As Farm Bill Forums Are Announced, Administration Plans More Active Role, NCGA Notes (7-12-05)

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns last week held the first Farm Bill Forum in Nashville, Tenn., where discussions centered on the direction of future farm policy. Johanns also used the forum to announce the Bush administration’s plans to play a more aggressive role in drafting the 2007 farm bill than it did in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Steve Pigg, chairman of NCGA’s Public Policy Action Team noted it is very important the administration is beginning the process early for farm policy development discussions and is engaging U.S. producers.

“The process of farm policy development is starting and it is very beneficial not only to the administration but to growers across the United States. I encourage all growers to be involved in these important discussions,” he said. “Over the coming months, NCGA will be reaching out to our state associations to gather more grassroots input toward determining what we need in the next farm bill.”

The next three USDA Farm Bill Forums will be:

The forums will include discussions on the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in global and domestic markets; challenges facing new farmers and ranchers as they enter agriculture; appropriateness and effectiveness of the distribution of farm program benefits; achievement of conservation and environmental goals; and enhancement of rural economic growth and opportunities to expand agricultural products, markets and research.

More information on Farm Bill Forums is available at www.usda.gov. The public is also welcome to submit comments via the USDA Farm Bill Forums website at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Last reviewed July 12, 2005