01/18/06 Will farmers get help with fuel costs?

Senator Mike Crapo and his staff have spent many hours listening to Idahoans talking about the next farm bill. They're going to get more comments in the weeks to come but Crapo is sure of one thing, fuel and fertilizer costs are at the top of many concern lists. The Idaho Senator says he hears farmers and ranchers and so do some other members of Congress. Crapo feels the best way to help those producers is through a disaster or emergency type of approach. CRAPO - "And the reason I say that is once we start picking out any particular industry and giving them a financial boost for energy costs then all industries are going to come to the table and say 'well you know we have energy costs in our products too and we should have the same kind of support.'" At one of the 23 statewide hearings by Crapo and his staff some farmers said a 2007 Farm Bill meant nothing to them because they might not be able to stay in business until next year because of fuel and energy costs. So what are the chances they'll get some help from the federal government this year? CRAPO - "I don't know. In the current budget climate it's a very difficult climate but certainly the issue is on the table." The current farm bill expires at the end of this crop year. The House and Senate are expected to put together a draft bill by this summer so that final legislation could be ready for a vote by a new Congress in early 2007. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott