[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 20 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E148-E149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      LEGISLATION TO BENEFIT THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY A. CONDIT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 1999

  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, today, I have introduced several pieces of 
legislation that I believe should be considered during the 106th 
Congress. These bills represent a broad array of policy initiatives 
that will benefit the agriculture community nationwide.


                  Agricultural Water Conservation Act

  Over the past few years I have read countless articles on the need to 
conserve water and the role federal government has with this mission. 
While discussing water conservation methods with farmers in my 
district, I found cost was their overriding concern. The outlays 
required to implement water conservation systems, (i.e., drip 
irrigation, sprinkler systems, ditch lining) are a tremendous burden on 
the agriculture industry. While I firmly believe most agriculture 
interests are genuinely concerned about conserving water, cost has 
crippled the ability to implement conservation methods on farms.
  The Agricultural Water Conservation Act is not a mandate for 
expensive water conservation systems, it is a tool and an option for 
farmers. Specifically, it will allow farmers to receive up to a 30% tax 
credit for the cost of developing and implementing water conservation 
plans on their farm land with a cap of $500 per acre. The tax credit 
could be used primarily for the cost of materials and equipment. This 
legislation would not require them to change their irrigation 
practices. However, it would allow those farmers who want to move 
toward a more conservation approach of irrigation but cannot afford to 
do it during these tough economic times.


                        Canned Peach Resolution

  For almost two decades, the European Union (EU) has been heavily 
subsidizing its canned fruit industry to the detriment of California 
cling peach producers and processors. Despite a Section 301 
investigation, a favorable GATT ruling against the EU, and a subsequent 
US/EU agreement intended to contain the problem, the EU canned fruit 
regime has in fact grown considerably more disruptive over time. In 
recent years, EU canned fruit subsidies have greatly increased (now 
totaling between $160-$213 million annually), as has injury to the 
California industry in every one of its markets.
  The resolution I introduced today details the problem, identifies it 
to be of priority concern, and calls for corrective action. I hope by 
introducing this resolution we can highlight this dispute as a trade 
priority, underscore that relief

[[Page E149]]

is long-overdue and convey a message to the EU that its canned fruit 
subsidy excesses must be discounted.


                  Land for Young Farmers and Ranchers

  We are well aware of the migration away from rural areas in part due 
to the difficulty young people encounter to stay in farming. I believe 
providing young farmers the opportunity to discover, first-hand, the 
changing technologies agriculture presents and to keep them interested 
in agriculture is a vital role for Congress. This legislation will help 
advance young people's interest in farming much like the USDA's 
Beginning Farmer Program.
  Specifically, this bill will allow education institutions and non-
profit organizations that are involved in teaching farming to young 
people the ability to acquire land held by USDA. Currently this ability 
is available, however, these specific groups are put at the bottom of 
the list of people who are eligible to bid for the land. Under current 
law, these groups are bidding against interested parties such as real 
estate investors, land speculators, and business groups, all of which 
could easily increase the price of the land making it financially 
impossible for organizations interested in keeping the land in farming. 
My legislation will provide these nonprofits and educational 
institutions the same purchasing rights to USDA land as beginning 
farmers. Under the bill, these groups must be involved in teaching 
young people farming practices they can use to start their own farming 
practice. Given the current age of our farm and ranch population, I 
believe the ability for young people to start a farming or ranching 
operations remains a top priority of the agriculture community. This 
bill will continue to advance that priority.

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