Public Affairs - Kentucky Farm Bureau

Public Affairs

The Public Affairs Division is responsible for supporting the organization's efforts to identify problems, develop solutions, promote economic success, and enhance the quality of life for all.

The Public Affairs Division is responsible for supporting the organization's efforts to identify problems, develop solutions, promote economic success, and enhance the quality of life for all.  The staff of this division coordinates policy development and policy implementation activities for Farm Bureau, as well as, local affairs, state and national legislative and regulatory activities.

 State

State Priorities

KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU 2024 STATE PRIORITY ISSUES

AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

  • Maintain allocating 50% of the Master Settlement Agreement funds to the  Agricultural Development Board, and funds be spent for the purpose of improving the net farm income of individual farmers in production agriculture.
  • Support continued funding of the Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost-Share Program.
  • Support an efficient, well-administered and adequately financed Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

TAXATION

  • Kentucky’s tax code should be reformed based on sound economic principles to create a more competitive business climate.
  • Strongly oppose freezing the state real property tax rate.
  • Support the provisions of House Bill 44 (KRS 132.010). Revenue from property taxes should continue to be limited to 4% plus new growth. Proposals to exceed 4% should automatically go to the voters.
  • Maintain Kentucky’s sales tax exemptions for production agriculture and establish a process for obtaining a wallet-sized sales tax exemption card.

HIGHWAYS, ROADS, AND BRIDGES

  • Support the rural secondary and county road aid programs and continuation of the 22.2% allocation of the state gasoline tax revenue for rural roads.

ENERGY

  • Support a decommissioning bond on all commercial solar projects. These bonds should be reviewed at least every three years.
  • Support oversight of ownership and control for energy infrastructure.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

  • Support lowering the acreage requirement for establishing an agricultural district.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Support funding for the broadband deployment fund.
  • Support efforts and incentives to improve and provide all telecommunications in rural Kentucky.
  • Support efforts that will retain and attract new business and industry to rural areas of Kentucky.
  • Support increased funding for Kentucky riverports to upgrade their agricultural infrastructure.

WATER RESOURCES

  • Support the Kentucky Water Resources Board and advocate a coordinated effort to manage water resource projects across the Commonwealth.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

  • Seek effective wildlife management that will reduce the wildlife population in an effort to alleviate continued crop and livestock losses, automobile accidents, human injuries, and loss of life.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

  • Oppose any agency exceeding legislative intent in the implementation of regulations.
  • Oppose the power of eminent domain being used to take private property for private use.

FORESTRY

  • Support forestry initiatives that enhance the economy and create opportunities for woodland owners.

Your State Legislators

Constitutional Officers

Farm Vehicle Regulations

Policy Development Article Resources

 National

National Priorities

KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU 2024 NATIONAL PRIORITY ISSUES

NATIONAL FARM POLICY

  • Federal crop insurance programs should be maintained at current levels to provide an effective safety net for agriculture.
  • Support crop insurance initiatives to maintain the integrity of crop insurance.
  • Support NRCS assistance for the development of additional water resources for irrigation and livestock use.
  • Support modifying USDA Rural Development broadband programs to increase access to broadband service that meets or exceeds FCC standards.

TRADE

  • Support fair and open multilateral trade agreements that will open new markets and expand existing markets for U.S. agricultural products.

INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Support maintenance and improvement of transportation infrastructure, including rural highways, lock and dam systems, riverports, and railroads. 
  • Support the timely reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act.

REGULATORY REFORM

  • Support a thorough regulatory review to ensure regulations do not impose an undue economic burden on any segment of society and ensure the regulatory process is transparent and results are achievable.
  • All regulations should be based on sound, peer-reviewed scientific data that can be replicated. 
  • Support congressional oversight of federal agency regulatory actions to ensure rules and regulations do not exceed the intent and authority of federal law.

    IMMIGRATION AND FARM LABOR REFORM

    • Support immigration reform that restructures the H-2A program to make it more streamlined, reliable, and economical, in addition to limiting legal liability for farmers. 

    ENERGY

    • Support increasing production of domestic fuels and fertilizer to ensure availability and affordability.

    HEALTH CARE REFORM

    • Support changes to current health care law that will stabilize the market, encourage competition that will reduce health care costs and increase consumer choice.

