There's been some recent talk by prominent lawmakers about the possibility of letting the current farm bill expire and letting the underlying 1949 farm law kick back in. Just last week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson suggested a return to the 1949 law might not be the worst thing in the world.
But Nebraska Senator and fellow Democrat Ben Nelson told Brownfield Wednesday he doesn't think Peterson's remarks were made in earnest. And according to Nelson, reverting to the 1949 farm law probably won't happen, though he wouldn't rule anything out.
"There are all kinds of possibilities," Nelson said. "I think Collin's having a little sport, maybe, of throwing that our as a possibility, but maybe he's deadly serious."
Either way, Nelson said Congress is looking to new U.S. Ag Secretary Ed Schafer to help find a compromise on the farm bill. Bush administration officials have repeatedly threatened a farm bill veto because of the revenue-generating provisions in both the House and Senate versions of the measure.
"It's going to be very difficult to craft a bill that overcomes the President's veto threats, unless we have the full cooperation - and that may not be enough, but without it I don't think there's any chance - unless we have the full cooperation and partnership of Secretary Schafer," said Nelson.
On another matter, Nelson said he's in agreement with other farm state senators who insist a pending free trade agreement with South Korea is out of the question for now. According to Nelson, it will remain that way until South Korea starts accepting U.S. beef.
"I will do everything in my power to avoid a free trade agreement with Korea until the barriers to U.S. beef - Nebraska beef in particular - are done away with," Nelson vowed.
Nelson added he's also counting on Schafer to make progress on Asian beef trade issues, as well. During Schafer's confirmation hearing last week, Nelson described USDA's prior efforts in reopening Asian markets to U.S. beef as "anemic, at best."Brownfield
