Hot News

3.27.2007

By Carol Kinsley
AFP Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Md — Maryland Department of Agriculture hosted a workshop at its headquarters last week on the 2007 Farm Bill, inviting farm organizations representing every commodity and agricultural interest to participate.
The meeting was co-sponsored by the Maryland Agricultural Commission, the Maryland Farm Bureau, The Maryland Grain Producers Association and the Delaware Maryland Agribusiness Council.
Mary Kay Thatcher, director of public policy for American Farm Bureau Federation said Congress is already working on farm bill legislation.
“We wish the Farm Bill could be finished in September, but in some years, it’s not until December. There are no budget numbers yet,” she noted, “and they can’t seriously write a Farm Bill without knowing how much money (will be allotted).”
Thatcher added that six subcommittees will write the legislation, and they are all new. Personally, she admitted, she doubts the effort will be completed this year.
Sam Willett, senior director of public policy for the National Corn Growers Association, outlined NCGA’s proposal for the “National Farm Security Act.”
The revenue-based farm safety net program alternative for the 2007 Farm Bill would authorize significant changes in farm support programs to better protect producers against rising costs of production, crop losses and volatile commodity prices.
“Ensuring an effective and reliable farm safety net” is the No. 1 priority of NCGA,” Willett said, adding that enhancing market orientation of the commodities program is also important. “We want growers to have a stable farm situation so we can have a viable industry.”
NCGA’s proposal calls for a counter cyclical program modified to target revenue instead of price. It is designed to complement Federal Crop Insurance and minimize overlapping coverage. It compensates for low prices and reduces inequities in support when low prices are accompanied by crop shortfalls.
Samantha Salter, director of congressional and regulatory affairs for the Renewable Fuels Association, was on hand to discuss the energy title of the Farm Bill. She noted there are 114 plants in 19 states capable of producing 5.6 billion gallons per year of biofuels, and 78 more under construction. Demand exceeds production.
The ethanol industry’s legislative priorities include maintaining and extending blenders’ credit and increasing ethanol market opportunities. RFA members want the Farm Bill to keep a narrow focus on farmers, to increase economic development in rural America and to continue to create opportunities for U.S. agriculture to bring our nation to greater energy and national security.
“This is a farm bill. It doesn’t need to be an energy bill,” Slater said.
Ralph Gossi of American Farmland Trust said the organization has proposed a marker bill, as yet unnamed, that would more adequately meet the needs of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Grossi said current federal farm and food policies do not adequately address the diverse and unique needs of the region’s producers or its citizens at large. Nine sections of the marker bill would revolve around market and economic development, conservation, renewable energy, healthy diets, forestry, nutrition, crop insurance, dairy programs and miscellaneous goals including creating an organic certification and transition program and excluding 100 percent of federal capital gains on the sale of development rights on farmland.
Two years in the making, a list of Farm Bill recommendations proffered by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture encompass 209 specific recommendations in nine general policy areas which expand the safety net for producers and address food safety, nutrition, renewable fuels and invasive species.
After lunch Maryland farmers and farm organization representatives were given the opportunity to speak. Ken Bounds of Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit noted the definition of beginning farmer needs to be changed. To limit a junior lien to 85 percent means a young farmer must come up with 20 percent down. He also recommended that animal coverage be added to risk management, including a “wrong place, wrong time” to protect those caught in quarantine situations.
Speaking for the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association, Joe Layton stressed the No. 1 priority is a safety net for farmers.
“We would not support moving money from the commodity title to other areas,” he said.
Martha M. Clark asked for continued support for technical advisers, particularly for urban programs.
Jamie Jamison said animal issues such as exports are critical, particularly since livestock consumes most of the local grain.
Gene Roberts would like to see more research on turf, which should be included as a specialty crop. It’s a $1.5 billion industry in Maryland. The Agricultural Research Service has a single scientist working on research.
“We need another,” Roberts said.
Henry Allenberg, who represents horticulture on the Maryland Ag Commission, said his big problem with the existing safety net is that some growers produce 15 to 20 crops, making insurance a challenge.
“We need better choices on guaranteed revenue, because insuring each individual crop is not working.”
On another problem for the horticultural industry, he stressed that the need for labor — immigration reform — is “a huge issue for us.”
Suggestions flowed well into the afternoon. Organizers did not expect to write a Maryland version of the 2007 farm bill in one afternoon, but comments were collected and will provide Maryland Ag Secretary Roger Richardson with guiding principles as to what is important to Maryland farmers. Richardson will be providing this information to Gov. Martin O’Malley and to Maryland’s congressional leaders.