171 ext. 1806 or e-mail at hmartin@hpj.com. 11/5/07 Date: 10/31/07
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