Group's national president to address annual convention in Anaheim

By TIM HEARDEN
Capital Press

Finding solutions to the challenges facing California farmers will be the focus of the state Farm Bureau's annual convention beginning Monday, Dec. 7, in Anaheim.

With the theme, "Our Future, Our Farmers," California Farm Bureau Federation delegates will gather through Wednesday at the Disneyland Hotel.

The organization's 91st annual meeting will include policy discussions as well as greetings from state Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar, California Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura and American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.

Stallman will offer insights on the first year of President Barack Obama's administration and its impacts on trade, the estate tax, farm policy and other topics, according to a news release.

Held in a different location each year, the conference includes two days of legislative-type sessions in which delegates develop policies on dozens of topics, from livestock grazing to flood prevention.

At last year's 90th meeting, in Burlingame, Mosebar said the notion of food security could be a key selling point for government policies that favor agriculture.

"We certainly don't want to get where we are with oil, depending on other countries for our food," he told conference-goers.

Seminars scheduled for Monday include an outlook for the world agricultural economy, groundwater supply and management, social media, the federal deficit and regulations on diesel engines, the news release stated.

Online

Visit www.cfbf.com/am2009/