Farm organizations around the country are lining up to offer their congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama, who will take over the White House in January.
"We have appreciated Sen. Obama's leadership on issues ranging from strong safety net programs within the farm bill to the promotion of corn-based ethanol as an important source of domestic energy," Bob Dickey, president of the 32,000-member National Corn Growers Association, said in letter of congratulations to the president.
Throughout the year, the NCGA has had a positive working relationship with the president-elect's campaign staff as they reached out to the agricultural community and developed policy positions that would affect the industry.
Dickey said the NCGA recognizes the major challenges facing the president-elect, including issues in the agricultural sector such as renewable fuels, trade, and farm bill implementation.
He said the NCGA has a history of working with leaders from both major parties and will continue this tradition with the new administration and the 111th Congress.
Dickey's counterpart at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Andy Groseta, said his group is also looking forward to working with the president-elect's transition team while providing information and counsel as needed on the challenges the new administration will face in food and fuel policies.
"In the coming years, ranchers, farmers and rural Americans will be significantly impacted by tax policies, environmental regulations, international trade, renewable fuel subsidies, and food safety and nutrition," said Groseta.
"NCBA worked closely with the Obama campaign on each of these concerns, and we have been assured a seat at the table when decisions are made regarding these and other issues of importance to America's cattlemen and women," said Groseta.
The head of the 33,000-member cattlemen's association added: "We appreciate Senator Obama's commitment to basing [farm] decisions on sound economic and scientific evidence.
"NCBA is eager to share the stories of our cattle producers and discuss the challenges they face today, from estate taxes that cause families to lose century-old ranches to the high corn prices resulting from ethanol subsidies that create unfair competition in the marketplace," said Groseta, a rancher in Cottonwood, Ariz.
