www.ofbf.org

CAFTA-DR campaign heats up as vote nears
Published on 06/03/2005

The Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is vital for Ohio’s agricultural industry. That’s the message that Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) has been sending to congressmen and the media over the last few weeks.

OFBF has been sending letters to Ohio congressmen and trying to set up meetings with them before the full House and Senate vote on the trade agreement, which may happen before the Independence Day recess.

If passed, CAFTA-DR would eliminate most tariffs between the United States and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. In Ohio, that would mean a gain of at least $17 million per year for the state’s major commodities.

As part of OFBF’s media campaign, the organization has worked on getting radio interviews and opinion pieces printed in newspapers on the importance of passing CAFTA-DR. OFBF also has sent congressmen letters that were signed by seven agricultural groups: Ohio Pork Producers Council, Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Dairy Producers, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Corn Growers Association and Ohio Wheat Growers Association.

Farm Bureau members are asked to contact their congressmen via e-mail or letter by June 24. The goal is to generate 25 contacts per county. A sample letter and talking points about CAFTA-DR have been posted on OFBF’s Web site. To access that, go to www.ofbf.org and click on "legislative action center," followed by "contact officials, view action alerts, track legislation" and then "support passage of CAFTA-DR."