July 14, 1999

The Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture believes there is an "urgent need" for Congress and the Clinton Administration to get together to provide supplemental financial assistance to farmers and ranchers this year.

In a brief statement on the current farm situation, the commission, at a meeting last week in Washington, said it spent "some" time discussing the problems facing farmers and ranchers. "To address these short-term problems, the commission agreed there is an urgent need for Congress and the (Clinton) Administration to come together and provide supplemental financial assistance to farmers and ranchers."

Farm prices have declined "dramatically, and farm income continues to weaken as a result of shrinking export demand and bumper crops worldwide," the statement said.

The commission was established by the 1996 farm law to define the role of the federal government support for production agriculture beyond the law's expiration. The commission's final report is due Jan. 1, 2001.