05/11/05 Wheat growers and budget cuts

05/11/05 Wheat growers and budget cuts

Farm and Ranch May 11, 2005 National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Daren Coppock says that while a smaller number would have been preferred, the three billion dollars over five years in cuts to agriculture in the budget approved by Congress is something wheat growers can live without a whole lot of damage. And Coppock says the budget resolution does not instruct authorizing committees to take any specific actions. Coppock: "That is one of the things we asked them to do from the beginning was you guys pick a number, make it as fair as possible, as small as possible, but then let the committees that actually have authority over the programs and expertise in designing them and knowing how they work, let those folks be the ones that decide where the cut comes from." The Bush Administration of course had proposed specific reductions in farm programs and a reduction in the payment limit and entities. Coppock says they have not yet heard of what specific reductions the Chairmen of the Senate and House Ag committees may be looking at. . Coppock: "Obviously this is going to be done with the back drop of that WTO case against the cotton program that actually reaches beyond cotton into some of the other programs as well, and the whole back drop of the WTO negotiations and getting rid of export subsidies and trying to eliminate trade distorting subsidies and all that kind of stuff." Coppock says the payment limitation issue isn't as significant for wheat as for some other commodities but NAWG's position currently would be to oppose further reductions in the limit. Coppock: "But I know it is going to come back because of who's playing the game." Tomorrow, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees comment on making the three-billion dollar cut in ag spending. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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