| WASHINGTON (AP) Ann Veneman, President-elect Bushs
pick to lead the Agriculture Department, pledged on Thursday to focus
attention on solving the economic problems facing ranchers and farmers.
She is expected to win easy confirmation despite some nervousness about
the Californian among Midwest farmers at a time when they are as dependent
as ever on the federal government.
The issues facing the farmers and ranchers today are complex and
challenging, Veneman said in an opening statement at her confirmation
hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The hard-working men and women who provide our food and fiber have
been tested by low prices, bad weather and other adversities, she said.
Veneman told the committee that environmental regulations should be
based on sound scientific principles and help, not hinder, the
ability of farmers to be good stewards.
She was expected to undergo several hours of questioning about her
views on farm policy, the Forest Service, food safety and other issues.
Veneman, a lawyer and trade expert, worked at USDA from 1986 to 1993,
eventually rising to deputy secretary, the agencys No. 2 post. She
later served as agriculture secretary in California, the nations
leading producer of farm commodities.
Some Midwest farmers have expressed concern that she will be
insensitive to the interests of Midwest farms, which are generally
family-operated and much smaller than the corporate operations that
dominate California agriculture.
Midwest lawmakers are pressing her to put at least one farmer in a
prominent position at USDA.
They also are pushing her to support government rules and funding that
support production of ethanol, a gasoline additive made from corn.
The farm economy remains in the doldrums, propped up by federal aid.
Direct government payments to farmers last year, more than $22 billion,
accounted for about half of net farm income nationwide. USDA estimates
farm earnings will drop about 10 percent this year without a fourth
bailout in as many years from Congress.
Consumer advocates and environmentalists have praised Veneman for her
reputation of openness and are not expected to oppose her confirmation.
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said he appealed to Veneman not to
roll back food-safety rules and forest protections imposed by the Clinton
administration. Despite criticism from Republicans in Congress, the
department recently declared 58.5 million acres of national forests
off-limits to new road building and most logging.
The Agriculture Department employs 100,000 people and spends $100
billion a year on a variety of programs, including farm subsidies, food
stamps, meat inspection and the Forest Service. |