Farmers Union Is Not Pleased

July 30, 2001

The National Farmers Union (NFU) expressed its disappointment with a bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee. The 10-year plan is an aggressive start in creating a new, urgently needed farm law, said the organization, but it fails to provide farmers and ranchers with the tools necessary to survive in today's struggling farm and rural economies.

"We are disappointed that the principals advanced in the plan do not address the inequities and distortions created by the Freedom to Farm law," said NFU President Leland Swenson. "It is based on old levels of production and yields. It does not provide assistance to those who most need it. This plan is much the same as today's failed policy. Instead, we must provide producers with new tools to restore a fair price in the marketplace. We need a farm bill that is farmer-friendly."

Farmers Union said the bill does little to create new market and price-enhancing opportunities for producers. It extends the inequities among program crops, fails to provide an adequate safety net for dairy producers and fails to target its benefits to family farmers and ranchers based on today's needs.

"We will continue to work with the full House of Representatives, the Senate Agriculture Committee and the full Senate to make improvements that are in the best interests of family farmers and ranchers," Swenson added. "While the bill is a first step in improving conservation, nutrition and rural development programs, much work must be done to create a workable comprehensive farm law."

NFU is also disappointed that the committee defeated an amendment that would have established a mandatory country of origin label for meat, fruits, vegetables, peanuts and catfish. "We commend Reps. John Thune (R-SD) and Mike Ross (D-AR) for their efforts on this important issue, Swenson said. "We will continue to work to get this measure adopted."