08/18/05 American Agri-Women

08/18/05 American Agri-Women

Fly-in's to, and lobbying efforts in, Washington D.C. are nothing new to national agriculture organizations, as they try to educate lawmakers and bureaucrats not only on issues important to ag, but on the ways of the rural life. Just ask the organization American Agri-Women. This coalition of over sixty farm, ranch, and agribusiness women's organizations has held a fly-in's of Washington D.C. for twenty consecutive years. Events along the way for the American Agri-Women delegation included visits with Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Environmental Protection Agency officials, and members of Congress. The Northwest has a strong representation in American Agri-Women. Participating organizations from our region include Idaho Agri-Women, and Washington and Oregon chapters of Women of Agriculture, Idaho and Oregon chapters of Women in Timber, and Washington State Dairy Women. And the President of American Agri-Women is Oregon's Carol Marx. MARX: We hope that we represent all farm owners across the nation, farm and ranch owners. We try to examine issues across the nation. We are a broad, diverse group and we come together in those common areas where we can state positions that will help individual farmers succeed in their businesses. And American Agri-Women as an organization knows what issues have greatly impacted their individual operations in recent years, and are not afraid to share their views with those making policy. Marx says the number one concern of her organization and its membership is the negative impacts to farming, ranching, and timber operations by the Federal Endangered Species Act. MARX: It impacts us as landowners greatly. The rules, the science behind those, we do hope that Congress will look at improving that act to make it more effective and more respectful of us as landowners. Then there is the matter of water issues. MARX: In our operations, we're dependant on water and we absolutely want to maintain the quality of that water, and assure we have the quantity to provide food for this nation. And tied into those particular issues is the third one championed by American Agri-Women. MARX: Private property rights & it's essential for all businesses to have the right to utilize their property in a manner to be successful. It's the foundation of our country. More details about American Agri-Women can be obtained through their web site, www.americanagriwomen.org.
Previous Report08/17/05 Cooperative Conservation
Next Report08/19/05 Habitat Conservation Plan model