DENVER, Colo. – A longtime Washington lobbyist expects a catfight among conservationists and commodity groups as the 2007 U.S. farm bill is being written.
“Don’t ever underestimate the greed of any commodity group,” Randy Russell said during the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention on Feb. 2.
Each commodity group is struggling to protect support programs. New entrants such as animal welfare organizations, taxpayer groups and environmentalists are vying for a slice of a smaller agriculture financial pie as the country wrestles with deficit budgets and a $8.2 trillion US debt.
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The challenge for those drawing up the new farm bill is finding money for programs that producers have come to rely on.
Public hearings have already started on what the new bill should contain.
For example, animal welfare groups are proposing setting aside $10 million for welfare and production practice changes.
“Whatever they are proposing, you ain’t gonna like it,” Russell said.
Some are suggesting that the current farm bill should be extended for a year. If a World Trade Organization deal were reached, that would make sense, Russell said, especially if it forced changes to farm subsidies. However, he said he believes work on a new bill will proceed.
Besides less spending on farm support programs, Russell said other proposals are on the table:
- A mandatory country-of-origin labelling law could return, although Russell said it would be largely detrimental to the horticulture and livestock industries because of cost and no real return to producers.
- Animal identification is likely to be included, although the livestock industry is pushing for a privately run system. He expects the bill will provide a precise date for mandatory identification.
- A ban on packer ownership of cattle is likely to be included and perhaps a legislative renewal of the mandatory price reporting of livestock sales.
- Production practices legislation to protect the environment could be strengthened.
- Another possibility is the development of a farm revenue insurance program so that support programs could be eliminated.
