12/11/2006 Securing FSA Loans and New Source for E

Louisiana 7th District GOP Representative Charles Boustany (boo-STAN-knee) - a member of the House Agriculture Committee - has introduced legislation to assist farmers in securing Farm Service Agency guaranteed loans. BOUSTANY: The 2002 Farm Bill had a provision in it that's set to expire on December 31 of this year and it would waive the 15 year term limit on eligibility for guaranteed loans under the Farm Service program. The incoming Chairman of the Senate Ag Committee says the U.S. farm sector will have to go through transformations as cellulose becomes a viable feedstock for the country's ethanol production. And when the new farm bill is written - he says Congress can help. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says it`s time to lay the groundwork - the foundation - for the next ten years of transition - a transition to different kinds of production with different kinds of crops. While corn is still the major ingredient in the billions of gallons of ethanol the U.S. produces each year - government and industry officials are predicting it won`t be long before leftover plant material - such as corn stover - can be used by energy producers. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. I don't know about you but I when I happened to come across the article from agriculture specialists at Rabobank citing how China now produces over half of the worlds produce, buried midst other mundane business news, I became a bit hot under the collar ! This isn't some mere filler story; it's a wake up call! The fact that China is expected within the next three years to become the third largest fresh produce exporter should scare us to death. (Currently China at 7.19 per cent of the global trade sits right behind the Netherlands, US and Spain.) Yet it doesn't, neither does the fact that China's status as a key exporter of pears and asparagus, (both northwest crops) isn't even worthy of bold print. Isn't that sad! While our farmers struggle to find a labor force to pick their produce, a behemoth who exploits humans to achieve cheap labor, stands poised to wipe them out. Meanwhile, the majority of Americans continue to scarf down a jumbo meal at the nearest fast food restaurant oblivious of where their food comes from. Apathy is poisoning our nation; we see it regarding terrorism, so I guess it's shouldn't surprise us when it comes to the sanctity of our food supply. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.