09/08/08 House Ag Committee Chair's agenda

Farm and Ranch September 8, 2008 So what is on the agenda for U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson with Congress returning from its summer recess? The 2008 Farm Bill may be completed but it is still being implemented and Peterson says there is currently a lot interest in how the USDA is interpreting the 10-acre provision regarding farm program payments. What might happen.? Peterson: "I may actually have to fix a bill to fix it." Peterson also expects to pass legislation to deal with Wall Street and commodities. Peterson: "I think we will pass a bill to put limitations on Wall Street in terms of how much they can go into these markets. I have come to the conclusion that especially in the ag markets this investment money that has come in has created problems. We are not getting convergence in the commodity markets like we should." Peterson says commodity markets were never meant to be investment opportunities for Wall Street. Chairman Peterson also continues to be interested in the structure and operation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Peterson: "Computers don't work and other problems. So what I am going to do the rest of the year is I am going to talk to all of the former Secretaries that are alive. My staff is down there digging into things and crop insurance and other areas, and try and get us ready so that, I got some general ideas but try to put them on paper by the first of the year so when we get a new administration we can go to work on that." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.