The tugging for money from the next multibillion-dollar federal farm bill is already underway, and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns got to a hear a good share of it Friday in Fresno.
Johanns said his role at the three-hour farm bill forum that drew more than 450 people to the Fresno Fairgrounds was to listen. And listening was mostly what he did, sitting on a dais as more than 50 participants stepped to microphones to call for a wide range of actions in shaping the legislation, which is more than two years away.
Several speakers said they want the bill to provide more for producers of specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables and nuts, which make up the bulk of California's farm production.
"The bill must address specialty crop issues," said Tom Nassif, president of Western Growers in Irvine.
He said specialty crops account for 50 percent of the nation's farm values but their producers have not benefited greatly from past farm bills.
Other speakers asked for support to growers of specialty crops, including help in striking down trade barriers, and funding for research, marketing and pest exclusion. And they said the nation's new food pyramid, healthful eating and disease prevention programs bolster the argument for more assistance to specialty crop producers.
Some speakers said they want changes and beefed-up support for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that shares costs of projects that farmers and ranchers often adopt to meet air or water quality regulation.
"I would like to see the expansion of EQIP," said citrus grower Richard Moss of Ivanhoe, adding that a new position should be created for an air quality director with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Some wanted to be sure to keep funding for programs that help rural communities through Rural Development, a farm bill component that often receives less ink than crop subsidies.
Kim Pennington, battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection-Fresno County Fire Department, talked of $62,600 provided through Rural Development for equipment for emergency services.
And Mendota City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez said the agency provided a much-needed new waste treatment plant in the west Fresno County community.
While much of the discussion focused on nonprogram crops, some speakers said the existing safety net for program crops should remain in place.
"The structure of the farm bill should be maintained," said Don Cameron, who grows cotton and 15 other crops in Fresno County. "This would include current eligibility rules and payment limit provisions. The budget process should not be used as a vehicle for rewriting farm policy."
The Bush administration has proposed limiting individual annual farm subsidies.
Richard Molinar, a Fresno County small farms adviser with the University of California, urged more support for efforts to reach out to ethnically diverse farmers through such venues as the Small Farm Center at the University of California, Davis.
Johanns said it has not yet been decided whether a specific legislative proposal would emerge from the listening sessions. Fresno was the sixth location for sessions that will continue through the rest of the year and perhaps into next year.
The current farm bill runs through 2007, and Johanns said he would like to see action on a new bill by the first part of 2007: "We want to send a signal as to what the farm bill will be so that producers can make decisions."
Also on Friday, Tehama County, beset by $4.5 million in crop losses after unruly spring weather, was designated a primary disaster area by Johanns.
The designation makes Tehama County farmers and those in the neighboring counties of Butte, Glenn, Mendocino, Plumas, Shasta and Trinity eligible for low-interest federal loans.
About the writer:
Dennis Pollock can be reached at [email protected] or (209) 441-6364. Sacramento Bee staff writer Jim Wasserman contributed to this report.Sacramento Bee
