| WASHINGTON- A replacement for the
"Freedom to Farm" law that deregulated farming in 1996 was
unlikely to be written this year despite punishingly low grain
prices, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said on Tuesday.
Farm groups told
leaders of the House and Senate Budget committees in a recent letter
they want Congress to write a new farm law "at the earliest
opportunity", although it appeared unlikely a new law would be
ready in time for 2002 crops.
Congress has enacted
more than $24 billion in farm bailouts to shield growers from low
prices since October 1998.
"I wouldn't expect
a new farm policy to be written this year," Veneman told
reporters after speaking to the National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture.
She pointed to ongoing
hearings by the House Agriculture Committee on possible revisions to
"Freedom to Farm" as an example of her desire for
collaboration among farmers, processors and food makers to build
consensus on changes.
"We need to
bring the entire food chain...into the discussion," Veneman
said. She listed the sugar and peanut programs as areas where change
might occur.
Veneman offered no
details and said she mentioned the programs because both "have
been having difficulties." The government has had to buy sugar
to prop up prices.
House Agriculture
Committee Chairman Larry Combest, Texas Republican, says the panel
will consider "add ons" to farm support programs this
spring. Then it will begin work on a broad-spectrum farm policy
bill, which could include conservation and research work.
So far, farm groups
have asked for a doubling, or even more, in routine outlays in farm
subsidies.
((Charles Abbott,
202-898-8300, fax 898-8490, email washington.commodsenergy.newsroom@reuters.com))
Tuesday, 27 February 2001 14:16:29 |