Testifying on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation with regards to the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA), May 20, Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke told the House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management that the farm bill is working.
"As this committee knows, unpredictable weather conditions and markets, uncertainties involved with international trade and the value of the dollar, as well as variable input costs, can produce turbulent and difficult times for agriculture," said Dierschke. "The farm bill helps American farmers and ranchers weather financial storms, and it provides unprecedented funds for our nations conservation needs."
Dierschke said he believes the FSRIA, so far, has operated as intended, providing a safety net when prices are low and allowing the market to dictate when prices are higher. However, he indicated that the Conservation Security Program (CSP) should be available to all producers and it should be funded and implemented as a nationwide program.
"Farm Bureau is extremely concerned about the ongoing shortfall of technical assistance funding for the CRP and the WRP. These shortfalls will result in a substantial cut in funding for EQIP and other conservation programs in order to deliver CRP and WRP. This comes at a time when EQIP has a significant application backlog. We believe every program must cover its own technical assistance delivery costs..."
Dierschke said Farm Bureau is opposed to further lowering payment limits on farm program payments as is being discussed in Congress.
"We support the payment limitations as passed in the Farm Bill and strongly oppose any adjustments to those limits," he said.
Dierschke said Farm Bureau opposes reopening the 2002 Farm Bill at this time and cited reasons, primarily those related to international trade.The TFB leader warned that Farm Bureau would adamantly fight any attempt to unilaterally cut the U.S. farm programs.
"Very conservatively, it is estimated that each farm program dollar turns over three and one-half times in our local communities. Production agriculture will continue to fuel the economic engine that powers the bulk of rural America. The economic priming effect of our farm programs provides a foundation upon which an enhanced rural development program can build. Without the farm program as a base, however, the footings of any stand-alone rural development initiative would crumble," he said.
Dierschke said major midstream changes in farm bill programs would be devastating not only to farmers and ranchers, but the rural economy as well. Farm Bureau realizes that there are growing pains with new programs or changes to existing programs, he said. "Overall we are pleased with the functioning of FSRIA and will continue to work with Congress to maintain funding in order to fully support and administer this farm bill."
|