03/19/07 Ag Future Looking Bright

Ag Future Looking Bright. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Encouraging changes to the 2002 version of U.S. farm policy - U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns has often stated that the last farm bill was the right policy for the times - but times have changed. And speaking at the National Ag Day luncheon in Washington D.C. Thursday - Johanns says the future for American agriculture will include additional changes - but also - lots of promise. JOHANNS: That's certainly the way that I feel about agriculture these days and this day is a good time I think to look out over the horizon at maybe what's in store for us; a hint of what's to come. Including - Johanns says - tremendous opportunities resulting from the growing renewable fuels industry. JOHANNS: Our nations need for renewable fuel is very definitely having a profound effect on our farm economy. One that is driven by a new market and industrial demand for energy crops. Johanns says he`s hopeful those opportunities - as well as USDA Farm Bill proposals - will entice young ag producers to have farm-based careers. The annual National Ag Day luncheon helps to kick-off National Ag Week - which officially begins Sunday, March 18th and continues through the 24th. National Ag Day is March 21st. On the WTO front, Although World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy has said the Doha Round of trade talks have fully resumed - it may appear to the outside observer that the round is dead - or at least dying. But according to U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns - informal and behind the scene discussions are keeping the hope of reviving the talks alive. JOHANNS: We've not been called back for formal negotiations in a ministerial type setting, but having said that, I think the "quiet discussions" as Susan Schwab refers to them I think are going along. So is USDA`s role in the negotiations as a consultant to the U.S. Trade Representative`s office. Johanns says USDA officials work with USTR negotiators on a regular basis. This being the beginning of National Ag Week a lot of schools are devoting class time to agriculture, here at Northwest Ag Information Network we'd love to hear what your school is doing for National Ag Week. Just send me an email to gmartin@aginfo.net. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.