American Farm Bureau Federation President Dean Kleckner sees no major changes in farm policy coming from Congress this year. Regardless of policy directions, he adds, there will be no easy way to bring about economic improvement for farmers.

Speaking at a news conference in Houston, where the AFBF is holding its annual meeting, Kleckner said, "There's unhappiness now here in the United States and around the world...that's been caused by super world weather, super production and low demand. Prices are lousy in the whole world."

Adequate and affordable crop insurance would help farmers in times of weather and prices problems, he added, but enacting a good crop insurance program "is an evolving process" that will need the input of farmers throughout the country. He cautioned Congress not to "lose sight' of promises made in the 1996 farm bill debate that included measures to increase agricultural exports, reform the regulatory system and protect private property rights.

He said the Justice Department has performed its role in ensuring market competitiveness in the fact of recent high profile agribusiness mergers. A rush to judgment, such as a recently proposed moratorium on mergers would be counterproductive and implemented without any input form affected parties including farmers and ranchers.'

"The thing we have to depend on the Justice Department to determine is, is there still competition or is it moving toward a monopoly? Only government can prevent monopoly."

Kleckner also said he plans to continue planting all genetically modified soybeans on his farm this year. After discussions with farmers across the country, he added, he does not see a significant trend to move away form GM crops this year.

"American farmers...and farmers around much of the world like the idea of genetic enhancement. They like the idea of using less farm chemicals. That's what many of us are doing because of some of the GM (crops) we are planting. I believe acceptance of genetic enhancement is going to come faster than most of us today think it will," he added.