    FISCAL POLICY

    • In order to protect the future integrity of our nation’s economy it is in our best interest to address budget deficits, which erode our ability to remain fiscally stable with the goal of reaching a balanced budget.
    • Federal tax code should be reformed based on sound economic principles to create a more competitive business climate. 
    • Oppose elimination of the stepped-up basis and lowering of the current exemption for federal estate taxes.

    WILDLIFE ISSUES

    • Support a producer’s right to protect livestock and property against nuisance wildlife predation. 
    • Support a nationwide depredation order, or safe harbor provision, to take black vultures.

    Your National Legislators

    UNITED STATES SENATORS
    Name Address Phone & Fax
    Senator Mitch McConnell (R) 317 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
    Washington, DC 20510
    mcconnell.senate.gov    		 (202) 224-2541
    (202) 224-2499 Fax
     
      601 W. Broadway, Room 630
    Louisville, Kentucky 40202    		 (502) 582-6304

    ____________________________________________________________________________________
    Senator Rand Paul (R) 295 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
    Washington, DC 20510
    paul.senate.gov    		 (202) 224-4343
    (202) 228-6917 Fax
     
      1029 State Street
    Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101    		 (270) 782-8303

     

    UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES
    Dist. Name Address Phone & Fax
     1
         		 Congressman James Comer (R)
         		 2410 Rayburn HOB
    Washington, DC 20515
    comer.house.gov    		 (202) 225-3115
    (202) 225-3547 Fax
           
        200 N Main Street, Ste. F
    Tompkinsville, Kentucky 42167    		 (270) 487-9509
    (270) 487-0019 Fax 

    ____________________________________________________________________________________
    2 Congressman Brett Guthrie (R) 2434 Rayburn HOB
    Washington, DC 20515
    guthrie.house.gov    		 (202) 225-3501 
    (202) 226-2019 Fax
           
        996 Wilkinson Trace, Ste. B2
    Bowling Green, Kentucky 42103    		 (270) 842-9896
    (270) 842-9081 Fax 

    ____________________________________________________________________________________
    3 Congressman Morgan McGarvey (D) 1527 Longworth House Office Building
    Washington, DC 20515
    mcgarvey.house.gov     		 (202) 225-5401
     
           
        Romano Mazzoli Federal Bldg.
    600 Martin Luther King Jr. Place, Ste. 216
    Louisville, Kentucky 40202     		 (502) 582-5129
     

    ____________________________________________________________________________________
    4 Congressman Thomas Massie (R) 2453 Rayburn HOB
    Washington, DC 20515
    massie.house.gov    		 (202) 225-3465
           
        541 Buttermilk Pike, Ste. 208
    Crescent Springs, Kentucky 41017    		 (859) 426-0080
    (859) 426-0061 Fax

    ____________________________________________________________________________________
    5 Congressman Harold Rogers (R) 2406 Rayburn HOB
    Washington, DC 20515
    halrogers.house.gov    		 (202) 225-4601
    (202) 225-0940 Fax
           
        551 Clifty Street
    Somerset, Kentucky 42503    		 (800) 632-8588
    (606) 678-4856 Fax

    ____________________________________________________________________________________
    6 Congressman Andy Barr (R) 2430 Rayburn HOB
    Washington, DC 20515
    barr.house.gov    		 (202) 225-4706
    (202) 225-2122 Fax
           
        2709 Old Rosebud Road, Ste. 100
    Lexington, Kentucky 40509    		 (859) 219-1366
    (859) 219-3437 Fax 

    National Affairs Updates

    Farm Labor

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Federal Resources

         KFB National Affairs Update - CFAP Update - Additional Assistance for Underserved Producers

    KFB National Affairs Update - Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program and Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 Updates

    KFB National Affairs Update - Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program and Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program

         KFB National Affairs Update - Pandemic Assistance for Producers

    KFB National Affairs Update - Pandemic Cover Crop Program

    KFB National Affairs Update - Pandemic Assistance for Producers and Paycheck Protection Program Updates

    KFB National Affairs Update - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Update

    KFB National Affairs Update - Paycheck Protection Program Update

    KFB National Affairs Update - End-of-Year Coronavirus Relief Legislation

    KFB National Affairs Update - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.0 (CFAP 2.0) Application Deadline is December 11, 2020

    KFB National Affairs Update - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.0 (CFAP 2.0) Applications Accepted Beginning September 21, 2020

    KFB National Affairs Update - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Applications Accepted Beginning May 26, 2020 

    KFB National Affairs Update - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act 

    KFB National Affairs Update - Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

    KFB National Affairs Update – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

    Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information for Small Businesses

    Federal Resources in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

     State Legislative Reports

     Legislative Links

     Legislative Accomplishments

    The following list highlights some of Kentucky Farm Bureau's most significant legislative accomplishments in Frankfort and Washington, D.C. on behalf of Kentucky's agricultural and rural communities.

