Agribusiness

I had the distinct privilege of moderating a Farm Bill Listening Session hosted  recently by Senator Richard Lugar and Congressman Marlin Stutzman in Fort Wayne.  The event had over 125 attendees with a variety of personal and policy interests represented - there were farmers, conservationists, hunger and nutrition advocates, home builders, rural and agribusiness leaders, engaged citizens and lots of press!

Both Lugar and Stutzman come from farming, both serve on their respective chamber's Agriculture Committee, and well understand its importance, the challenges it faces and the complexity of a farm bill process.  Both remarked on the critical timing agriculture faces in relationship to the work of the House-Senate debt reduction committee.  While Congress typically takes many months to study, debate, argue, and ultimately renew a farm bill, it was Lugar who candidly told the audience that the Farm Bill could be done in a matter of weeks ahead of the debt committee's deadline this Fall for budget cut recommendations.  Because of the time crunch, the 12-member panel “might make decisions about agriculture that are not formulated by the ag committees in the House or the Senate, that are not informed by listening and speaking to groups such as this one,” said Lugar.

The two political leaders were largely in agreement on agriculture policy and related topics that were raised or questioned by audience members.  Both preferred federal “safety net” insurance over direct subsidies as a way to protect producers against drops in commodity prices.  Both supported an examination of nutrition and feeding programs to consider their reform rather than simply "tweaking" eligibility requirements.  Stutzman favored ending federal aid for ethanol production. Lugar endorsed the ethanol blender tax credit to encourage development of the fuel made from corn.  Both supported the passage of pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.

The session was notable in two important ways - first, it was well structured to allow every attendee to ask a question or offer an opinion.  Both members' staff deserve compliments for not turning the event into a "hearing" with select witnesses and testimony.  Second, both Lugar and Stutzman offered very genuine and straight-forward responses to all the questions and topics raised - an approach the attendees seemed to really appreciate.

My opening comments that provided some "Farm Bill 101" for the audience are provided below.

"We are here today to hear from both Senator Richard Lugar and Congressman Marlin Stutzman of this 3rd district on the status, priorities, and even political dynamics surrounding the development of our next Farm Bill. Both will be intimately involved in this process – serving respectively on the Senate and House Agriculture Committees.

And you are an important part of today’s time together – both are expecting to hear your comments and perspectives on the Farm Bill – I hope you have come ready with opinions (probably strongly held ones!), comments and questions.

Before I introduce these two gentlemen to you, I’d like to share a little background and history with you on the Farm Bill and the process we go through to put new ones in place…

• 16 farm bills have been enacted in our nation’s history – the first in 1933 and the most recent 2008;
• Each bill is comprised of titles (similar to "chapters") – in 1996 there were 9 titles, 2002 there were 10 and our current bill has 15;
• The 2008 Farm Bill on average costs or provides outlays EACH YEAR of approximately $60 billion. Nearly 80 percent of this Farm Bill spending goes toward nutrition and domestic feeding programs;
• Two primary committees are involved – the House and Senate Agriculture Committees – but so are a number of others today because of the breadth of programs encompassed in this bill – including Foreign Relations/Foreign Affairs, Environment, Food Safety, Ways and Means/Finance. And that doesn’t even include the all important budget and appropriation committees who are squarely focused on the spending aspects;
• The Senate Ag Committee has 21 members (11 Ds/10 Rs); the House Ag Committee has 46 members (26 Rs/20 Ds), but 23 are new members. Other influencers are the Executive Branch (the White House and USDA) as well as a GROWING number of advocacy groups – they range from farm to hunger to environmental to rural to trade to research to consumer groups.
  

Every Farm Bill’s outcome is influenced by several common factors such as the state of the farm economy, the politics of the day, the strength of the lobbies involved, the structure/demographics of US agriculture, and always the budget.

Today, the budget crisis, the fragile U.S. – and European – economies, and the tremendous acrimony and gridlock in Washington will be key drivers of this process.

And, all of these, unfortunately, come at a time when today’s agriculture is challenged by levels of market volatility never before experienced, is threatened by increasing regulations and lawsuits, is "misunderstood" by a growing segment of our non-farm or rural friends and neighbors, and is expected to remain competitive and productive in global markets so we can help meet the challenge of feeding the 9 billion people on this planet in the next 50 years.

Now is a time when agriculture – and every other interest – admittedly must rise to the occasion and contribute to a solution to this budget situation. However, as we all begin today’s conversation, let’s collectively not lose sight of the critical need for GOOD, SMART and FORWARD LOOKING PUBLIC POLICY – and that means farm, rural, environmental, nutrition, trade, infrastructure, energy, and food safety policy to name a few.

Senator Lugar, Cong. Stutzman and their colleagues have a Herculean task ahead of them – it is our responsibility to participate, engage and offer input to this process too. And, that is why we are here today – thank you again for coming."