11/08/05 Johanns listens, now what happens?

Ag Secretary Mike Johanns and other top officials at USDA have held 48 listening sessions around the country this year, giving ag producers a chance to lobby for the 2007 Farm Bill. JOHANNS "Two thirds of American farmers really receive no subsidy. 90-percent of our payments to the farm bill go to five crops, corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and rice." But Johanns says specialty crop farmers don't necessarily want to be in a subsidy program but they do have needs. JOHANNS "Needs for research, we have needs for emphasis on market promotion, we have needs for SBS enforcement." Tim McGreevy with Moscow-based US Dry Pea and Lentil Commission spoke at last week's listening session in Spokane where he complained about Canadian subsidies and their impact on Northwest growers. He's also concerned that the high cost of fertilizer may force many Midwest farmers to plant legumes which add nitrogen to the soil. MCGREEVY "And perhaps even in Iowa and Nebraska they may be looking at these because fertilizer is pretty expensive. So we'll probably see an increase in peas and lentils next year in both the US and Canada strictly because of the cost of fertilizer and energy." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott