12/08/05 Economist`s prediction for farm bill

12/08/05 Economist`s prediction for farm bill

Farm and Ranch December 8, 2005 Kansas State University agricultural economist Barry Flinchbaugh made some predictions about the next farm bill for those attending last week's Pacific Northwest Grains Conference. Flinchbaugh: "This farm bill will be the beginning of the end of traditional farm programs. Now, I didn't say the end. If there are any reporters in here I don't want to read in the paper that Flinchbaugh's predicting the end of farm programs. I didn't say that. The beginning of the end of traditional programs. The beginning of the end of the marketing loan. The beginning of the end of counter cyclical payments." Flinchbaugh sees a decoupled fixed payment. He says the Republicans, if they still control Congress when the 2007 farm bill is written may also rename and tweak the Conservation Security Program, make it their own and fund it. Flinchbaugh: "The 02 Farm bill was the greenest farm bill in history in terms of money spent on conservation. This one will spend more money on conservation." And Flinchbaugh says we are finally getting serious about energy. Flinchbaugh: "The energy plank of this farm bill will be front and center. It will be rural development. Incentives to produce energy crops." The Pacific Northwest Grains Conference at which Flinchbaugh spoke, was a combined meeting of the Idaho Grain Producers Association, the Oregon Wheat Growers League and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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