05/07/08 Ag Secretary talks farm bill

Washington Ag May 7, 2008 In a telephone interview with the Northwest Ag Information Network Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer says he is pleased with the latest progress on a new farm bill. Schafer: "I think we are making progress. We need to get it a little farther along to get it to an acceptable level to the President. But the momentum is to get it there and right now I am pleased with the progress." However, while Congress and the Administration agree on spending 10 billion dollars above baseline, Secretary Schafer says what Congress calls 10-billion is really much more. Schafer: "The way Congress scores some of their issues their 10 billion dollar spending level is actually 18 billion dollars going out the door. So we need to come to grips with that, but I think we can. We can look at a spending level that is going to be agreeable." Schafer says the funding source for new agricultural spending has pretty much been agreed on. And that leaves the Administration's demand for reforms, like Adjusted Gross Income caps and payment limits. Schafer: "And to date Congress has been unwilling to put some decent reforms on the table and we are going to need that if we are going to see the President sign a new farm bill." USDA Secretary Ed Schafer. I'm Bob Hoff.