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April 6, 2001
Agriculture needs
additional funding
By
Donald Patman
President, Texas Farm Bureau
Bad news comes in bunches sometimes. It seems that we have been dealing with problems in agriculture for so long that we can't remember the good times. In the spring of 2001, that list of problems is still pretty long.
It doesn't seem very long ago that we couldn't get a drop of moisture for our crops and pastures. Now, we can't get into the fields to plant. Time is running out to get corn in the ground. Still, the rains have helped pastures, and if we can get a crop in, the soil moisture will be better than it's been in a long time. My ground here in Ellis County won't hold any more moisture.
The price situation is still very bad. Agricultural producers will need more emergency assistance from Congress this year. The good news is that most in Congress seem to recognize the need. Our concern is that we get enough dollars in the package to provide adequate assistance for our Texas producers.
Texas Farm Bureau is calling on Congress to commit to a continuance of market transition payments and other federal assistance now so that producers can arrange the financing necessary to plant their spring crops.
While we seek passage of a new Farm Bill at the earliest opportunity, it is unlikely that a law will be in place in time to impact producer decisions in the near term. Many producers will have great difficulty obtaining production financing without at least some signal that Congress will approve additional assistance.
We are asking Congress to approve $9 billion in emergency economic assistance as soon as possible, and at least $12 billion per year in additional funding for each of the remaining years of the Budget Resolution, through 2011. This would avoid the need for continued requests for emergency assistance packages. Such a commitment would provide the necessary funds to cover the options currently being evaluated by the Senate and House.
Even though this request involves a significant increase in spending on agricultural programs, Farm Bureau believes that this level of investment is critical to both the short-term and long-term health of American agriculture.
On a brighter note, there is real tax relief for agriculture in the president's tax relief proposal, part of which passed the House in March.
I am very much encouraged by the leadership of President Bush and by agricultural leaders in Congress, such as House Agriculture Chairman Larry Combest and ranking Democrat Charlie Stenholm. There seems to be a general consensus in Washington that the preservation of U.S. agriculture is vitally important to the national security of our country. Their assistance will be instrumental in helping agriculture through this most difficult time.
Farm Bureau will do everything that can be done to obtain emergency assistance, tax relief and other measures that will help the farm and ranch families of Texas.
