NCGA,
ASA Urge HHS Secretary Thompson to Clarify Statement on Farm
Support Programs (6-4-04)
In a letter today to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
Thompson the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American
Soybean Association (ASA) sought clarification on remarks attributed
to the secretary at the ABC/Time Summit on Obesity under way this
week in Virginia.
NCGA President Dee Vaughan
and ASA President Ron Heck referenced a quote on Wednesday’s ABC World News Tonight broadcast where
anchorman Peter Jennings quoted Thompson as saying, “We (the
U.S. government) sometimes subsidize the wrong things. We should…be
subsidizing fruits and vegetables.”
The joint letter cites
that Thompson’s statement could easily
be misinterpreted by the viewing public. “The statement contradicts
the administration’s position supporting the key role the
current farm program plays in ensuring adequate supplies of basic
farm commodities for U.S. and world consumers,” the letter
states.
The letter also asserts
Thompson’s statement reflects a
lack of understanding of the importance of corn and soybeans as
basic sources of protein and nutrients in both the U.S. livestock
and human food sectors.
NCGA and ASA also noted concerns that a representative of the
Bush administration would propose overwhelming farm program policy
changes without consulting the secretary of agriculture and corn
and soybean farmers across the nation.
“We strongly disagree that farm programs are responsible
for obesity, or that the ability of U.S. farmers and ranchers to
produce abundant supplies of reasonably priced food for the American
people is anything other than a blessing,” the letter states.
To see the letter in its entirety, click here.