Food For Thought -- The New Farm Bill

"The farther we get away from the
land, the greater our insecurity” --
Henry Ford

          Henry Ford is best remembered as an industrialist and the father of the first automobile. In addition to his work in the automobile industry, Henry Ford was also a publisher, philanthropist and airplane builder responsible for producing many of the airplanes and bombers used in World War II. Just as he believed that those planes and bombers represented security and strength, he also believed that the same security was tied to our land. And in light of the September 11th attack on America, it is clear that security is something we’re all thinking about.

          Achieving the safety level was in the back of our minds as the House of Representatives passed the Farm Bill this past week. It was even evident in the name -- the Farm Security Act. The bill lives up to its name. It is a bill that is good for the farmer and the consumer, and allows the United States to continue producing the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world.

          However, a downturn in the farm economy has threatened that security. Farmers are facing the fourth year of depressed prices. The lack of a safety net together with a weak trade program have left farmers in exceptionally tough circumstances. These two issues received substantial attention in the new farm bill. The Farm Bill would create a counter-cyclical assistance program giving our farmers a much stronger safety net to help them through those difficult times. The bill also makes trade and expansion of markets for our products a priority so our farmers can better compete in the global marketplace.

          In addition to the counter-cyclical programs and improvement in the farm safety net, other features of the farm bill are also beneficial to those living and working in rural America. Several provisions we have worked on for a long time were included in the final version of the bill, including funding for value-added agriculture and food donation programs. The value-added agriculture program offers farmers the opportunity to get involved in start-up value-added enterprises, enabling them to keep more of their hard-earned dollars and employ others in the production and manufacturing of agricultural products. Likewise, the Global Food For Education food donation program will allow farmers to donate excess commodities to poor countries so those countries can offer meals in schools to children who otherwise might not get even one nutritious meal a day. This program is an investment in future markets and gives meaning to the phrase “aid leads to trade.”

          Finally, this farm bill empowers farmers to practice common-sense conservation through incentive-based programs. From providing additional acreage to be enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) to improvements in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the programs make huge strides in promoting responsible use of and care for our natural resources. While I am generally pleased with much of the farm bill, there is, of course, always room for improvement. Although funding was increased for rural development, more remains to be done to construct a framework of success for rural America. I am hopeful that the Senate will be able to strengthen the rural development section based on the foundation laid by the House.

          Farm Bureau News noted, “One way you can take the measure of a country is by how well it looks after its people, particularly how well it feeds its people. Countries that support terrorism are never good at growing food. Their governments only grow hatred.” Well, not America. We grow food and that food is the basis for strength. And it is that strength that gives America its resolve, its power and yes, its security. Henry Ford was right on target.