January 17, 2001

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman believes his six-year record of accomplishment at USDA is highlighted by improvements in the lives of all U.S. citizens, not only farmers and ranchers. In his last news conference before leaving office, Glickman cited food safety, promoting good nutrition, helping build rural economies and protecting natural resources. Still, he admits, "farm issues remain at the heart of this department."

Specifically, he said, since 1996, USDA has provided $71 billion in direct payments to help American farmers and ranchers, including a record $28 billion in fiscal year 2000. USDA laid out the principles that became the foundation of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 which reforms the federal crop insurance system to make it more affordable and accessible, he added.

Other accomplishments Glickman cited:

--USDA announced national organic standards that provide information for consumers and will encourage even greater growth and opportunity in this $6 billion market.

–He aggressively promoted farmers markets which have grown by nearly two-thirds over the last six years.

--USDA is helping increase demand for ethanol and soy-based biodiesel by making payments to bioenergy companies that agree to expand their production.

--USDA issued mandatory price reporting regulations, which will enhance competition and create fairer market conditions, especially for smaller livestock producers.

On trade, Glickman said

--USDA was a key advocate for extending Permanent Normal Trade Relations to China, which could help boost farm exports by as much as $2 billion per year. Glickman led a Presidential delegation to China to see first-hand the benefits of the U.S.-China trade relationship.

--USDA and USTR submitted proposals for the next round of WTO agricultural negotiations, urging elimination of export subsidies, reduction of tariffs, reform of state-trading enterprises, and increased trade in new technologies.

Glickman also said he has led a shift in forestry policy, away from a focus simply on timbering and toward more of a multi-use philosophy, emphasizing recreation, species protection, clean water and other goals. He approved a plan to protect nearly 60 million acres of pristine national forest land from additional road-building. At Glickman's recommendation, President Clinton created a national monument to protect the world's only remaining giant Sequoia trees, he added.

He also told reporters he expected Congress will provide another farmer assistance program this year but not rewrite the 1996 farm law or propose a new law yet. However, he added that when the new farm bill is approved, it will take a bipartisan effort to do it given the even split in the Senate and the razor-thin Republican margin in the House.

Glickman also expects Congress either to give USDA more authority over agribusiness mergers or the authority to make sure producer interests are protected when mergers by grain companies or meat packers occur.

USDA expects to announce this week if a referendum will be held on whether to continue the beef industry's promotion and research order, says Glickman. Price Waterhouse, an accounting firm that is certifying the signatures on petitions to hold a referendum, is expected to issue its report.