Athens, Ga. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman told
farmers and farm
policy makers here that the United States must embrace freer
trade with foreign countries “or our farmers will be left
behind.”

Veneman gave the keynote address at the third annual Symposium on
the Future of American Agriculture Southern Region Thursday. “We
have to pursue trade agreements that allow U.S.
agriculture to compete across the world,” she said.

The United States has to start and take part in more trade
negotiations with other countries and expand into markets outside
its borders, she said. Because of efficient farming practices and
technologies, U.S. farmers can produce far more than the domestic
markets demand.

Because the United States dragged its feet during trade
negotiations with Chile, she said, U.S. farmers are losing market
shares to Canada, which has established trading ties with
Chile.

Foreign Markets Expanding

Population growth in Russia and in African and Asian countries
will surge, she said. More than 600 million middle-class people
in these countries will be “eager to spend more on better
foods.”

U.S. farmers should be allowed to supply that food.

American agricultural exports have doubled over the past 15
years, she said, totaling about $1 billion every week. And
domestic farm income has become more dependent on foreign trade
in recent years. Agricultural exports account for 30 percent of
U.S. farm receipts.

Ongoing efforts in research and technology can allow U.S. farmers
to enhance yields and crop production, “feed an expanding world
population and maintain a critical role in meeting domestic and
world food needs,” she said.

Veneman said the administration has not taken a position
concerning the current state of quota-based programs, such as
peanuts and tobacco, two major programs for Georgia agriculture.
The quota peanut program could be phased out over the next 5
years.

Funds for Rural Georgia

She also announced that $3.65 million in loans and grants will be
coming to meet business, housing, electric and wastewater
infrastructure needs in rural Georgia.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 2646, its
proposed version of the 2002 Farm Bill. Experts compared the
current farm bill to the House’s proposed version.

Economists said without changes to the current bill, many U.S.
farmers will continue to face serious cash flow problems.

Abner Womack, a Texas A&M economist, said the future farm bill
will have to be flexible. “When things are bad, it puts money on
the table,” he said. “When times are good, it puts less.”

House Version of Farm Bill

The House’s proposed farm bill is not a complete remedy for the
current farm crisis in the United States, said Ed Smith, also
with Texas A&M University. But it does provide a chance for
better farm cash flow in most cases.

U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-Ga.) said the current farm bill has
failed to deliver adequate safety measures for U.S. farmers. “We
must drastically change our current program,” he said.

The nation will have to answer one question relating to any
future farm policy, he said: “Do we want our food supply produced
domestically, or do we want to import it? We’re at a crossroads
in American farm policy.”

The annual symposium is hosted by the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.