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Peterson surprised by support for extending current farm bill Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Agri News staff writer
ADA, Minn. -- Seventh District Congressman Collin Peterson says its amazing that, as 2007 farm bill discussions start much discussion involves extending the current farm bill.
"Usually at this point, people are up in arms and want to change it," Peterson said at the Norman County Farm Forum last week in Ada. "We came within an arms length of extending it to 2011 in the budget reconciliation committee."
Peterson told farmers and agribusiness representatives he's authored a bill that would extend the current farm bill until a World Trade Agreement is reached. Several Republicans are in favor of Peterson's proposed legislation but won't sign on due to President Bush's opposition, he said.
Public forums on the farm bill will take place during the August recess, he said. One session is scheduled for Minnesota. Only farmers will be able to speak at the sessions, which will focus on farm issues.
Peterson is continuing his efforts for a disaster bill that would provide direct payments to help farmers with fertilizer and fuel costs, he said.
"It would effect everyone across the country, whether they had a crop loss or not," he said.
Peterson wants a permanent disaster program that would work together with crop insurance.
"We have done eight disaster bills out of the last 10 years," he said. "I think it's a problem that we will have every year. Every time you do one of those bills, things get added onto it."
Several farmers expressed concern over increased grain and ethanol imports. It's a matter of national security, said Diane Ista of Ada. Ista's grandson is involved in the family operation and she's concerned about the disappearing domestic small grain markets.
"We don't have the support from a lot of other countries in the war and we're importing food from them,' she said after the meeting.
Other farmers say they are receiving large discounts for wheat. One farmer said he brought wheat to the elevator where the price on the board was $3.90. By the time he left, he'd received discounts of 60 cents.
Ethanol production has been a bright spot. Peterson, who toured Brazil's agriculture and ethanol industries, is concerned about private money flowing into ethanol plants. He's also concerned about the lack of ethanol availability in the U.S. resulting in more imports.
Peterson disagrees with lawmakers who support ethanol made from sugar. It's an idea those lawmakers were touting after they supported the Central American Free Trade Agreement that allowed greater sugar imports, he said.
"If we take our sugar and put it into ethanol, it will take $1.50 in subsidies from the government to make it work," he said. "I think we are putting ourselves on a dangerous road that could lose the sugar program." |
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