Farmers Plan Rally for Legislation

March 17, 2000

A coalition of farm organizations takes to Capitol Hill next week to lobby for new farm policies, including nonrecourse loans at or near the cost of production, a farmer-owned reserve program and continuation of the planting flexibility now allowed by the 1996 farm law.

The "Rally for Rural America" is scheduled for Sunday through Tuesday and involve more than 40 family farm groups, including the Missouri Rural Crisis Center and National Family Farm Coalition. Most of the provisions on the groups' wish list probably will not be enacted into law.

They will ask for a new farm law that would establish nonrecourse loans at or near cost of production levels; enact short-term conservation measures; maintain planting flexibility and establish a dairy pricing system at a farmer's cost of production level.

Strict enforcement of antitrust laws also is on the groups' agenda. They want a moratorium placed on mergers and acquisitions in agribusiness, transportation, food processing, food manufacturing and retail companies. They also are calling for strict enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act "to end price discrimination."

In addition, they want foods labeled by country of origin, a halt to the expansion of large-scale "factory" farms and "fair trade agreements" that ensure a country can retain the right to develop farm programs "that respond to the needs of their farmers and consumers.

Also on the list is an end to exporting commodities to the United States at below the cost of production and the assurance that environmental protection, "fair wages and worker rights are part of every trade agreement."