12/29/05 Top N.W. ag stories for 2005, Pt. 2

12/29/05 Top N.W. ag stories for 2005, Pt. 2

The agriculture industry continually deals with its share of dictates from Washington D.C. whether it pertains to farm policy or farm money. But in 2005, it seemed the Northwest farmer, rancher, and orchard operator had its share of potential policy dictates to worry about. As the 109th Congress entered into session, the immediate word from the Bush Administration was it wanted across the board budget cuts, including in ag programs. And considering it was asking for things such as a two year phase out of formula funds for land grant university ag research, a commodity payment limit cap, and a proposed twenty per cent rate hike in Bonneville Power Administration power rates, lets just say Northwest ag supporters were a little concerned. Many of those proposals were never realized in the final Fiscal Year 2006 budget kind of sort of adopted by Congress &they will enter the New Year putting final touches on the measure before sending it to the President for his signature. However, it would be an ironic twist that those same Northwest ag supporters that had concerns about ag policy would get their say. One such hearing took place this summer in Clarkston as a House subcommittee held a hearing on Endangered Species Act reform in the context of future management of the Lower Snake River system. Then, to prepare for crafting of the 2007 Farm Bill, U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns announced a series of nationwide Farm Bill Forums. And Johanns and other U.S.D.A. officials were impressed with what the Northwest had to say in events in Eastern Idaho, Portland, and Cheney Washington, where Johanns was in attendance. JOHANNS: It's been a great forum, I think truly one of the best that we had. But what Congress continues to work on at least there is public say allowed. Dictates from the court system is a little different. Take the controversial ruling that allowed municipalities to take private lands for use in economic development. That led to Congress, and state legislatures, spending much of the summer and fall working on bills to off set the impacts the eminent domain ruling of Kelo vs. New London. There were the court rulings that over threw the federal government's biological opinion for fish recovery of the Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers, the rejection of appeal in a hearing in Seattle, and a judge's continued guidance on management until a new federal plan can be crafted. Other stories in 2005 have their basis in health, safety, energy, and the weather. Most of those are discussed in our next program.
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