CORALVILLE, IOWA (Jan. 20, 2010)-At its national convention in Coralville, Iowa Tuesday, National Farmers Organization members announced support for creating a world food reserve in the wake of the Haiti disaster.
     "The natural disaster in Haiti clearly shows why it's time to establish a world food reserve," said National Farmers Organization Ag Policy Analyst Gene Paul. "This program would create a commodity storage reserve system, and help stabilize world food supplies."
     Organization members urged all farm groups and cooperatives to support the concept. The new food storage reserve would complement the U.N.'s World Food Program.
     "Unfortunately, almost on a daily basis, we hear reports of hunger and starvation in some parts of the world, and in our own country there is an ever-growing demand at food shelves," Paul said.

     Additional policy positions

• Commodity speculation reform was also high on the priority list for delegates, as they voiced support for legislation to add transparency to futures markets and close the door to excessive speculation. The policy plank would tighten key investment laws and clarify the oversight mission of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• Carbon sequestration issues were discussed, and members noted that U.S. farmers need to be provided with a solid, verifiable analysis-free of political influence-of the potential impacts of ongoing climate change. Members noted that recent conflicting data and reports of climate change trendlines indicate that more knowledge is needed before implementing policies that would significantly impact ag producers financially
• Members enthusiastically commended the Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA's series of anti-trust workshops, and encouraged all farmers and ranchers to attend

     National Farmers is a group marketing, price negotiation and risk management organization for the nation's farmers and ranchers.

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