Contact:	Wendy Woodburn	202-347-0228	mailto:wwoodburn@beef.org

Washington (March 22, 2001) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Lynn Cornwell submitted an open letter to American agriculture today urging a broader agenda that would include a long term plan on issues directly impacting the business climate for U.S. Agriculture for the next farm bill.

“The current discussion regarding the next farm bill is primarily focused on tweaking and resurrecting traditional commodity programs and obtaining specified spending levels while it ignores a broader agenda,” said Cornwell.

Cornwell’s letter stated that it would be beneficial to develop a long-term plan for agriculture policy focusing on such issues as food safety, trade, tax policy, environment, credit, debt retirement, public lands access, and agriculture research rather than a short-term plan that would only focus on one or two programs. The plan should give consideration to research and development of new technologies that can increase productivity and sustain supplies of safe and wholesome food and provide public education programs regarding the new technologies.

“NCBA recognizes that mandatory spending programs to supplement farm incomes are appropriate in times of severe financial duress. However, during difficult times, the tendency is to search for a short term silver bullet that will annually maintain U.S. agriculture at the expense of programs that will enhance long-term sustainability,” Cornwell stated.

NCBA President-elect, Wythe Willey, is testifying before the House Agricultural Committee March 22 on behalf of cattle producers on livestock industry issues and their representation in the 2002 Farm Bill.

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.