October 17, 2000

The American Farm Bureau Federation has published a list of questions and answers from Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush on agricultural issues they'd have to face if elected to the White House next month. On farm policy, Gore favors a counter-cyclical program of direct farmer payments when prices or income decline to a certain level, while Bush prefers to continue a more free- from-government approach but still with assistance in tough times. Both support further crop insurance program reforms.

Bush blames the current low crop prices on increased global supplies and diminished demand. "The 1996 farm (law) reversed decades of supply control management, and unleashed U.S. farmers to plant in response to market demand, not government programs. After a period of substantial growth, the farm economy has now weakened due to increased global production and slack demand, principally in Asia."

The GOP standard-beared supports "prompt emergency assistance to help farmers make the transition to a market-driven regime." He also supports "additional emergency assistance, which should come in the form of direct payments, consistent with the principles in the 1996 farm (law) to ensure that the move toward a market-oriented farm policy continues."

Government must make crop insurance a "priority ... that better reflects farmers' risk management needs, including policies that cover more commodities, including livestock, offer a wider variety of plans, more comprehensive coverage, and affordable premiums. At the same time, we should encourage the private sector to continue to develop new risk management tools, like the crop revenue coverage and revenue assurance programs, which are now available in six states."

He also calls for the eventual elimination of the estate tax that can "destroy family-owned farms, ranches, and small businesses, when the tax – which can be as high as 55% – forces farmers and ranchers to sell land, buildings or equipment to pay the government."

Bush added, "As important as these reforms are, I believe that over the long run the best way to ensure a strong, growing and vibrant agricultural sector is through a more market-driven approach that allows U.S. farmers to fully participate in the world economy. This will require investment in new and innovative technologies, ensuring that regulation is based upon sound science and common sense, and expanding markets overseas for U.S. farm exports."

Gore points to the "annual need and battle for emergency aid (that) shows that the Republican `Freedom to Farm' law has failed and needs to be replaced. I believe that long-term U.S. farm policy should be based on counter-cyclical income assistance that attempts to stabilize farm income on a year- to-year basis and complementary federally-backed insurance policies that attempt to achieve revenue stability within the growing year."

He said he supports a plan, similar to that proposed by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tom Daschle (D-SD) last year to increase payments as crop prices or yields fall and to direct them to farmers actually producing crops.

"I also support crop insurance reform to make crop insurance more effective and affordable by increasing federal support for insurance, expanding insurance to new crops and livestock, modifying production history rules and aiding farmers who suffer multi-year disasters," Gore said.