12/06/05 Wheat leader on emergency assistance

12/06/05 Wheat leader on emergency assistance

Farm and Ranch December 6, 2005 Prospects for Congress providing farmers and ranchers emergency financial assistance for high fuel and fertilizer costs are problematical. That's how Sherman Reese, National Association of Wheat Growers president, describes the outlook. NAWG has had officers in Washington D.C. almost constantly since Hurricane Katrina hit working the issue and numerous state organizations including those in the Pacific Northwest have made visits to Capitol Hill as well. Reese, an Oregon grower, says what seems to be coalescing now is legislation Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran is going to attach to the Defense Bill when the Senate returns to session next week. Reese: "Sounds like it is going to be a bill that contains for equal elements of payments to the traditional crop disaster people, as well as forestry payments, livestock assistance and then finally an energy offset. But that is all we know about the bill. We don't know anything the overall scope or what the boundaries are for each of those four categories." 22 Reese says Cochran has done his homework and there is a broad range of support for his bill, at least in the Senate. Reese: "Sounds like it may be a steam roller effect once it hits the hopper." Reese says the sooner there is action the better. Reese: "Our concern is it going to be enough, soon enough." Low prices for Pacific Northwest soft white wheat combined with high diesel and fertilizer costs, has meant some farmers being turned down for financing by lenders. Still others have decided to get out of farming. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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