04/07/06 First a sugar caucus, now a dairy caucus

Idaho's Mike Simpson and Colin Peterson of Minnesota have started something in the US House of Representatives. The two congressmen have formed a House sugar caucus and more than two dozen of their colleagues have signed on. Idaho Sugarbeet Growers Association executive director Mark Duffin says this caucus is similar to one started in the US Senate by Idaho's Larry Craig. DUFFIN "We really appreciate congressmen Simpson and Peterson putting together this House sweetener caucus to kind of do the same kind of work on the House side." And there's a lot to look at. With Congress now beginning work on the 2007 Farm Bill Duffin says the sugar policy is certain to attract attention again. DUFFIN "It has been a no-cost program mandated by law in the farm bill for over 20 years now and so there is no cost to the taxpayer. Some people want to do away with it and there's ways to fine tune it and restructure it and so we'll be looking at that but it will help to have a sweetener caucus there to look at the issues and work with us on them." And Peterson of Minnesota isn't done. He's also formed a bi-partisan dairy farmer caucus in the House. Peterson says last year milk accounted for 27 billion dollars in cash receipts for American dairy farmers who represent the second largest ag commodity industry in the nation. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott