…Peterson said mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat will be implemented with Democrats in charge of Congress. "Clearly, out of this Appropriations Committee," he said, "you will not see them delaying the implementation of COOL."
Peterson says energy will sell next farm bill
Friday, November 17, 2006, 4:01 PM
by Peter Shinn
Brownfield
Incoming House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota addressed farm broadcasters at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention in Kansas City Friday. He covered a wide range of issues, but paid particular attention to the next farm bill.
Peterson told farm broadcasters he and U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns have already met and agreed to work together on the next farm bill, which Peterson says will have renewable fuels as a major focus. But Peterson said he also wants to keep commodity programs largely the same and add a permanent ag disaster aid program to the next farm bill.
Ulimately, Peterson said he sees an expanded farm bill in 2007, not a smaller one, despite federal budget pressures. And he said renewable fuels will be the selling point to get sufficient budget resources for his vision of the 2007 farm bill.
"We're going to have to ask for extra money to do what we need to do," Peterson said. "And I think the way we're going to get it is by focusing on energy."
But Kansas 1st District GOP Representative Jerry Moran, who is expected to remain on the House Ag Committee in the 110th Congress, told Brownfield such an approach could open up the next farm bill to meddling by other Congressional committees. "Particularly in the House, if you start dealing with energy issues in the farm bill, that means that the Commerce Committee, and perhaps others, perhaps Ways and Means, has jurisdiction over farm bill issues," Moran explained. "And that's something we're going to have to be very guarded about."
According to Peterson, the next farm bill will not be written until lawmakers know what the budget baseline for agriculture will look like, which he said should be known by late winter. And Peterson predicted the next farm bill will be written and signed into law by-the end of September.
On another matter, Peterson said mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat will be implemented with Democrats in charge of Congress. "Clearly, out of this Appropriations Committee," he said, "you will not see them delaying the implementation of COOL."
brownfieldnetwork.com
Peterson says energy will sell next farm bill
Friday, November 17, 2006, 4:01 PM
by Peter Shinn
Brownfield
Incoming House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota addressed farm broadcasters at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention in Kansas City Friday. He covered a wide range of issues, but paid particular attention to the next farm bill.
Peterson told farm broadcasters he and U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns have already met and agreed to work together on the next farm bill, which Peterson says will have renewable fuels as a major focus. But Peterson said he also wants to keep commodity programs largely the same and add a permanent ag disaster aid program to the next farm bill.
Ulimately, Peterson said he sees an expanded farm bill in 2007, not a smaller one, despite federal budget pressures. And he said renewable fuels will be the selling point to get sufficient budget resources for his vision of the 2007 farm bill.
"We're going to have to ask for extra money to do what we need to do," Peterson said. "And I think the way we're going to get it is by focusing on energy."
But Kansas 1st District GOP Representative Jerry Moran, who is expected to remain on the House Ag Committee in the 110th Congress, told Brownfield such an approach could open up the next farm bill to meddling by other Congressional committees. "Particularly in the House, if you start dealing with energy issues in the farm bill, that means that the Commerce Committee, and perhaps others, perhaps Ways and Means, has jurisdiction over farm bill issues," Moran explained. "And that's something we're going to have to be very guarded about."
According to Peterson, the next farm bill will not be written until lawmakers know what the budget baseline for agriculture will look like, which he said should be known by late winter. And Peterson predicted the next farm bill will be written and signed into law by-the end of September.
On another matter, Peterson said mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat will be implemented with Democrats in charge of Congress. "Clearly, out of this Appropriations Committee," he said, "you will not see them delaying the implementation of COOL."
brownfieldnetwork.com