|
|
|
|
|
The American Farm Bureau Federation is opposing legislation introduced by Sens. Grassley (R-IA) and Dorgan (D-ND) that would lower the caps on payment limits and remove the three-entity rule.
The bill would limit payments to $250,000, the same as proposed in the administration's FY06 budget submission.
The bill requires the administration to develop a measurable standard to determine eligibility for receiving farm subsidies.
Specifics of the legislation include:
•Caps of $40,000 on direct payments, $60,000 on counter-cyclical payments, and $150,000 on loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains, including gains on generic certificates and forfeited commodities. The combined limit would be $250,000. Under current law, the total payment limit is $360,000.
•Directs USDA to promulgate regulations that count all payments on production under the primary control of a single person toward that person's limitations.
•Elimination of the three-entity rule. The legislation would require the Secretary to promulgate regulations that define "primary control" to determine who should qualify for payments.
•Requires firm penalties for fraud. For example, a person who commits fraud in connection with a scheme or device constructed for the purpose of evading existing payment limits would be ineligible to receive farm payments for the crop year from which the scheme or device is adopted and the succeeding five crop years.
American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman and Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) spoke at a recent Capitol Hill press conference advocating the permanent repeal of estate taxes, or the so-called death tax.
Hulshof and Rep. Robert Cramer (D-AL) introduced the House version of a law to make death tax repeal permanent.
Stallman explained the economic hardship that the death tax puts on farming and ranching families.
He noted that farm and ranch estates face heavier, potentially more disruptive death tax burdens than non-farm estates.
Current law phases down the death tax through 2009 and eliminates it completely in 2010. However, sunset language in the measure provides for the reinstatement of the death tax in 2011.
The deadline for contributing to the American Farm Bureau Federation tsunami aid fund has been extended until May 1.
The fund was established to provide assistance to farm families in the Indian Ocean area affected by the tsunami disaster.
In announcing the extension, the fund organizers, AFBF Women's Committee and Young Farmer and Rancher Committee, said that more than $20,000 of aid has been raised so far but they are confident considerably more will be raised.
State Farm Bureau offices have been collecting and transferring money to the relief fund, and individuals have been mailing checks directly. Donations are tax deductible when made out to AFBFA/Tsunami Relief. Checks should be mailed to 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20024.
"The farm income safety net is an especially important Agriculture Committee program that is, indeed, working as designed. It works in times of high prices by reducing support that is not needed and works in times of low prices by increasing support at the very times it is needed most. Producers (and their lenders) need this stable farm income safety net that allows them to do long-range planning and make the investments needed to compete in an increasingly global economy. Midstream is not a good place for changing horses or farm income safety nets."
The Bush administration should impose economic sanctions on Japan due to Japan's unwillingness to open their market for U.S. beef, say the leaders of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA).
"Efforts by the Bush administration and industry have gone the extra mile in proving U.S. beef is free from BSE, but our trading partners continue to drag their feet on this issue," said Bob McCan, TSCRA president.
"Japanese consumers are expressing a desire and need for safe and wholesome U.S. beef," said TCFA Chairman Charlie Sellers. "The time has come for us to take these efforts to a new level, especially in light of the significant trade deficit with Japan."
The two leaders sent a letter Feb. 21 to the Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico delegations in Washington, D.C., requesting congressional support in helping the cattle industry resume international trade.
"We don't take economic sanctions lightly," McCan and Sellers said. "Japan is an important trading partner, which only underscores the need to restore common sense to BSE import rules now."
—Excerpt from a letter from House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and ranking member Collin Peterson to House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, showing their support for current farm policy. The letter also states opposition to cuts in farm spending as proposed by President Bush's budget, saying that programs should run as they were designed until they are debated for the 2007 farm bill.
