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Women Involved in Farm Economics hosts national conventionWomen Involved in Farm Economics opened their 32nd National Convention at the beautiful Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City, Neb., Nov. 20. Located on land homesteaded by J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day in 1862, the Arbor Farm and Lied Center is an example of ecological balance. A list of highlights included horse stables, vineyards, corn and soybeans, the largest hazelnut plantation in the U.S., 160 old varieties of apples and the only hand planted national forest. In the hotel rooms the carpet pads are made from recycled tires and the carpets are manufactured from recycled soda cans--a great place for the farmers and ranchers in WIFE to learn about earth friendly living. Brian O'Shaughnessy, co-chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America and owner of Revere Copper Products in Rome, N.Y., spoke to the group about trade and export taxes. Revere Copper was founded by Paul Revere in 1801. Now the silver bowl designed by Paul Revere is made in China. O'Shaughnessy used this as an example of how manufacturing in the U. S. is negatively impacted by current currency manipulation and tax policies. In 2005 the U.S. imported more food than it exported, adding to a trade deficit of $2 billion per day. The off shoring of American manufacturing jobs leads to increased unemployment and contributes to the current economic disaster. For example, Carrier Corporation has moved to Singapore, the President of Coca-Cola Corporation is from South Africa and the Vice President is from Turkey. O'Shaughnessy contends the U.S. government should not be asking multinationals for advice when they have shareholders all over the world. One hundred fifty countries where the United States sells their products charge a value added tax, while the US does not reciprocate, causing our own exports to be priced out of the marketplace. He asks how citizens can pay their mortgages when all their good jobs have been outsourced. He reminded WIFE members that farmland cannot be moved to another country while factories can be moved very quickly. Doug Parks, DVM, a former Foreign Service Inspector, discussed safety standards between U.S. and foreign meat processing facilities. Parks has traveled the world working for the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service. Thirty-four countries are authorized to sell meat into the United States. Ten veterinarians are assigned four or five countries each. The government, rather than the processing facilities must pay inspectors in foreign plants. If a country does not comply with US regulations they lose their authorization and it may take up to seven years for it to be reapproved. Kathy Boellstorff of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board addressed the group on the advantages of grain sorghum flour and Robert Burns of the Nebraska Renewable Energy Association presented a program on alternate energy, emphasizing wind energy. WIFE convention continued Nov. 21 with emphasis on legislation, property rights, carbon credits and establishing 2009 programs and policy. 12/1/08 Date: 11/24/08
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