American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman Thursday praised President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address for Congress to pass energy legislation that includes more production of renewable fuels and nuclear power.

“We also strongly back his commitment to opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development,” Stallman said. “ And we believe he was right on target with his stated commitment to continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies.”

 Stallman said expanded trade opportunities are vital to America’s farmers and ranchers, and welcomed and support Obama’s call to export more of our agricultural goods.

“We appreciated his support for strengthening trade relations with Asia and with key partners like South Korea, Panama and Colombia,” Stallman said. ”We join President Obama in his stated goal of doubling our exports over the next five years and we look forward to working with the administration on a National Export Initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase their exports. We also were encouraged by his reference to the need for immigration reform.”

 Stallman said while Farm Bureau supports Obama’s position on energy legislation and the direction of his trade initiative, they oppose the administration’s climate change legislation in its current form. 

“As we have continually stressed, climate change legislation currently before Congress will sharply cut the numbers of acres devoted to U.S. food production and will increase energy costs for America’s farmers and ranchers,” Stallman said.