As the debate over the 1995 United States farm bill heats up, the podium for those who want a say in the outcome is getting crowded.
This year, more than ever before, non-farmers are demanding a say. Almost everyone, except foreign farmers who will be affected, seem to be given a hearing.
Agri-business, consumers, environmentalists and non-farm belt politicians all are contributors to a growing babble of conflicting advice.
“These voices all will be heard in the debate,” deputy agriculture secretary Richard Rominger said recently. “It is up to farm groups to keep their voices loud in the debate. It is going to be an interesting year.”
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A far from complete list of competing voices and key players would include the following:
- The Politicians:
Close to half the members of Congress have been elected since 1992 and most do not have a rural constituency or experience in farm bill politics. More than three-quarters of the House of Representatives committee writing the farm bill have not been through the process before.
“These people are more likely to question the status quo and to want change,” said Rominger.
The majority Republicans promote deep subsidy cuts. The Democrats, who control the White House, are angling for more gentle reductions.
- The Farm Groups:
They are divided, allowing the politicians to pick the message they want to hear.
The American Farm Bureau, with close ties to the Republican congressional majority, supports farm subsidy and regulation cuts.
The National Farmers Union, closer to the Democrats, lobbies for retention of most of the current farm bill with minimum cuts in support levels.
The American Agricultural Movement, reduced to a fringe group since the 1980s, is lobbying for higher base prices as a way to control subsidies.
- Agri-Business:
Through a new lobby called the Coalition for Competitive Agriculture, companies like Cargill, Continental and others who make their profits on volume or low input prices have been lobbying for a lower loan rate which would reduce base farmgate prices. They want an end to acreage set-asides so crop land can expand to the maximum.
The tradeoff, they say, is that American commodities would become more competitive in world markets.
- The Environmentalists:
They argue for continuation of the conservation reserve program, and regulations which force farmers to leave sensitive land fallow and to reduce chemical use as much as possible. They also support the ethanol lobby.
- The Consumers:
While not a strong lobby in the debate, congressional aides and farm lobbyists report that consumers/taxpayers have little sympathy for continuing farm subsidies but also show little inclination to see food prices rise so farmers can get more of their income from the market.
