11/06/06 Election May Affect Agriculture

Control of the House or Senate may shift from Republicans to Democrats after next Tuesday's elections  but will it make any difference in the next farm bill? Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Ranking Democrat Collin Peterson both answered that question during separate campaign appearances in Nebraska this week. Goodlatte and Peterson both promise to keep working in a bi-partisan fashion  but Peterson says he would be a lot more resistant as Ag Committee Chairman to the specific farm bill proposal U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns is expected to unveil early next year. PETERSON: From what everything I can see, the Secretary seems intent on forcing us or putting in a bill on his own trying to get us to cut subsidies to get in line with Doha and one thing and another. And I don't agree with that. If the Republicans are in charge they will be more susceptible to pressure from the administration than I will. For his part  Goodlatte is promising to work closely with Johanns if he retains the Ag Committee Chairmanship. GOODLATTE: I look forward to working with the former Governor of Nebraska, Mike Johanns who's doing a good job as Secretary of Agriculture as we move forward in writing a farm bill that continues to provide the safety net that farmers need and also make sure that we address some of the concerns that are not addressed in the current farm bill. Goodlatte and Peterson also say they'll approach national animal ID differently  with Peterson backing a mandatory system. He says otherwise - Japan will never fully re-open its market to U.S. beef. PETERSON: In my opinion the Japanese will never open up things unless we have a mandatory system that everyone is in. Goodlatte  in contrast - says national animal ID will remain voluntary if he retains the Ag Committee chairmanship&tape GOODLATTE: I favor a voluntary system. I don't want to have the bureaucracy in Washington DC dictating to farmers here the precise technology that they need to use. What if they get it wrong? Peterson says USDA has spent a hundred million dollars on animal ID so far with nothing to show for it. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.