10/26/07 Grain producers meet next week

When the Idaho Grain Producers meet in Boise next Monday and Tuesday there will be a lot to talk about. IGPA executive director Travis Jones says the five member executive board and all of the county leaders don't lack for issues to discuss. JONES "The farm bill and probably transportation issues affecting producers in Idaho. Also the field burning issue that is prevalent right now and is still going on in the state of Idaho when it comes to blue grass and crop residue burning in general. We'll discuss things like trade and just market reports that we will get and research updates we'll get from wheat and barley commission in Idaho as well." Jones says wheat and barley growers in Idaho would oppose Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's proposal to cut direct payments to producers by 4.5 billion dollars. Harkin wants that money for conservation security and nutrition programs. JONES "But we should not retreat from a program like direct payments that is the most green box, when I say green box I mean the most World Trade Organization legal method of helping our US farmers out. When I say Basically if we would not oppose it we would potentially give up something that is the most legal and defendable program that farmers have." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott