FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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August 15, 2002

Miller Asks Georgia Farmers for Patience
As New Farm Bill Is Implemented
Dismisses Inaccurate Criticism of Farm Bill Spending

**Click Here to Read the Entire Speech**

ATHENS, GA – U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today praised the recently enacted farm bill and urged Georgia farmers to be patient as the USDA drafts new rules to implement it. Miller also dismissed critics who have charged inaccurately that Congress approved big increases in commodity spending in the new farm bill.

"I am delighted that I can stand before you today and say we have a new farm bill. A new farm bill that I believe is good for all farmers across this nation," Miller told farmers gathered at the University of Georgia for the Fourth Annual Agricultural Symposium.

"I realize everyone involved in the agriculture economy is on edge waiting for the assistance. I have expressed our concerns to Secretary Veneman and right now, the only thing else I can do is also ask for your patience in order to ensure USDA regulations are beneficial to the Southeast. Bad policy could give us all headaches for a long time, for the lifetime of this farm bill."

The 1996 farm bill expires at the end of this year and Congress has passed a new version that will set the nation's farm policy for the next six years. Agriculture is Georgia's top industry and provides one of every six jobs. Miller said the new farm bill is especially good for Georgia's two biggest crops: cotton and peanuts.

The farm bill makes an historic change that is especially important to Georgia: the elimination of the 80-year-old peanut quota system and the switch to a new, $4 billion market-oriented peanut program. Peanut quota holders will receive a five-year buyout.

"This is money that will be turned over and over again in rural economies across the Southeast," Miller said.

Critics have charged that the new farm bill contains a big increase in commodities spending over the 1996 farm bill, but Miller said that's not the case.

"That could not be further from the truth. Here is the arithmetic: From 1998 to 2001 we spent $78 billion on commodity programs, including disaster payments. From 2001 to 2005, this farm bill will spend an estimated $69 billion on commodity programs. That is $9 billion less than the past four years," Miller said.

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