Never-ending farm bill debate

It seems that stories about the farm bill never end in the ag media.

At any given time, we are either:

--anticipating what might be to come in the next farm bill;

--analyzing the proposals for the upcoming farm bill;

--reporting on what was voted upon for the farm bill;

--discussing the effectiveness of the current farm bill;

--speculating on what should be changed in the next farm bill ; or

--anticipating what might be to come in the next farm bill.

It is a never-ending cycle. But that is as it should be, for like it or not, the farm bill plays a major role in the direction of agriculture.

When Freedom to Farm was proposed and then adopted in the 1997 farm bill, farmers had the opportunity to capitalize on diversifying the crops grown on their farm.

Then in 2002, the Conservation Security Program shifted the course toward more conservation programs, although it ended up being underfunded.

But will the 2007 farm bill do the same in changing the face of agriculture?

Before the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture farm bill proposals, many saw a switch to more direct payments, changes in sugar and milk programs and payment limitations.

And in fact, USDA's proposal does suggest some of those things, but many are criticizing the proposal because it did not go far enough.

While the proposal is a starting point, it is by no means how the final bill will read. Congress writes to farm bill.

So be prepared for numerous stories, columns and reports relating to the farm bill. Farm lobbyists have the work cut out for them as every farm group will weigh in on the debate, all wanting something different.

This week we find ourselves not much closer to the end than we were before the USDA proposal. At this point there only two things that are certain about the 2007 farm bill: there will be a lot of discussion and no one will be entirely happy.

Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-7171 ext. 1806 or e-mail at hmartin@hpj.com.

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2/12/07

6 Star Midwest Ag

Date: 2/7/07

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