THE PANTAGRAPH (Bloomington, IL.) | July 22, 2001 | BY: Ray LaHood
When the Freedom to Farm legislation became law in 1996, it signaled a new approach by the federal government to our nation's agriculture programs. Farmers are now able to plant for the marketplace without the government dictating what kind of crops they should grow.
The central premise is for the federal government to play a decreasing role in the lives of farmers. In return for this flexibility, farmers receive declining annual payments over the life of the seven-year program.
For the most part, I believe Freedom to Farm has been a success. The recession our agriculture economy has been in for the past few years is not due to the failures of the current farm bill; it is due to the failure to provide our farmers with the foreign markets needed to sell their products.
The agriculture community praised Freedom to Farm during its first two years when prices for corn were $4 per bushel and soybeans were $9 per bushel.
But the economic downturn that has seen corn consistently under $2 per bushel for the past several years has played real havoc with families who make their living on the farm. The emergency assistance farmers have received the last three years has kept many people in business.
Those of us in Congress who are strong supporters of agriculture would like to see a new farm bill crafted that builds upon the strengths of Freedom to Farm. For the past 18 months, the House Agriculture Committee has held an extensive series of hearings to receive input for crafting new policies to govern farm programs, with one of those hearings held in Peoria last year.
While the current farm bill does not expire until next year, the chairman of the Agriculture Committee wants to see action on a new farm bill this year.
With that goal in mind, a draft concept paper was unveiled earlier this month that builds upon the input received from the committee's hearings. This document will serve as the basis for legislation to be considered by the committee.
I believe this legislative outline is a good start for our next farm bill. The goals outlined by Ag Chairman Larry Combest would emphasize a counter-cyclical payment system, enhance conservation programs, increase trade opportunities and continue to strongly support agriculture research.
The new bill will maintain the current planting flexibility that has proven so popular in the current program, but a counter-cyclical income program would also be put in place. This portion of the bill will eliminate the need of passing annual emergency assistance as we have the past three years, but it would provide extra assistance when needed.
The conservation provisions will increase funding by $15 billion over 10 years to protect soil, water and wildlife.
The cap for acres in the Conservation Reserve Program would be increased by 4 million acres to a total of 40 million. The Wetlands Reserve Program increases by 100,000 acres. Livestock owners will receive 50% of the $1.2 billion Environmental Quality Incentive Program to help address environmental issues and a new $300 million fund would be created to address ground water conservation issues.
The legislation increases funding for the Market Access Program and Food for Progress, two important trade programs that allow our farmers access to foreign markets.
The outline for the new bill also makes agriculture research a priority, as well as funding development programs for our rural communities.
Chairman Combest would like to get this bill out of committee by the first week of August, with consideration by the full House in September.
Leaders on the Senate Agriculture Committee have indicated a willingness to move legislation this year, so it is possible a new farm bill could be in place by the end of the year.
I believe we also need to work outside the framework of the farm bill to create opportunities to open foreign markets to American agriculture. Eliminating sanctions that restrict agriculture exports, giving President Bush Trade Promotion Authority and working to advance new trade agreements all will help our farmers compete globally and end the current recession in the farm economy.
Personally, I will work to ensure a new farm bill includes conservation provisions that enhance our commitment to the Illinois Rivers 2020 program, as well as ensuring that agriculture research at the facility in Peoria and the University of Illinois remain a priority.
I believe the ideas being floated by the House Agriculture Committee lay a good groundwork for reauthorization of Freedom to Farm and I am hopeful we will be able to enact a new farm bill by the end of the year.
Copyright 2001 The PantagraphTHE PANTAGRAPH (Bloomington, IL.):
