Farm Bureau hosts fifth annual Farm Forum
By Taryn Dameron 3/6/06

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, University of Missouri Collegiate Farm Bureau hosted its fifth annual Farm Forum. MU students and staff were invited to listen in on and participate in a panel discussion over the issues facing agriculture today.

“I hope this event will make students look further into these issues and become an advocate for them and help make a difference,” MU Colligate Farm Bureau president, Ashley Noblitt said. “CAFNR is so full of students with the potential to make a difference and I hope they will use those abilities.”

Panelists included U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, Rep. Peter Meyers and Missouri Farm Bureau president, Charles Kruse. Dr. James Spain, CAFNR assistant dean, served as the moderator.

The panelist volunteered topics such as energy sources, animal identification, water quality, the 2007 Farm Bill, and the Missouri River spring rise as the most pressing issues facing agriculture in Missouri and the United States.

“It was nice to see all the outlooks on agricultural issues that were similar yet had their differences,” Jessica Francka, sophomore agricultural education major, said.

“Rather than look to the Middle East for our fuel needs, we need to look to the Midwest,” Hulshof said.

The panel discussed the progress being made towards lowering the United States’ dependency on oil from other countries by furthering the use of ethanol and Biodiesel. An example of this progress is the use of ethanol in all racecars in the 2007 Indie 500.

“There is no reason why we can’t produce most of our energy on our farms,” Myers said.

The animal identification system was brought up as being primarily a marketing tool for producers. The panel was in consensus that the system should be voluntary.

“If there is value in this system people will do it. It adds value to products that will bring a premium back to producers,” Kruse said.

Questions from the audience brought up concerns over issues such as the future of eminent domain legislatures.

“Eminent domain is supposed to serve the greater good for the public use, but we don’t want it to stomp on private property rights,” Myers said. “I really don’t see it getting too far.”

It was after 9 p.m. when Dr. Spain suggested the discussion come to a close. The panelists were given a warm appreciation for being there.

“These things are what makes me proud of Farm Bureau, that there is this number of students interested in being here,” Kruse said. “It’s an honor to be asked to be here.”

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