MAY 19, 2010
www.gfb.org
Vol. 28 No. 20
PETERSON WARNS TIGHT BUDGET WILL MEAN CHANGES IN NEXT FARM BILL
U.S. Congressmen from both sides of the aisle who spoke at the farm bill hearing held by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in Morrow on May 14 repeatedly warned that there will be less federal funding available for the 2012 farm bill than there was for the 2008 bill. “We’re not going to have any more money for the next farm bill. We’re going to have less money. It’s not going to be easy because someone is going to have to give up something,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson D-Minn. “ Maybe it’s time we’re going to have different programs for different crops. We’ve got to think outside the box. Are we spending our money the best way? That’s why I’m starting these hearings so early.” Peterson also called for simplifying the farm program. Peterson was joined by fellow Democratic committee members Reps. David Scott and Jim Marshall of Georgia; Bobby Bright, Ala.; Ranking Minority Member Bob Goodlatte, Va. and fellow Republicans Mike Rogers, Ala.; Adrian Smith, Neb. and Glenn Thompson, Pa. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., participated as a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture and related agencies. Georgia farmers who testified included Georgia Farm Bureau Peanut Advisory Committee member Andy Bell, GFB President Zippy Duvall, Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. Director Ronnie Lee, Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association 1st Vice President Dick Minor, Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Armond Morris, Georgia Pecan Producers Association Past President Hilton Segler and Ricky Williams, member of the USDA Dairy Advisory Committee. Duvall encouraged Congress to include provisions in the next farm bill that motivate young people to enter production agriculture. “There is one thing we need to do - encourage young people graduating from our agriculture schools to return to the land. If we don’t succeed in getting them to return to the farm and engage in production agriculture we will lose agriculture.” Duvall also encouraged Congress to take measures to ensure proposed agribusiness mergers and vertical integration arrangements don’t hamper farmers’ access to inputs and markets. Bell testified improvements need to be made to the federal crop insurance program saying, “Insurance coverage above the 70 to 75 percent level is simply not affordable.” He added that while some type of workable permanent disaster program is needed, the Supplemental Revenue Assistance program, included in the 2008 farm bill, doesn’t work in the South because growing multiple crops makes it almost impossible for southern farmers to qualify.