May 2008

General assembly wrap-up: Member efforts helped boost Farm Bureau legislative priorities

By Pam Wiley

Because Farm Bureau members stepped up and spoke up, the organization saw desired outcomes with regard to many of its 2008 legislative priorities.

“Our members all over the state were wonderfully supportive in contacting their senators and delegates this winter,” said Martha Moore, director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “I can’t emphasize enough how valuable that is.”

Gov. Tim Kaine had until April 23 to amend or veto bills passed by the 2008 General Assembly.

Budget

In a tightening of the state’s belt, agriculture still managed to acquire some funding for key programs. Legislators appropriated $20 million for the state’s agricultural best management cost-share program for the first year of the biennium and no funds for the second year. While that is far less than the $100 million requested, “it does provide level funding from the previous fiscal year,” Moore said.

Farm Bureau was among 10 farm and conservation organizations petitioning the General Assembly for $100 million per year for the next 10 years to improve and protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and Virginia’s Southern Rivers region.

The state/local matching funds program for purchase of development rights received $500,000 for the first year of the biennium and $1 million for the second year.

In addition, $500,000 was taken from additional operating funds for the Office of Farmland Preservation. “While this is much less than the governor proposed,” Moore noted, “it does maintain the program in such a strained budget year.”

Eminent domain

Two amendments to Virginia’s constitution were introduced and carried over to 2009. They would better define “public use” to parallel state legislation passed in 2007.

Under current state law, the government cannot take private property except for a specific public use such as utility pipelines or roads.

The current state constitution, however, allows the General Assembly to define public use.

Amending the constitution involves passing a bill or bills in two consecutive General Assembly sessions before the amendment goes before Virginia voters in a general election.

Forestry

Legislation was continued until 2009 that would have drastically expanded the rights of the state forester or his authorized representatives to go onto private property without the owner’s consent. As submitted, the bill sought to clarify purposes for which those individuals could enter private property without prosecution of trespass. Farm Bureau members expressed concerns that it was so broadly written as to encroach on their private property rights.

“While we certainly understand the Department of Forestry’s need to go onto private property to suppress forest fires, we believe that in non-emergency situations there should be a reasonable effort made to gain prior permission from landowners,” Moore said. “Farm Bureau will continue a dialogue with the forestry department this summer to try to reach a solution.”

Sunday hunting

Three bills failed that would have allowed Sunday hunting in Virginia, which many Farm Bureau producer members say they oppose.

Moore noted that such bills are perennially introduced in the General Assembly and that others are expected next year.

Animal husbandry, welfare and care standards

Numerous bills relating to the care of animals were altered or withdrawn after Farm Bureau pointed out their implications for livestock operations.