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Farm bill extension gives lawmakers another monthBy Jennifer Bremer A recently-signed extension will give lawmakers another month to work on farm bill negotiations. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said, "President Bush made it clear upon signing the extension; if the final bill that Congress delivers includes a tax increase or fails to provide reform for our farm policies it will be met with a veto." Schafer wants lawmakers to know America's farmers deserve something better than just an extension of the current bill. "They need to know what farm policy is going to be so that they can make sound business decisions about what to plant this year and how they are going to finance it," he said during a teleconference on March 19. If Congress fails to reach an agreement on a new farm bill that meets the standards the President is looking for, he will ask Congress to extend the current law for at least one year. This is not what Schafer wants to see for farmers on a short or long term basis. "The government has a responsibility to provide resolution for our farmers and ranchers and landowners and everyone who depends on the farm bill," said Schafer. The current process to get new farm policy started about three years ago. More than 50 farm bill forums were held all across the country; more than 4,000 comments were collected and a set of proposals were put forward in January 2007. Since then, negotiations have been made by adjusting the gross income; reductions have been made in additional spending and leaders have continually tried to find common ground to be able to move forward with the bill. The farm bills that passed the House and the Senate last year failed to address the issues of reform and instead raised taxes on the American people. Recent proposals from the Senate are looking at around the $10 billion level for new spending of farm programs. "At a time when we are enjoying a booming farm economy with record commodity prices, record farm income, record exports, it's simply unacceptable to provide spending that increases the size and scope of government while increasing taxes to the people who pay for it," said Schafer. "This is a time to bring reform to farm policy, so our farmers and ranchers will be better positioned to compete in the global economy in the years ahead." He said it is now time for Congress to meet in the middle on their differences and be able to move forward and provide the President with a bill that he can sign and is good for the American farmers and ranchers. Schafer believes they need to deliver a farm bill that strengthens the existing safety net with a revenue-based counter-cyclical program and provides needed reforms. "It has to target support to producers who need it the most, and it has to increase spending on vital programs such as nutrition, conservation, research on specialty crops, purchases of fruits and vegetables for our nutrition program and, importantly, renewable energy," he said. Another issue Schafer finds important to be included in the farm bill is having a good safety net for disaster programs. He said in order to provide an abundant and safe food supply in this country, it needs the safety net programs. "How they are going to come out with the balance of risk management, of some disaster part dollars, the regular subsidy programs, you know, we don't know. But we're not going to spend too much money to be able to have a disaster program on top of everything else," he said. The administration has called for safety net programs, but how they get shaped up in the end and what they will be called is not yet determined. Schafer hopes to see a new farm bill in the next month so an extension for the current bill won't be needed. "If we recommend a signing of an extension of the current farm bill, we leave too much on the table. Most operators in this country would fare better with the new legislation than they do with the current legislation," he said. An extension would not be favorable for specialty crops that are needed for better nutrition. Other programs left on the table with an extension would include increased costs for nutrition and nutrition programs and energy provisions for renewable energy. "I am optimistic that the members of Congress will understand that we need new farm legislation, and they will come together and we will see a farm bill we can support and be proud of and that will move us into a future-looking, forward-leaning agriculture policy in this country, which we desperately need to do," he concluded. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by e-mail at jbremermaj@hotmail.com. 3/24/08 Date: 3/20/08 Advertisement
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