06/13/06 Getting down on the Farm Bill

Getting down on the Farm Bill. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. The 2007 Farm Bill had its day in the sun last Saturday in Yakima, Washington. Many Northwest farmers had a chance to let congressional members know how they feel about current and proposed legislations with both the new farm bill and immigration reform. Washington Congressman Doc Hastings has been pushing for this kind of local farm bill hearing. HASTINGS: This is very significant that we have the house agriculture committee out here specifically to hear the needs of an area that really has a lot of specialty crops. Mike Youngquist is a small raspberry farmer from Mount Vernon, WA and had a very unique way of getting his point across regarding immigration reform. YOUNGQUIST: I want to express an example and maybe you can see the similarities. You in Congress probably get paid over 100 thousand dollars a year. How would you like to work for half the minimum wage for the amount of hours you put in? I know you put in way more than 40 hours a week but you could get paid maybe 2.50, 3 dollars an hour and that's what you would live on. The balance of your wages would be invested in your specialty crops farming operation. Also you would invest your retirement benefits in your specialty farming operation and your health benefits would be minimum with the highest deductible. You would have to do this for at least 20 years whether you are re-elected or not. And during that time you've got to realize you are stuck because it's easier to divorce your wife than to get out of your farm Fruit grower Larry Olsen got to the point on his feelings. OLSEN: I must admit to feeling that in the past fruit and vegetable growers have been treated in the farm bill like stepchildren. However, I am not here to advocate price support for fruit growers or for any other crop that I grow for that matter; however I ask that this committee provide additional support for programs that enable growers like me to compete in pre-national and international markets. And finally a pet peeve of mine, that is research. It has been frustrating to frequently feel the need to fight a rear guard action against administration attempts both Republican and Democrat to cut research funding. Thank God for Congressman Doc Hastings for protecting research which enhances my ability to compete with foreign producers often heavily subsidized by their own governments and usually with much lower labor costs. The hearing is one of only 12 being held around the country to gather information prior to writing a new farm bill. The present bill, which has been in effect since 2002, expires next year. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.