Kentucky Farm Bureau 2020 State Priority Issues

AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

• Maintain allocating 50% of the Master Settlement Agreement funds to the Agricultural Development Board, and funds be spent for the purpose of improving the net farm income of individual farmers in production agriculture.
• Support continued funding of the Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost-Share Program.
• Support an efficient, well-administered and adequately financed Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

TAXATION

• Kentucky’s tax code should be reformed based on sound economic principles to create a more competitive business climate.
• Strongly oppose freezing the state real property tax rate.
• Support the provisions of House Bill 44 (KRS 132.010). Revenue from property taxes should continue to be limited to 4% plus new growth. Proposals to exceed 4% should automatically go to the voters.
• Maintain Kentucky’s sales tax exemptions for production agriculture.

HIGHWAYS, ROADS, AND BRIDGES

• Support the rural secondary and county road aid programs and continuation of the 22.2% allocation of the state gasoline tax revenue for rural roads.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Support efforts and incentives to improve and provide all telecommunications in rural Kentucky.
• Support efforts that will retain and attract new business and industry to rural areas of Kentucky.
• Support broadband and high speed internet service being available for the benefit of all Kentuckians.

WATER RESOURCES

• Support the Kentucky Water Resources Board and advocate a coordinated effort to manage water resource projects across the Commonwealth.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

• Seek effective wildlife management that will reduce the wildlife population in an effort to alleviate continued crop and livestock losses, automobile accidents, human injuries, and loss of life.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

• Oppose any agency exceeding legislative intent in the implementation of regulations.
• Oppose the power of eminent domain being used to take private property for private use.

Forestry

• Support forestry initiatives that enhance the economy and create opportunities for woodland owners.

NATIONAL PRIORITIES

Kentucky Farm Bureau 2020 National Priority Issues

NATIONAL FARM POLICY

• Federal crop insurance programs should be maintained at current levels to  provide an effective safety net for agriculture.
• Support crop insurance initiatives to maintain the integrity of crop insurance.
• Support NRCS assistance for the development of additional water resources for irrigation and livestock use.
• Support modifying USDA Rural Development broadband programs to increase access to broadband service that meets or exceeds FCC standards.

TRADE

• Support fair and open multilateral trade agreements that will open new markets and expand existing markets for U.S. agricultural products.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Support maintenance and improvement of transportation infrastructure, including rural highways, lock and dam systems, riverports, and railroads.

REGULATORY REFORM

• Support a thorough regulatory review to ensure regulations do not impose an undue economic burden on any segment of society and the regulatory process is transparent and results achievable.
• All regulations should be based on sound, peer-reviewed scientific data that can be replicated.
• Support congressional oversight of federal agency regulatory actions to ensure rules and regulations do not exceed the intent and authority of federal law.

IMMIGRATION AND FARM LABOR REFORM

• Support immigration reform that restructures the H-2A program to make it more streamlined, reliable, and economical, in addition to limiting legal liability for farmers.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

• Support changes to current health care law that will stabilize the market, encourage competition that will reduce health care costs and increase consumer choice.

FISCAL POLICY

• In order to protect the future integrity of our nation’s economy it is in our best interest to address budget deficits, which erode our ability to remain fiscally stable with the goal of reaching a balanced budget.

WILDLIFE ISSUES

• Support a producer’s right to protect livestock and property against nuisance wildlife predation.
• Support a nationwide depredation order, or safe harbor provision, to take black vultures.