Win-win outcome for farmers, consumers sought for 2007 farm bill

Published: 2006-02-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The next farm bill isn't due to be passed for another year, but some people are already strategizing various win-win scenarios for farmers, consumers, rural towns and the environment. Those elements would include utilizing farms as sources for renewable energy, limiting commodity payments and focusing on rural economic development beyond crop subsidies. The projected federal deficit, though, could alter federal farm policy, conferees were told Feb. 14 at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, co-sponsored by five agencies of the U.S. bishops and 12 national Catholic organizations. The 2002 farm bill, which added $73.5 billion in new federal funds over 10 years for rural communities, was written in a time of budget surpluses, said Mark Halverson, minority staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Agriculture Committee. William O'Connor, staff director for the Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee, was invited but unable to attend.

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