     

    STATE

    Right to Farm Law

    Kentucky Farm Bureau continues to ensure farmers have the right to produce the safest most affordable food supply in the world.

    Low Property Tax Rates

    Kentucky Farm Bureau led the charge for passage of House Bill 44 in 1979. As a result, Kentucky’s property tax rate has fallen from 31.6 cents per $100 of assessed value to the current rate of 11.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.

    Sales Tax Exemptions on Agricultural Inputs

    Kentucky Farm Bureau has long advocated maintaining tax exemptions on most all agricultural inputs. These exemptions have saved KY farmers billions through the decades.

    Kentucky Water Resources Board

    Kentucky Farm Bureau lobbied for passage of legislation that established this board.  This board will research and develop recommendations to enhance the quantity of water resources for agricultural production and rural Kentucky.

    Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act

    Kentucky Farm Bureau was instrumental in lobbying for this law that protects Kentucky’s surface and groundwater resources from pollution and protects farmers from over burdensome state environmental regulations.

    Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund

    Kentucky Farm Bureau led the effort for 50% of the landmark master settlement agreement dollars being appropriated to diversify agriculture.

    Grain Insurance Fund

    Kentucky Farm Bureau constructed and lobbied for passage of legislation which has been protecting the states grain farmers in the event of a grain elevator financial failure.

    Transportation Laws

    As a result of Kentucky Farm Bureau’s lobbying efforts Kentucky farmers enjoy some of the most farmer-friendly transportation regulations in the nation.

    Rural Roads

    Kentucky Farm Bureau continues to lobby for rural, county and secondary road funding. Safe and well maintained roads are critical to efficiently transporting agricultural products to market.

    Private Property Rights

    Kentucky Farm Bureau continues to lead the effort to protect the rights of property owners related to eminent domain and trespass issues.

    Wildlife Management

    Kentucky Farm Bureau continues to lobby for legislation that supports effective wildlife management that will reduce the wildlife population in an effort to alleviate continued crop and livestock losses.

    Rural Broadband

    Kentucky Farm Bureau advocated to establish the Broadband Deployment Fund to provide service to unserved and underserved areas of the Commonwealth.

    Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships

    Kentucky Farm Bureau partnered with other workforce development groups to secure passage of legislation allowing Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships (KEES) to be used at proprietary trade schools focusing on Career and Technical Education.

     

    NATIONAL

    Decades of Effective Farm Policy

    Kentucky Farm Bureau has ensured that all of Kentucky agriculture is represented when the National Farm Bills are discussed and voted on in Congress.

    Tobacco Quota Buyout

    Kentucky Farm Bureau was the leading driver for the National Tobacco Quota Buyout. The buyout had more positive effect on KY than any other state in the Union. The money has empowered farmers to transition from tobacco into other agriculture ventures.

    Helping to Ensure That Family Farms Can Stay in Family Hands

    Kentucky Farm Bureau lobbied diligently over several sessions of Congress to help ensure that families won’t lose their land and assets to ultra-exorbitant Federal Inheritance and Estate Taxes.

    Years of Funding for Career and Technical Education

    One of the most important assets to Kentucky’s rural communities is Career and Technical Education (CTE). Kentucky Farm Bureau relentlessly lobbies for, and ensures protection for, Carl D. Perkins funding to support the states CTE Programs.

    Freedom for Farm Vehicle Operators

    Kentucky Farm Bureau helped orchestrate a campaign to fight off attempts by the federal government to require a Commercial Driver’s License for farmers to move farm equipment and heavier farm trucks on public roads.    

    WOTUS Final Rule

    Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders were instrumental in efforts to have the overreaching 2015 Clean Water Rule (WOTUS) rescinded by EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The agencies are now formulating new rules that would clearly define what navigable waters fall under their jurisdiction.