07/12/06 Finding money for a new farm bill

Senator Mike Crapo says when he returns to Idaho and talks to farmers and ranchers he's hearing the same thing over and over. CRAPO "What budget will be available for the farm bill was at the forefront." It's no surprise that this Congress faces billions of dollars in mounting debt. Crapo complains that two thirds of the federal budget is already locked in through what's called entitlement programs. CRAPO "If we don't do anything about the entitlement spending it will grow to the point within a decade or two it will consumer the entire federal budget." As the Senate grapples with appropriations this week Senator Crapo says programs like the 2007 Farm Bill may suffer. CRAPO "The funding level for this farm bill will be held close to static. In other words I don't know that there will be a reduction in the funding for the farm bill but I don't think one can look for significant increases in the funding for the farm bill either." While Congress talks so do ag groups. Along with other issues the farm bill is being discussed this week at the cattlemen's annual summer meeting in Reno. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association will take an actual stand on Farm Bill policies at its meeting next winter. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott