Specific ideas for constructing the farm legislation were plentiful, but the discussion kept diverting to problems engendered by agriculture trade treaties, most of which cannot be addressed in the countrys fundamental agriculture policy.

He asked that Montana farmers and ranchers speak with a single voice. A cohesive program, agreed upon and recognizing the need for compromise.

There is only one farm bill, and it is the same for everyone, he told a crowd of about 30.

He indicated that he; Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.; and Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., have a high degree of agreement on key issues and want to be united in pushing for specifics in the bill.

Burns is spending four days this week traveling around the eastern two-thirds of the state gathering ideas for inclusion.

The current farm bill, written in 1996, expires with the 2002 crop year. However, there is a sense of urgency in Congress that a new multi-year bill be completed this year rather than waiting for next, which is an election year. The House Agriculture Committee completed its version before the August recess, and it will go to the full House sometime this fall. Getting it through the Senate is questionable.

There is not a lot of time, he said. There are so many other issues. Im working for it. I want it passed. People need it. It is uncertain (that it will be passed).

Although the 1996 Farm Bill was supposed to gradually eliminate crop subsidy supports over seven years, the bill has failed. Except for 1996, Congress has repeatedly provided emergency disaster payments to farmers for droughts, floods and overall low prices brought on by surplus, overproduction and poor export markets. President George W. Bush this past week signed the latest $5.5 billion supplemental aid for agriculturists.

The Senate wanted to give $7.5 million, but Bush threatened a veto. Baucus said the Texan won the showdown poker game because the House went home. Sen. (Tom) Harkin, D-Iowa, wanted to hold tough, but it was a losing game.

Among the specifics offered for inclusion of the 2002 Farm Bill:

A three-pronged policy on beef and cattle imports suggested by Bill Bullard, head of the R-CALF group which has fought imports, especially from Canada. The cattlemens group wants country of origin labeling on all meat products, reservation of the USDA quality stamp to livestock produced in the United States and cattle and beef defined as a perishable commodity in connection with trade agreements.

Several sugar producers expressed frustration with the continued molasses stuffing problem with Canada, in which sugar in excess of Canadas quota is being brought into the United States in molasses and then rerefined out of it. Baucus said he expected no change in the sugar program despite organized opposition to it in Congress.

Wheat farmer Les Auer said he wanted more timely approval of disaster relief such as CRP haying and grazing.

The Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers not to farm highly erodable soils, is a focal point this time around. Enacted in 1985, and expanded in subsequent bills, the program has taken about 34 million acres out of production. Opponents argue that it has hastened the demise of small rural towns that were dependent on more acres under production. Sentiment at the meeting Tuesday was for expanding the program, even increasing the national limit to 40 million acres. One idea was to pay higher annual rates for the poorer soils taken out of production and lower rates for the more productive soils.

Harmonization of regulations for pesticides between Canada and the United States also drew heavy support as did relief for small feedlot operators who are under pressure from the EPA over the disposal of waste from confined animal feeding operations.

Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy asked that the Food Stamp program, which is part if the farm bill, be expanded for senior citizens rather than curtailed as per USDA policy at present.