[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 97 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H5350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WE NEED ACTION NOW ON REAL CRISIS IN FARM COUNTRY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, during the Independence Day district work 
period, this Member continued his series of town hall meetings with 14 
additional meetings to hear the views and questions of my constituents. 
Many subjects were discussed, but two subjects understandably dominated 
their concerns.
  The first, overwhelmingly expressed, as it has been all year, related 
to the deplorably bad conditions for farmers and the communities and 
small businesses that serve farmers and depend upon agriculture. All 
grain, soybean, and livestock prices are very low, some unprecedently 
low this year, while the predictions are all equally gloomy.
  World surpluses and export losses in the Asian markets, huge 
projected 1999 harvest numbers, coupled with the strength of the dollar 
as compared to our export competitors' agricultural commodities and 
products, have created desperate conditions for farmers.
  It is reported that the U.S. Government has actually spent more in 
farm subsidies during the current year than during the most expensive 
year of the previous farm bill. But those subsidies are not appreciably 
alleviating what is a real crisis in farm country. Net farm income per 
farm in my State of Nebraska last year is a negative number after 
average Federal subsidies are subtracted, as contrasted to a net farm 
income of over $40,000 two years ago.
  This Member has said for nearly a year now that no ideas or proposed 
solutions are off the table, all deserve consideration. No ideological 
blinders or pride of authorship of any current farm policies should 
stand in the way of finding answers quickly for turning around and 
meeting this farm crisis. The administration must use the export 
promotion tools and dollars the Congress has authorized and be more 
innovative and aggressive in meeting the crisis.
  Without immediate and concerted actions now, thousands of farm 
families who have been financially responsible and good farmers will be 
forced from their farms. Modest accumulated savings and assets built up 
through years of effort and investment are being wiped out and growing 
debts look overwhelming.
  Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan leadership and members of the Agriculture 
Committees of the two Houses of Congress must find solutions and 
proposal actions now, not after the 1999 harvest is complete. That will 
be too late for thousands of farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness-
dependent families and communities. A whole farm infrastructure is 
threatened. The leaders of the two Houses also must give this matter a 
top priority for action.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member knows these terrible economic problems are 
not being ignored by our agriculture committees here on Capitol Hill 
even if the White House and USDA seem indifferent. Solutions to our 
current dilemma are not obvious. The situation results from perhaps an 
unprecedented or at least totally unexpected combination of factors.
  When this Member asked his farm constituents for ideas or solutions, 
few have specific answers and there certainly is little agreement. 
However, one comment is heard over and over again: the loan deficiency 
payments arrangement provides no floor for prices. And it may, in fact 
it is suggested, be driving commodity prices down and helping only the 
major grain companies. This must be examined.
  Second, farmers argue in large numbers that they want to see a 
farmer-held reserve reinstituted.

                              {time}  1900

  That needs to be seriously considered and a decision made, one way or 
another, with an explanation for the decision. And, third, farmers and 
agriculture leaders also believe the growing concentration of companies 
that supply the farm population with key inputs and others which serve 
as their markets deserve closer and immediate scrutiny by the USDA and 
the Justice Department. These complaints need to be seriously addressed 
before it is too late.
  Mr. Speaker, we need action now on a real crisis in farm country.

                          ____________________