08/12/05 Farm Bill forums - the questions, finale

Farm Bill Forums, both addressing all matters of future federal agriculture policy and specific areas like conservation and rural development, are scheduled throughout the United States through the end of the year. And it is the comments from these forums that will help U.S.D.A. shape its opinions to Congress on the 2007 Farm Bill. That statement may seem odd in that past administrations have stayed out of Farm Bill discussions in Congress. But as U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns revealed at the National Farm Bill Forum in Nashville last month, the Bush Administration could set a precedent next year. JOHANNS: This may be the first administration in quite some time that actually may put in a Farm Bill. Now that decision hasn't been finally made. That's a pretty significant policy decision. That places the comments of those participating in the Farm Bill Forums and who submit comments on the 2007 Farm Bill through U.S.D.A.'s web site at a greater significance. Two questions among the six offered as discussion starters at HYPERLINK "http://www.usda.gov" www.usda.gov are significant from the standpoint of how agriculture can still provide benefits to rural economies. The questions posed are "How can federal rural and farm programs provide effective assistance to rural areas?" and "How should agricultural product development, marketing, and research-related issues be addressed in the next Farm Bill?" An example answer comes from a Montana grower who believes agriculture could become a greater erials needed for biofuels that could be produced in rural communities. He says U.S.D.A. needs to take the lead in expanding current energy production titles in the Farm Bill. SMITH: My comments are for you and this Farm Bill to get serious about how to expand that title and have agriculture play more of a leading role, because I think there is enough capacity in this country to where agriculture could really become a workhorse in the energy sector. And that leading role includes continued funding of marketing, research, and ag education to help develop related value added industries in rural communities. One educator from the University of Tennessee points out the need for the government to continue fundinr on the higher education or extension levels. EDUCATOR: There's a little conflict maybe in funding concerning the importance of agriculture education. The funding with Carl Perkins funds career and technical education, which also, which most people don't realize, also funds agricultural education.