From Deseret News archives:
Ag chief offers hints on farm bill
Johanns, a keynote speaker at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 2007 convention Monday at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, outlined some of the Agriculture Department's priorities without divulging many details.
"It's about a month away, at least," Johanns said. "We're closing in on our proposals, ... but until we're ready to finalize those programs, finalize those ideas, I'm not going to put something out there that we may take another look at later in the week or later next week."
Johanns did outline some headline issues: trade barriers, immigration, agriculture-related research, conservation, rural economies, renewable energy and the allocation of farm program dollars.
The department is gearing up for fights on just about all of those issues, at home and abroad.
Internationally, the department will continue to fight for trade parity, though Johanns expressed frustration on several fronts, Canada and Korea among them.
"I'd like to stand here today and tell you that we're right there, that the Korean market is going to break open ... but they have been very, very difficult to deal with," Johanns said. "I think they're looking for ways to reject our (beef) shipments."
Something must be done to resolve the situation, he said, but he wasn't able to point to a clear path, with negotiations stalled at the World Trade Organization's Doha round and perceived intransigence from trade partners.
"I will tell you that it is my hope that a Doha agreement will come together," he said. "I hope that we find a breakthrough, but I'll tell you today that I don't see the breakthrough."
The battle likely will be equally fierce at home, where the Bush administration faces a new Congress and many interest groups watching the bill.
"I don't deal with a lot of Republican/Democrat issues," he said, arguing that many farm-related priorities are regionally and issue-based as much or more than they are party-based.
"I will say that there are a lot of stakeholders," he added. "There are a lot of people interested in farm policy."
Irons in the fire include renewable energy, subsidies, payment caps and immigration.
About the last, Johanns said, "We still believe in a comprehensive approach, in comprehensive reform" to the nation's immigration policy.
"We are hopeful that we haven't seen the last debate on comprehensive immigration reform," he said. "Something has to be done."
The AFBF's convention, which includes about 5,000 delegates, wraps up Wednesday.
E-mail: jnii@desnews.com
