|
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 16,
2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the first Farm
Bill Forum and the topics on which the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) will be seeking input from America's farmers, ranchers and rural
residents regarding the development of the 2007 Farm Bill.
"The next farm bill will
affect America's entire agricultural
community," said Johanns. "That's why I want to ask America's farmers and ranchers how
our farm policy is working and how we can make it better. I believe very
strongly that they deserve a voice in this process."
The first Farm Bill Forum
will be held in
Nashville, Tenn. on July 7 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. CDT at
RFD-TV Northstar Studios. The public is invited to attend and
participate in the forum, which will be broadcast live on RFD-TV. In
addition to accommodating approximately 300 in the audience, the forum
also will accept calls from across the nation.
Johanns made the
announcement in remarks to the State Convention of the Illinois FFA in Springfield, Ill. The 2002 Farm Bill, which authorizes many
of the programs operated by USDA, expires with the 2007 crop year.
Johanns noted that in his
remarks that he was approaching the Farm Bill Forums with an open mind.
"I do not begin this process with preconceived notions about the
direction future farm policy should take," said Johanns. "We will use
the feedback we receive to help us determine the best course for a new
Farm Bill."
Throughout 2005, Johanns and
other senior USDA officials will participate in the Farm Bill Forums
that will be held across the country. The dates, locations and times of
the forums will be announced as they are scheduled and be available on
the USDA website at http://www.usda.gov. The public will be invited to
attend the forums and to present oral comments.
As the current Farm Bill
covers a diverse array of program areas, six topics have been identified
to provide a framework for the forums. The primary topics addressed at
the forums will reflect various concerns affecting rural America such as commodity,
conservation, and rural economic development issues. In addition, some
forums will be dedicated to other important programs authorized by the
farm bill such as food assistance, research and education programs.
USDA will be seeking public
discussion on farm policy considerations regarding: the competitiveness
of U.S. agriculture in global and domestic markets; challenges facing
new farmers and ranchers as they enter agriculture; appropriateness and
effectiveness of the distribution of farm program benefits; achievement
of conservation and environmental goals; and enhancement of rural
economic growth and opportunities to expand agricultural products,
markets and research.
The public will be invited
to provide comments on six specific questions based on these policy
considerations:
1. How should farm policy be
designed to maximize U.S. competitiveness and our
country's ability to effectively compete in global markets?
2. How should farm policy
address any unintended consequences and ensure that such consequences do
not discourage new farmers and the next generation of farmers from
entering production agriculture?
3. How should farm policy be
designed to effectively and fairly distribute assistance to producers?
4. How can farm policy best
achieve conservation and environmental goals?
6. How should agricultural
product development, marketing and research-related issues be addressed
in the next farm bill?
Notice of these questions
will be published in the June 17, 2005 Federal Register. Comments will
be accepted at public forums and may also be submitted electronically
via the Internet at the USDA home page (http://www.usda.gov) by
selecting "Farm Bill Forums," by email to FarmBill@usda.gov or by mail
to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Farm Bill,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3355.
USDA will review the public
comments received by December 30, 2005, including any analyses, reports,
studies and other material submitted with the comments, that address the
six questions.
NOTE: DIRECT LINK FOR
COMMENTS
|
