WASHINGTON (Aug. 21, 2002) – In a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, National Farmers Union has asked for committee oversight hearings to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm bill implementation decisions.

"Although still in its infancy, it appears that proposed USDA rules may not achieve the goals of providing a more dependable, effective and equitable economic safety net for producers that is consistent with the intent of Congress," said NFU President Dave Frederickson. "Examples and anecdotal evidence of this fact are both numerous and cut across a number of policy areas. In many cases, the intent of Congress was clearly established through floor debate and the conference record. However, USDA has already made several decisions that do not appear to reflect either congressional intent or historical precedent."

Specifically, National Farmers Union requests clarification on seven key issues:

The process and rationale for establishing the marketing loan rates for wheat on a class-by-class basis, including the potential for future production distortions created by the wide differentials between several of the classes of wheat.

The relative equity of loan rates established for commodities in adjoining counties, with particular attention paid to those established in adjoining counties in different states.

The process and rationale for establishing the marketing loan program rates for many of the minor oilseed crops.

USDA’s process of establishing program crop base acres and yields. Frederickson said he has heard from producers concerned that USDA is attempting to establish the rules for production evidence in such a way that many farmers will be unable to fully utilize the yield update provisions of the farm bill.

The progress of the voluntary and mandatory country-of-origin labeling programs.

Planting flexibility regulations that may present challenges to producers who wish to establish new or more diverse crop rotations. Because the 2002 farm bill provides for the addition of oilseed acres to the traditional program crop acreage bases, there could be an unintended consequence of actually reducing the producer’s level of planting flexibility.

Progress in implementing the other titles of the farm bill. Frederickson said NFU members are particularly interested in the availability of new resources provided for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Security Act, rural development and energy programs, as well as the timing and regulations for the expanded Conservation Reserve Program.

The complete letter is available at www.nfu.org.

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