G264jncmtr Fanning, Friday, January 10, 1997 NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. As this year and this century com es to a close, agriculture truly is entering a new era. Farm Service Agency Associate Administrator Randy Weber said at the National Farmers National Convention here recently. “Programs and policies have been with us for decades and are changing, and the role of govern ment in agriculture is changing.” Weber said. “But there is one con stant It also remains the govern ment’s responsibility to assure a healthy, strong farm economy, and to work with the producers who make it possible. “1996,1 believe, will go down in the books as a watershed year for agriculture,” Weber said. The new farm bill will subject farmers to the discipline of open and sometimes volatile markets, such as those markets seen in the 1996 grain and dairy commodi ties. Weber explained. Today’s farm policies are bringing producers throughout the nation choices and new opportuni ties, but Weber cautioned that more than ever, farmers will face new risks. Futhermore, Weber expressed concern about the North American Free Trade Agreement and its jm '4 AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS “CALL US TO DESIGN YOUD NEAT BUILDING PROJECT” FARMSTEAD PLANNING BUILDING DESIGN BLUEPRINT DRAFTING VENTILATION DESIGN DAIRY FACILITIES DESIGN Timber Tech Engineering, Inc. P.O. Box 14S 256 West Franklin Street Womelsdorf, PA 19567 PH; (610) 589-4589 FAX: (610) 589-5384 FSA Official Warns Producers Of New Market Risks impact on American independent farm operators. “We were very disappointed in the NAFTA panel’s report supporting high Canadian tariffs on U.S. exports of dairy, poultry and other prod ucts,” he said. He said USDA would work to improve U.S. access to Canadian markets, including woik with the World Trade Organization. National Farmers leaders agree with Weber. “The United States government needs to work proac tively to protect American produc ers. in an effort to assure that free trade is fair to our farmers,” said National Farmers President Gene Paul. The FSA adminstrator also took issue with industry concentration, from railroads to livestock opera tions. “Secretary Glickman believes strongly that it is the gov ernment’s role to assure a level playing field at home as well as w Wy abroad,” Weber said. “As agricul ture becomes more dependent on the market, the forces of competi tion must work.” Four companies account for 87 percent of all red meat slaughter and processing in the U.S. “Never before in the history of agriculture has America seen so much market power in so few hands,” Paul said. “It is time today to focus a positive effort on returning competition to the markets.” Weber said the USDA will con tinue to work with its committee on livestock concentration. “We are concerned about concentration wherever we see it,” Weber said. And, he pointed to the inequity in the unusually wide difference between the price farmers receive for their production, and the price American consumers pay for their food at the supermarket. The farm bill was passed on April 4, 1996, but the FSA and In the Year 2046, this Morton Building will still be Warranted Against Snow-Load Damage! •* < “This past winter we had at least 2m feet of wet snow on our Morton Building with no damage. In our area numerous farm buildings collapsed under the load. It s very reassuring to know that Morton’s 50 year snow load warranty will be here for my son’s future investment” After more than 250,000 satisfied customers and over 90 years of business experience, we’ve learned what our customers need. We use that extensive knowledge and expertise to continually refine and improve our designs. Your building will be backed by the strongest written warranty in the CONTACT: 717/624-3331 3368 York Rd. Gettysburg, pa 17325 USDA greeted it with questions and doubt “Although this particu lar piece of legislation provided much-needed planting flexibility, we believe it fell short of provid ing an adequate safety net,” Web er said. He added that President Bill Ginlon hopes to revisit that issue, although it is unclear whether the farm bill would be addressed again. “Dairy is a program that I believe was short-changed in the 1996 act,” Weber said. “In essence, the dairy price support program is phased out after 1999 ... the more immediate problem is that since October wholesale prices have plummeted by 52 per- >tT' , s* Todd & Cecil Irvin, State College, Pennsylvania # MORTON BUILDINGS P. O. Box 399, Morton, IL 61550 O 1996 Morton Buildings, bic. pot oil? building industry. Morion Buildings non pro rated warranties that Include materials & labor offer peace of mind. Be sure and stop by our display at PA FARM SHOW and Discover for youself the "Distinct Advantage" of owning a Morton Building;... its value will last for generations to cornel 908/454-7900 P.O. Box 126, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 cent for butler and over 25 percent for cheese.” From September to November, the pay price to producers dropped about $4 per hundredweight. ‘This is the largest two-month decline on record,” Weber said. “We’re very concerned about this rapid and sharp decline in dairy prices, and the secretary is in the process now of reviewing what in his arsenal he has that can help,” Weber said. The USDA can work to increase exports through reactivating certain programs and increasing exports under others. But under current law, the assis tance USDA can provide is lim ited, he explained. Todd& Cecil Irvin Cecil J. Irvin and Son State College, Pennsylvania
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