Around the Dome
Dwayne O’Dell, Director of Government Relations
Many thanks to those
of you who attended West
Virginia Farm Bureau Ag and
Forestry Day at the Capitol
and the Taste of West Virginia
reception. Many legislators
have commented positively
about the reception held
that evening at the Marriott.
Thanks to Senator Ron Miller,
Senator Bob Ashley, and Delegate Mark Zatezalo for
participating on the legislative panel. Most of the
discussions centered upon budget shortfalls, oil/gas
development, and future agricultural opportunities.
I appreciated being able to meet several WVFB
members from around the state and look forward to
meeting others in the months ahead.
conservative and four liberal justices. Scalia was
a strong supporter of property rights and Second
Amendment rights. His replacement will be of great
importance, as in the future the Supreme Court may
hear cases regarding WOTUS, carbon pollution, and
other important agricultural issues.
This legislative session has been focused primarily
on right-to-work legislation and prevailing wage
issues. Both bills passed both houses; each were
vetoed by the governor and overridden by both houses.
These issues have been very divisive and may well
play important roles in upcoming elections/races.
Newly-elected American Farm Bureau President
Zippy Duval states that the expansion of federal
jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act “is nothing
short of a federal land grab.” This rule stands to take
away local and state authority while threatening private
property rights. Many believe that this act, along with
the Endangered Species Act, may rewrite the proud
history of American agriculture and threaten food
security in many areas of the world.
More than 20 bills have been introduced in both
houses regarding various aspects of oil/gas drilling
and development. Many of these bills lack support in
caucus and committee. Other bills address the West
Virginia Department of Agriculture’s promulgation of
legislative rules, the development of micro-processed
foods sold at farmers’ markets, and the Sunday hunting
issue. We will continue to monitor these bills as they
go through the committee/review process.
Important legislation has also been introduced that
affects the transfer of Cedar Lakes to the Department
of Agriculture, the elimination of the timber severance
tax, and the creation of the Uniform Partition of Heirs
Act. I will have a final report of legislative activities
next month.
In national news, the unexpected death of United
States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will
affect many areas from Capitol Hill to farm country.
This leaves the court evenly divided between four
On another note, the American Farm Bureau has
four major policy actions for 2016:
(1) Create more positive dialogue with consumers
about modern farm practices
(2) Protect farmers’ ability to use biotech plant
varieties
(3) Oppose expansion of federal jurisdiction under
the Clean Water Act
(4) Move forward with congressional approval of
the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership Agreement
It is estimated that the world population may
increase from the current 7 billion to 9 billion in the
very near future. Nearly one-third of the world’s
population live on less than $2 a day. We in the United
States often take food for granted. It is imperative
that we in American agriculture be allowed to use
technology responsibly while caring for soil and water
resources in order to meet the coming world food
challenges.
Remember that our greatest resource is not oil,
gas, or timber; it is our children and family. Franklin
Pierce, our 14th president, said, “I can express
no better hope for my country than that the kind
Providence which smiled upon our fathers may enable
see O’Dell, page 19
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 5