08/10/05 Johanns talks ag with Bush

Farm and Ranch August 10, 2005 Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns was among the economic and domestic advisors that met with President Bush in Crawford, Texas yesterday. And in an interview following the meeting Secretary Johanns said he told the President that his policies were having a positive impact on agriculture. The Secretary mentioned tax relief, the just signed energy bill and its renewable fuels standard, the growth in agricultural trade over the past four years and the fact that 2004 saw a record set in net cash farm income, which Johanns says will be close to, if not at record levels again this year. The Secretary says the President asked about the Farm Bill listening Johanns has been conducting. Johanns: "And wanted to know what people were talking and what was on their mind. He did ask about conservation and wanted to know what I had been hearing about conservation and I indicated that the message there was positive." The President was also interested in the timing of the next Farm Bill. Johanns: "and how that was going to fit with the current trade negotiations with the Doha Round and I gave him a briefing on that. Needless to say he is very, very committed to leveling the playing field for farmers and ranchers." Whether the Bush Administration will put forth its own Farm Bill proposal is not yet clear. Johanns: "But I think the direction is very clear. If it is not a bill itself he wants us to be very, very involved in the next Farm Bill and very, very involved in the trade negotiations." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.