[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RESTORING FAIRNESS TO BARLEY PRODUCERS

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                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce necessary 
legislation to correct a grave error in the 1996 farm bill. The bill I 
am introducing today will make good on the promises made to barley 
producers during the farm bill debate earlier this year. North Dakota 
barley growers were promised a transition payment of 46 cents per 
bushel under the production flexibility contracts. From November until 
April this estimate stood as the payment barley producers expected from 
participation in the new program. Many made financial and planting 
plans based on this figure.
  Once the new farm bill was signed into law, however, barley producers 
discovered an error had been made in estimating the payments. Barley 
producers found they would now be eligible for a 32-cent payment, over 
a 30-percent decrease from the promised amount, and a much steeper 
decrease from the estimates promised to producers of other commodities. 
In my State of North Dakota, the Nation's leading barley producing 
State, this error will cost farmers $13 million. Nationwide, this error 
amounts to over $30 million in lost income to barley producers.
  The bill I am introducing today along with Representatives Johnson of 
South Dakota and Williams of Montana will increase the amount allotted 
for barley contract payments by $35 million. This is the amount 
necessary to fulfill the promises made and restore equity to barley 
producers. We do not reduce the amounts available to other commodities 
through this action. We only increase the amount available to our 
Nation's barley putting them on even footing with their counterparts 
who grow other commodities.
  The new farm bill promised 7 years of payments in exchange for the 
elimination of the historical safetynet. We are beginning to find out 
now what those promises were worth. I urge my colleagues to support 
this measure which forces Congress to make good on its promises to the 
American barley grower.

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