ROCHESTER, N.Y. (March 3, 2001) — Key staffers from the U.S. House and Senate spoke to participants at the annual National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention about the importance of getting involved in the debate over the next federal farm bill. The blue ribbon panel warned that constraints on agricultural spending will make the battle over future farm bill priorities more difficult. Given the limited budget available for agriculture programs, farmers and ranchers were encouraged to vocally support their priorities to members of Congress.

"The key issue this year is baseline, baseline, baseline," said Ann Simmons, professional staff member on the House Agriculture Committee’s minority staff. Simmons and other members of the panel emphasized that the baseline, or the annual budget for farm program spending, must be increased to adequately fund the next farm bill. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) recently predicted that net farm income in 2001 will be at the lowest level since 1995. The panel agreed that future farm policy must aim to lift the agricultural economy out of the depression it has experienced over the last several years.

Keith Luse, majority staff director to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, acknowledged that farmers and ranchers face a complex set of challenges today. He and other members of the panel discussed a range of issues that affect farmers including farm price, trade, agricultural consolidation, conservation, food safety and other issues.

"As important as the farm bill is, we can’t lose sight of the ongoing programs at USDA," added Roger Szemraj, chief of staff for Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio. "We need to work for adequate funds for all of them."

Galen Fountain, clerk and counsel for the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, continued, "Major decisions will soon be made to determine the distribution of limited federal resources. Agriculture interests must make clear the need for direct farm support, but, also, research dollars, conservation programs, and rural development."

"Our top priorities for the next farm bill should be to establish a dependable system to restore farm income, expand conservation to include new voluntary programs, and reduce agriculture concentration," said Mark Halverson, minority staff director and chief counsel to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Scott Carlson, Senate minority budget committee staff, said, "We need your help to obtain increased resources for the farm bill," and to re-write our emergency assistance policies.

Tom Sell, professional staff member for the House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest, R-Texas, said, "As Congress goes further into policy and farm bill development, it is vital that organizations like Farmers Union provide honest, grassroots input. Agricultural leaders in the House and Senate will continue to seek input from farmers and ranchers to formulate new and innovative approaches to federal farm policy."

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