National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Representing the Business Interests of Agriculture

Washington, DC – Douglas D. Sims, chairman of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, announced the creation of a special blue ribbon Farm Bill Committee. Sims, CEO of Denver-based CoBank, also announced that the Committee would be co-chaired by Dan Kelley, chairman of GROWMARK, Inc. and a farmer from Normal, Illinois, and Tommy Paulk, CEO of Alabama Farmers Cooperative in Decatur, Alabama.

The Committee includes producer directors and management executives representing farmer cooperatives across the U.S. As outlined by Sims, the panel will serve to evaluate current and proposed policies, develop specific recommendations, and help guide NCFC's efforts relating to the 2007 Farm Bill.

“Making sure that the programs contained in the next farm bill and future U.S. agricultural policy meet the needs of farmer cooperatives and their farmer owners is a key part of our strategic plan as adopted by the NCFC Council,” said Sims. “This can only be achieved if NCFC is well positioned and actively engaged in this debate. I know that Dan and Tommy will provide the leadership and guidance to accomplish this goal.”

The committee will hold its first meeting at the upcoming NCFC Annual Meeting, being held January 19-21 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

"As farmers and as farmer-owed cooperative businesses, it is important for us to be involved in this debate," said Kelley. "One of the strengths of this committee is that it brings together a diverse range of agricultural interests that are united by the fact that farmer cooperatives play a vital role in rural America."

“Even though the current farm bill does not expire until 2007, debate is already beginning over the future of U.S. farm policy,” said Paulk. “I look forward to working with Dan, my co-chair, and all the committee members, to develop and recommend specific action by NCFC.”