Three bills of concern in Washington.

Climate Change HR 2454

CLIMATE CHANGE: Full House expected to Vote Before the Fourth of July Holiday - The Bill Will Hurt Farmers. Your messages needed NOW!

Climate Change legislation is moving quickly through Congress. Costs for producers will rise and farm income is expected to fall. The outcome will unquestionably have an enormous impact on U.S. agriculture.

Analysis from EPA shows that energy prices would rise. Fertilizer costs and electricity rates would jump as well. And while U.S. farmers are trying to absorb these huge costs and regulations, foreign competitors will not face the same restrictions.

Rushing to make a decision of this magnitude without having all the facts and information for an informed decision is bad policy! Legislators are being asked to vote before USDA has even had a chance to figure the costs to farmers. The agriculture sector is being asked to accept higher costs from the Climate Change bill; while all farmers will face potentially higher costs, only a few stand to benefit.

We need you to speak out today to your members of Congress. Let them know that voting for a Climate Change bill is bad for agriculture, bad for farmers and will threaten any chances at a meaningful economic recovery!

Clean Water S 747

*** UPDATE *** CLEAN WATER: Legislation Regulates Farm Ponds & Ditches Senate Committee to Vote. Tell Your Senators Not to Support

Farm Bureau members were extremely successful last Congress in stopping this damaging bill from moving from the House. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced S. 787, which would greatly expand the regulatory reach of the Clean Water Act to the detriment of U.S. economic growth and agricultural operations.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will mark-up the bill the week of May 7. We expect the Committee to pass the bill with little changes and then it moves to the full Senate.

If passed, nearly every wet area in the nation -- even if water is only present for a few days could become regulated by the federal government! This could include everything from ditches, to farm ponds, to prior converted cropland and possibly groundwater.

This proposal would move the CWA beyond protecting wetlands and waterways, and create a regulatory nightmare for farmers, ranchers and property owners.

Legislation to Restrict Antibiotic Use Introduced Ask Members of Congress to Oppose

The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act will restrict access to antibiotics traditionally used in livestock and poultry production. FARM BUREAU OPPOSES THIS BILL.

IMPACT: The proposed bill would remove important antibiotics and classes of antibiotics from the market, handicapping veterinarians and livestock and poultry producers in their efforts to maintain animal health and protect our nation's food supply.

Farmers use antibiotics carefully to treat, prevent and control disease in our flocks and herds. These products are critically important to the health and welfare of the animals and to the safety of the food produced.