Bob Stallman of Texas was re-elected to serve another two year term as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation after a long voting delegate session to set policy direction for 2012 as the organization’s 93rd annual meeting wrapped up on Tuesday in Honolulu.

The business session of the AFBF meeting lasted all day Tuesday covering a wide variety of policy issues, most important being farm bill recommendations. “I think we kept a very forward looking policy in place,” Stallman says. “When the question came up about supporting direct payments, that was soundly rejected.”

Stallman says the basic principles of the proposed Systemic Risk Reduction Program (SRRP) for farm policy were kept, but the name of the concept was rejected. “Maybe we’ll come up with something better,” he said.

Stallman summarizes the day in his final remarks to the media here: AFBF president Bob Stallman

Be sure to check out the AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photo Album as well as all audio and video from the annual meeting here on AgWired and feel free to download and use whatever you wish.

Aloha!

Growing up in south Florida, I have been a fan of humorist Dave Barry from the time he was still just the humor columnist at the Miami Herald before he hit the big time, so it was a thrill for me to see him at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. And while he was unknown to many of the farmers and ranchers in the crowd before today, he was really hilarious and they know him now.

Barry is a big city guy who admitted to knowing nothing about agriculture except for an attempt to grow zucchini, but he was quick to pick up on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement about closing many Farm Service Agency offices around the country. “I’m kinda ticked off because Secretary Vilsack took my entire speech,” Barry said when he took the stage. “So, I’m just going to give the zip codes of the FSA offices that are going to close and then I’m outta here.”

Here’s a couple more ag-related Barry funnies:

“Americans don’t understand agriculture. Way too many Americans believe that food comes from the supermarket. That’s so stupid. It comes from the trucks parked behind the supermarket. Even I know that.”

“You do something useful, something important, you feed the entire world. If you stopped doing what you did, people would starve to death. If I stopped doing what I did, there would be a tiny, incremental drop in the world’s supply of booger jokes.”

Dave Barry also mentioned that he is still running for president. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t, everybody else is. They’re all in New Hampshire, I’m here in Hawaii with you. That’s how much I care…. I will be a friend to the American farmer and rancher. You can just text me the Farm Bill, I’m good with it.”

Here’s a sample of Dave Barry’s keynote at AFBF: Dave Barry at AFBF

AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photos

The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation told members gathered for the organization’s 93rd annual meeting Sunday that America’s farmers and ranchers are more productive than ever and are providing a solid economic foundation for our nation.

“We are the 1 percent that is producing food and fiber for the other 99 percent,” said Bob Stallman of Texas in his annual address to the approximately 7,000 Farm Bureau members gathered for the annual meeting in Honolulu.

As the voting delegates of the nation’s largest farm organization will be setting policy this week for the year ahead that includes the writing of a new farm bill, Stallman talked about their Systemic Risk Reduction Program proposal, which he says is unique in that it helps protect farmers from catastrophic losses while recognizing budget realities. “It is also unique in that it can be applied to a broader range of commodities like fruits and vegetables,” he said.

Talking about the toll that increasing government regulations are having on agriculture, Stallman suggested a new type of reality show. “I’d have government regulators try to farm under the growing web of restrictions that farmers and ranchers face,” he said to applause. “Before long they would find out they couldn’t do half the things they thought they could … The winner – if one emerged – would be awarded a machinery bill, a margin call and a mortgage.” Let’s pitch that idea to the networks!

Listen to or download Bob Stallman’s comments here: AFBF president Bob Stallman

AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photos

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie welcomed members of the American Farm Bureau Federation on Sunday with open arms and shared his vision of agriculture for the Aloha State.

“You have to have an integrated approach to water, to land and to agriculture,” Abercrombie said, as he talked about the rich Polynesian history of the state and the concept of Ahupuaa – from the mountains to the sea, what he calls the “synthesis of understanding of the environmental foundation that would provide the prosperity for paradise.”

The governor noted that the state has moved away from the monoculture of sugarcane and pineapple plantations to a ‘modern concept of agriculture that was entrepreneurial and innovative and geared towards becoming as self-sufficient as possible.”

Abercrombie says Hawaii imports more food than in past decades. “We are within a few days of being unable to sustain ourselves if we are not able to move towards more self-sustenance when it comes to agriculture,” he said.

To that end, the governor came up with a comprehensive plan for the state that included what he calls “an agricultural renaissance” in Hawaii. “Food security is the primary goal,” he said. “Entrepreneurial farming and jobs, preserving and advancing rural communities, sustaining natural resources, agricultural resources and the planning and commitment that will bring that all about.”

Listen in to Governor Abercrombie’s comments here: Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie

AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photos