wheatproducers need more direct payments, not less

Discussion has recently popped up about changing the structure of the farm bill, even eliminating the direct payment. wheat growers have only received the direct payment over the term of the last farm bill, so I would like to lay out why wheat growers are actually supporting an increased direct payment.

First, the decoupled direct contract payment is the least market-distorting program in the farm policy arsenal. Because the direct payment avoids market distortion as much as possible, it is also the most World Trade Organization-friendly program in farm policy. As a commodity that exports almost half its domestically produced product, being trade-friendly is extremely important.

Most importantly to wheat growers over the past five years, the direct payment program is the only program that assures a safety net in times of droughts or other complete crop losses. Other than crop insurance, this is all that can carry a grower into the next year if Mother Nature deals an uncontrollable fatal blow.

While wheat growers continue to support the three-legged safety net, the direct payment has been the most beneficial program for us, and we see the merits it has. Now is the time to raise the rate of the farm bill's most predictable program, to be equitable among all crops.

Please join me by contacting your members of Congress and telling them why this program is so important to you.

--Joe Kejr, president, Kansas Association of wheat Growers Brookville, Kan.

B

4

4/30/07

4 Star NE

Date: 4/25/07

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