Posted November 27, 2013
The lack of a long-term farm bill is threatening foreign trade programs which have contributed to the “best five-year run of agricultural trade in U.S. history,” according to an AgWeek article available here.
“Now’s not the time to stop this agricultural-trade freight train. I mean, we are going stronger than we ever have in history, and we need to keep this going,” said Michael Scuse, USDA’s under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, said during a roundtable discussion with Senator Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and representatives of farm-related companies and commodity groups.
Funds for the USDA’s Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program, which work with trade organizations and others to develop and expand export markets for U.S. agricultural products, are tied up in the current bill debate, according to Scuse.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has a global network of 96 offices covering 169 countries, and “U.S. agricultural trade is on track to hit a record $141 billion this year after setting a record of $137 billion two years ago.”
Scuse said that in the past the programs were frequent targets for budget cuts, but Congress now understands the value of the programs, which provide a $35 return for every $1 of investment.
After leaving for Thanksgiving recess and failing to meet a deadline that would put Congress on track for a final agreement by December 13, U.S. Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Heitkamp said they believe it is still possible to pass a comprehensive farm bill by Jan. 1. Peterson said that committee leaders are scheduled to talk by phone and conferees have been notified that they may have to return to Congress on Dec. 4.
For more information on farm bills, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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