Farm bill discussion centers on unity, no big changes
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 07/22/2010 9:16 AM
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AMENIA, N.D. —The farm talk in Bill Hejl's shop went from machinery repairs and spraying to farm legislation and trade.
Hejl hosted a Farm Bill Forum listening session last week on his Amenia. farm. Listening to testimony was House Agriculture Committee chairman and Minnesota's Seventh District Congressman Collin Peterson and North Dakota Congressman Earl Pomeroy.
Peterson called Pomeroy his "wing man," noting that the North Dakotan's position on the powerful House Ways and Means committee has been important to obtaining farm legislation funding. Pomeroy also serves on the ag committee and its risk management subcommittee.
The farm bill forums are getting an early start, Peterson said.
Some in the senate thought he was crazy to begin the process so soon, but after noticing the support and discussions at the forums, they've changed their mind, he said. His staffers are looking at finishing the process by June 2012 — followed soon after by the regulation writing process. He noted how long its taken for farmers to receive disaster assistance when participating in some of the farm programs designed to help producers in times of natural disasters. Some are now receiving their payments for 2008 disasters.
Peterson hopes that with earlier farm bill discussions, the process can be completed on time.
"There hasn't been a farm bill finished on time in five or six years," Peterson said.
Many of the 12 Minnesota and North Dakota farm organization and conservation agency leaders speaking at the event agreed the farm bill is working.
"If it aint broke, don't fix it," said Russ Mauch, president of the American Sugarbeet Association.
The Barney farmer said the current sugar program is designed to provide a reliable supply at a stable price. The program's safety net has given farmers a chance to survive and the stability gives them a chance to reinvest to make improvements, increase efficiency and to survive.
North Dakota Soybean Growers president Scott Hendrickson said it's an exciting time in agriculture. North Dakota recently passed blender pump legislation so consumers can choose the gasoline blend they want. And he's pushing for the biodiesel tax extension.
Steve Kramer of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association agreed that overall the program has been good, but suggested some fine-tuning that could equitably cover more farmers and more crops.
The corn growers would be open to ideas for alternatives to the direct payments that would provide more "bang for the buck," he said. But before making any major changes, the provisions should have careful review.
"We should be careful not to leave current policy for new policy that's untested," he said.
Some were more detailed in their suggestions to tweak the current program. Kevin Skunes of the North Dakota Corn Growers suggested eliminating base acre caps of 85 or $83.33 percent and to focus on 100 percent of the planted acres. And, instead of yield calculations for the entire state, the calculations should be considered for a region such as the Red River Valley or North Central North Dakota.
"It's like comparing Northern Minnesota and Southern Minnesota," he said. "The cropping is different."
RMA should consider the technology that has helped increase yields since the mid-1990s, he said.
Steve Kramer of the Minnesota Corn Growers said the organization is open to looking at alternatives to direct payments that would provide more bang for the buck.
"But we should be careful not to leave the current policy for a new policy that's untested," he said.
Unity was a common theme stressed by many. They urged careful consideration of changes that might benefit one group but put another at a disadvantage.
"Ag is so diverse now not only in this part of the country but across the nation," said Minnesota Farm Bureau president Kevin Paap after the forum. "If we can't go into this farm bill as a unified voice we will probably be at greater risk of losing more. We have to think about all the options. We have to be willing to consider anything and everything on the table."
Paap said county Farm Bureaus will work through policy development to make more detailed recommendations. However, he outlined five key principles that will guide the organization as it develops farm bill proposalsl. The organization will consider options that are fiscally responsible. The Farm Bureau's proposals for the next farm bill won't shift funding between interest areas and will aim to benefit all ag sectors. World trade rulings will also be considered.
Kevin Elliot of the North Dakota Stockmen's Association would like the farm bill to consider conservation polices that enhance individual rights for energy use and conservation. He encouraged continued support for the EQIP program.
Trade policies should be enforced and international trade encouraged, he said.
Elliot would also like more research funding, which he says is critical for the advancement of animal agriculture.
North Dakota Farm Service Agency executive director Aaron Krauter said his office is working hard to get payments to producers. He's working with a staff that is 60 percent of what it was eight years ago and is in the process of modernizing its system.
"We are taking care of everything from apples to zucchini," he said. "We are getting the rules and regulations over time. We are making payments for the 2008 disaster when the state experienced severe drought in 53 counties and will making SURE payments to 42 counties for 2009 disasters."
He credited the Livestock Indemnity Program for providing meaningful disaster assistances.
Jim Teigen of the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts supports renewable fuel and blender pump legislation.
Teigen supports technical assistance funding and continued funding and support for popular programs like EQIP and CSP.
Anyone wanting to comment on the farm bill can make their replies to www.agriculture.house.gov.