Farm Bill Gets Valley’s Approval: Ag Gathering Sees Mostly Positive in Bush’s Proposal
By Reed Fujii, The Record, Stockton, Calif.
Feb. 21–MODESTO — California agricultural leaders gathered Tuesday in Modesto to highlight what they like and dislike about the proposed 2007 farm bill, legislation that will direct billions of dollars of U.S. government largess over the next five years.
During the listening session hosted by Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, they found a lot to like, such as increased conservation spending, support for bioenergy research and targeted aid for specialty crops — widely grown in California but which do not get direct price supports of major commodities, such as corn, wheat, cotton and soybeans.
Speakers disparaged of other provisions, such as a dairy support price that is 30 percent lower than the cost to produce milk. An income cap of $200,000 for farmers receiving commodity subsidy payments drew protests from rice growers.
Overall, the Bush Administration’s proposal got good marks, as it promises to give California farmers more of that they need.
“People are really committed to trying to make this bill work,” said Cardoza, who as chairman of the Subcommittee on Horticultural and Organic Agriculture will be on the conference committee expected to hash out the farm bill’s final form later this year.
Milk and honey producers were among those seeking a little more federal help.
The current dairy support price is $9.90 per 100 pounds of milk, roughly 85 cents a gallon, said Michael Marsh, chief executive of Western United Dairymen. But it costs an average $13.94 per 100 pounds, or $1.20 a gallon, to produce milk in California.
At that rate, he said of diary owners, “You’re going to be in a really deep hole for a long, long time.”
John Rossi of Manteca, whose business is selling hay to dairy farmers, put it more bleakly: “At this point, I see no future in that type of business.”
Cardoza said he wanted to huddle with dairy industry leaders soon to address their issues. Howsoon to address their issues, however, he warned that any disputes between various groups must be put aside.”
“Dairy has to learn to speak with one voice,” he said.
Milk is San Joaquin County’s No. 1 farm product, valued at nearly $315 million in 2005, the latest figure available. Total farm production in the county stood at more than $1.7 billion that year.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Orin Johnson, president of the California State Beekeepers Association, warned that new diseases and chronic pest pressures, threaten the U.S. honey bee industry.
Domestic beekeepers tended fewer than 2.5 million colonies in 2005, down sharply from 3.3 million colonies in 1990.
“The need for additional honey bee research is obvious,” Johnson said.
Paul Wenger, Modesto almond grower and first vice president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, called for a variety of programs that could benefit all types of farmers, not just major commodity producers.
His wish list included export marketing programs, subsidized insurance available to all types of crops, additional research funding and conservation programs aimed at supporting active farms rather than retiring acreage.
“Congress must create an innovative plant for keeping California farm families competitive,” Wenger said.
California Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura, who shared the podium with Cardoza, said the 2007 farm bill is an exciting opportunity.
“If the farm bill is done correctly, we can find the tools to help us … adjust, modernize and revolutionize our ability to stay in business,” said Kawamura, whose family grows strawberries in Orange County.
Contact reporter Reed Fujii at (209) 546-8253 or rfujii@recordnet.com.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Record, Stockton, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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