Agricultural News
Detrick Excited About Prospects for Lucas Chairmanship- Concerned About Attacks on Direct Payments
Tue, 14 Sep 2010 6:05:51 CDT
Terry Detrick and a couple of members of the Board of Directors of the American Farmers & Ranchers are in Washington this week- pushing several policy positions that are of importance to their farmers and ranchers who are members of the organization.
We talked with Detrick on Monday afternoon- and he highlighted for us several of the issues they were discussing with ohter members of the National Farmers Union that are in Washington for their fall fly-in, as well as with the delegation in Washington this week from the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce. They are also spending time with the USDA and members of Congress and their staffs.
Some of the points they are pushing may still be acted on this year- including action on the so called Bush tax cuts and the Death Tax. Other issues they are talking with lawmakers about are really more related to possible legislation that will gain momentum in 2011- including the writing of the next farm law.
Detrick tells us one thing that is being talked about inside the Beltway in Washington is possibility that the Republicans will seize control of the US House. Polls across the country suggest that may well happen- and Detrick says if it does- it will likely mean that the next Chairman of the House Ag Committee will be Congressman Frank Lucas. AFR and other farm groups in Oklahoma are saying little at this point- but the celebration that may occur if that happens will be tremendous.
Beyond the politics- Detrick told us that he is very concerned about the possible loss of direct payments to farmers, as is being talked about by some farm groups- and especially interests that represent farmers in the midwest. They push for an enhanced ACRE program- and Detrick says that could take away the one reliable part of the three legged safety net that has provided farmers with enough cash to plant the next year's crop several times since it was put in place in the 1990s.
Click on the Listen Bar Below to hear the comments that Terry Detrick made as we talked with him on Monday afternoon from Washington.
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