Harkin, Lugar Set Objectives

September 26, 2001

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and ranking Republican Sen. Richard Lugar (IN) have issued a set of objectives for the Senate version of the next farm bill that calls for a strong conservation title and "reasonable protection against damaging changes in economic conditions for agricultural producers actively involved in farming and ranching." The latter objective is qualified to provide protection "in a manner that reflects shared responsibility between producers and government and recognizes market realities, budget resources and the variety of circumstances and characteristics of U.S. farms and ranches."

Harkin and Lugar said the objectives would "guide the work of the committee as it drafts its version of the legislation."

"When we began the process of crafting a new farm bill we decided that the policy needed to be both a significant change from past policies and had to be a bipartisan approach. With (this) announcement we have set a solid foundation for achieving both these goals," said Harkin. "The new farm bill will set critical policies for America's farm families, rural communities and the entire nation. We must have a sound policy for a new generation of farmers in a new century of farming."

"I look forward to continued bipartisan work with Chairman Harkin in developing farm legislation this year and next. Though Senators may disagree on details, I believe that we will remain centered on the objectives of farm policy. We need to take time to develop a solid bill focused on conservation, rural development, a strong nutrition safety net, income assurance, trade, credit opportunities for beginning farmers, home grown biomass energy, cutting edge research, and well managed forestry," Lugar said.

The objectives include:

--Improve farm income opportunities by providing reasonable protection against damaging changes in economic conditions for agricultural producers actively involved in farming and ranching in a manner that reflects shared responsibility between producers and government and recognizes market realities, budget resources and the variety of circumstances and characteristics of U.S. farms and ranches; promoting improved incomes for agricultural producers from fair, open and competitive markets and through new and expanded markets and marketing opportunities and arrangements; minimizing distortions to markets, production and values of agricultural resources, and continue planting flexibility to encourage sound agronomic and economic production decisions; conforming to U.S. international trade commitments in agriculture and promote further market access for U.S. agricultural and food exports.

--Promote conservation on agricultural and forest lands by conserving and enhancing natural resources associated with agriculture and forestry and help farmers, ranchers and landowners increase stewardship efforts, protect working land from development and meet requirements contained in federal, state and local environmental laws; providing increased support for agricultural conservation, while striking a proper balance between compensation for land retirement and voluntary incentive-based programs for land in agricultural production; encouraging and facilitating partnerships and joint efforts involving agricultural producers and landowners, private organizations and federal, state and local governments in order to address national, regional and local resource concerns, including providing increased financial assistance and technical assistance provided by the public and private sectors; expanding opportunities for private landowners voluntarily to maximize environmental and conservation practices on forested lands and improve the knowledge, understanding and use of sustainable forestry practices on both public and private lands.

--Foster economic growth, job creation and quality of life in rural communities by increasing the resources for and maximizing the effectiveness of federal expenditures for USDA rural development grant and loan programs, such as for community facilities, water and wastewater improvement, rural businesses and cooperatives, to benefit all rural Americans; improving the availability of capital for lending and investment in rural communities and businesses; facilitating the creation and expansion of cooperatives and other farmer-owned and locally owned enterprises to add value to farm commodities, capture a larger share of the consumer dollar, and increase farm and rural income; increasing resources for investment in rural infrastructure and the availability of services and technologies, such as broadband telecommunications, which will benefit the long-term revitalization of rural areas; encouraging cooperation among federal, state, local and tribal governments and private sector and non-profit organizations to generate innovative responses to the needs of rural communities; making information more accessible to assist communities in determining the programs that are available to them for rural development efforts.

--Promote the development, production and use of farm-based renewable energy and industrial raw materials by increasing USDA's commitment to research and commercial development of agriculturally based renewable energy and industrial raw material supplies; helping farmers and farmer-owned and rural businesses earn income through production and use of farm-based renewable energy in order to promote rural economic development, increase energy security and provide environmental benefits.

--Improve the availability of credit to agricultural producers by seeking to make credit programs for agricultural producers simpler and more responsive to the needs of borrowers; improving and maintaining adequate protections for program integrity, accountability and soundness; improving and maintaining credit opportunities for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; assisting farmers and ranchers by continuing to provide a range of credit options, with a focus on leveraging federal resources through USDA guaranteed loans.