Mississippi County members of Arkansas Farm Bureau Insurance met Wednesday morning at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville to discuss legislative priorities for the 2011 year with state legislatures.
State representatives Charolette Wagner and Tommy Baker, along with newly elected State Sen. David Burnett, were on hand to hear legislative concerns put forth by Farm Bureau.
"Farm Bureau is the largest lobby in the state," said Arkansas Farm Bureau president Randy Veach. "We are also the most effective."
Tax policy highlighted much of the legislative priorities dealt with the protection of tax exemptions and possible reductions in sales tax and exemptions for utilities used in agricultural facilities.
While the current tax policies where likely to be protected, Burnett admitted that any new tax reductions or exemptions may be hard to come by in the new legislative session.
"This may be a tough year for exemptions," said Burnett.
Baker added that the state's revenue stabilization act has allowed the state maintain a healthy fiscal situation but that makes it very difficult to add funding or take away revenue.
Another priority deals with supporting Grade "A" dairies in the state that continue to decline. Currently there are between 125 and 150 such dairies in the state, which means Arkansas may have to import more fresh milk if these dairies can not remain profitable.
"I don't mind importing things, but there are some things that I would prefer to know exactly where they are coming from," said Wagner.
Other priorities included additional funding and support for the Discovery Farm Program, support the proper care of farm animals but oppose legislation to unjustly restrict or jeopardize livestock and poultry production, preserve the current state of the Division of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas, support initiative to review but not rewrite the state water plan and to retain present structure of Commodity Checkoff programs.
afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com