| WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin took to the House
floor to speak in support of Wyomings sugar beet farmers and in favor
of the Farm Security Act. Having passed the U.S. House today, the Farm
Security Act would rewrite American farm policy in order to inject some
stability back into our nations agriculture markets. Wyomings
farmers and ranchers are the economic backbone of rural communities across
our state. They support the neighborhood cafe, the barber shop, and the
hardware store, said Cubin. It is vital that they continue to have
the ability to operate during these difficult economic times. As we
consider diverse ways to strengthen America by strengthening our economy,
we must not only remember Wall Street, but we must also remember rural
Main Street, USA. A strong farm economy means a strong American economy,
and a strong American economy means a strong America.
Wyoming farmers and ranchers are also excellent stewards of the
land, said Cubin. Im pleased that the Farm Security Act is as
environmentally conscience as they are. The bill increases conservation
funding by 80 percent overall. Not only is such an increase in
conservation spending monumental, it also represents the proper balance
between the environmental efforts of our nations agriculture community
and their ability to continue producing on their land.
Another very important part of Wyomings agricultural economy is
our sheep and lamb producers, explained Cubin. The bill gives much
needed assistance to our wool industry by establishing a marketing
assistance loan program. The program will give Wyomings producers the
ability to be more competitive in an increasingly competitive global
economy.
According to Cubin, Wyomings struggling sugar beet producers will
benefit from the bills provision decreasing interest rates for price
support loans and the development of a new, no-cost payment-in-kind
program. Additionally, the measure gives back to the Secretary of
Agriculture the right to use marketing allotments in order to stabilize
sugar prices by preventing an oversupply situation on the domestic sugar
market.
One of the issues I hear about most while conducting town meetings
across the state is how the 1996 Farm Bill has failed to shield farmers
from unexpectedly poor crop years, declining export demand, and an
increasingly abundant world supply, concluded Cubin. The bill we
passed today remedies these situations by allowing farmers to become more
globally competitive, market responsive, and environmentally responsible.
All the while maintaining fiscal discipline.
The Farm Security Act passed the U.S. House by a vote of 291 to 120.
The Senate has yet to schedule the bill for consideration. |