06/22/07 House Ag Chair frustrated with fruits and vegetables over Farm Bill

Washington Ag June 22, 2007 "I don't know that you can ever make them happy." That's what U.S. House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson said yesterday about what he called new players in the Farm Bill. And who does Peterson include in the group of new players? Peterson: "Well the fruits and vegetables. You know they really didn't want to be involved in 2002. And then the first real effort was in 2003 with the bill they put forward. You have to remember the most important thing to that group is the planting prohibition and we are protecting that. So, I have said to folks they need to work with us because if they don't and we are not able to get a bill, then what will happen is there will be an extension. And if you get an extension there is no money for any of these other things." The bottom line is funding. Peterson says there are those who would like to take money from the commodity title of the Farm Bill and use it for conservation and fruits and vegetables. The House subcommittee with jurisdiction over commodity programs voted unanimously this week for a non-binding resolution opposing such a transfer of funds. I'm Bob Hoff.