CAWG in Action

While the legislature is not in session, CAWG continues to work for wheat farmers in Colorado. CAWG officers and board members worked with legislators to make sure that HB 1195 (suspending the tax exemption on agricultural compounds such as herbicides and pesticides) was implemented correctly. Initially, the Department of Revenue (DOR) recommended retailers also tax fertilizer. CAWG worked with legislators and other agricultural organizations to ensure that fertilizer was not included. CAWG also monitored the implementation of HB 1190, (suspending the tax exemption on fuel and electricity for industrial purposes for a three-year period). An amendment was added to the bill exempting agriculture, due to the efforts of CAWG and other Colorado agricultural organizations. Once again, energy providers were given advice by the DOR that they should charge tax on energy used by farmers.  CAWG worked with other Colorado agricultural organizations to make sure this law was implemented correctly.

On September 23 and 24, a live wheat field, approximately one-quarter of an acre in size, sprouted from the streets of the nation’s capital in an effort to promote food literacy via farm-to-fork wheat education. The Wheat Foods Council’s second Urban Wheat Field took place within sight of the U.S. Capitol building. CAWG and CWAC were represented at the event by CAWG President Chris Tallman, Brandon, CWAC Secretary/Treasurer Sara Olsen, Yuma, and CWAC/CAWG Communications and Marketing Director Glenda Mostek.  The Colorado delegation participated in staffing the wheat field and answering questions from visitors about wheat and agriculture. The Colorado delegation also visited Colorado senators and representatives in their Washington, D.C. offices.

On September 7, CAWG hosted a legislative field trip to familiarize Colorado state legislators with issues facing Colorado wheat farmers and other agricultural businesses.  The legislators toured Cooksey Farms near Roggen, seeing seed wheat being bagged, climbing aboard farm equipment, and visiting watermelon, pumpkin, and corn fields. Discussion topics during the tour included how wheat farmers price and sell their grain, the need for temporary workers during harvest and the difficulty finding legal workers, the H2A program for bringing in workers from Mexico,  and the reasons for incorporating a family farm.

Also in September, CAWG officers, members and staff attended the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Development Forums organized by USDA and the offices of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet  (D-Colo.) and U.S. Representative Betsy Markey (D-Colo.).

Throughout the summer, CAWG officers have attended campaign events for Cory Gardner, Betsy Markey, John Salazar, and Michael Bennet.

In June, CAWG met with BNSF Railway to discuss railroad relocation, rail rates to Mexico, the impact of freight rates on wide basis levels, and how to keep lines of communications open between the wheat organizations and BNSF.

In May, CAWG President Jerry Cooksey was one of only five producers invited to testify to the House Committee on Agriculture at a hearing in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the only crop farmer from Colorado.  The purpose of the hearing was to review U.S. agriculture policy in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill. In his testimony, Cooksey emphasized the need for an effective farm safety net in the 2012 Farm Bill. Cooksey spoke on the importance of conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), continuing support of trade promotion programs such as the Market Access Program (MAP), and the need for improved crop insurance coverage.

The 2011 Legislative Session will convene in January.

Website for the Colorado General Assembly:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/

To listen to live audio or view live video of current proceedings in the Colorado General Assemly, click here:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/cslFrontPages.nsf/Audio?OpenForm