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Thursday members of the Senate Agriculture Committee tried to expedite the approval of President Bush's nominee for the agriculture secretary position - former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer. But despite what seems to be a clear shoe-in for Schafer, it does not appear senators will give Schafer a "chance of a lifetime" to enter the chamber Jan. 29 for the President's State of the Union Address.
Although there were no major objections in the committee, Senate Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin wanted to give senators "sufficient time" to submit questions that may have come up during the confirmation hearing and for Schafer to respond, stated Harkin's spokesperson Kate Cyrul.
During the confirmation hearing, senators expressed confidence in Schafer's credentials and often bantering went back and forth like joking with an old friend. But senators were quick to remind and caution Schafer of the challenges that lie ahead.
It's no secret significant differences exist between the legislative and executive branches on the farm bill. Acting Secretary Chuck Conner has successfully stepped in after Secretary Mike Johanns left to lead the charge in voicing the need for farm bill reform, particularly in reigning in spending. Now his voice continually blows the "veto threat" horn if Congress doesn't find another way to pay for this farm bill without increasing taxes.
Noting the Administration's hard line on over-budget spending and eligibility for farm payments, Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., asked, "What's the road map you foresee for the completion of the farm bill? Or, do you foresee an extension of the current bill?"
Schafer first lauded the committee for "the tremendous support from both sides of the aisle to put forth a good new farm policy." Then, he dodged, "I'm the new kid on the block and looking forward to getting to the agency and getting fully briefed."
"The President wants to sign a farm bill this year." He allowed, in what can only be deemed a stunning understatement, there is a "gap" between Congress and the Administration on the farm bill. But, he told Lugar, he would bring "a fresh perspective" with a "different outlook" and hopes to narrow that gap.
To that, Lugar drew chuckles from the room when he concluded, "Thank you very much and good luck."
During the hearing, Republican South Dakota Sen. John Thune asked about Schafer's thoughts on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) early out options. Schafer again stated he was looking forward to getting to the agency and being briefed on the issue. "I believe it's a complex issue," he said, explaining that there are a lot of opportunities to make sure the needs of farmers, environment and the wildlife community are all met.
With the House-Senate conference dead ahead, Schafer arrives just as the ever practical chairman of the House Ag Committee, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, is predicting the conference report will be vetoed. That will put a rush on to come up with some sort of compromise bill before farm programs start to expire on March 15.
Interestingly, during Thursday's confirmation hearing. Sen. Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, who sat at Schafer's side during the hearing along with others from North Dakota's Congressional delegation, said that negotiations were underway in the Senate Finance Committee to find ways to defuse the President's objections to a funding package that ran the Senate's farm bill well over baseline.
Schafer did not state exactly where he stands on reigning in farm bill spending, but he said he looks forward to getting involved in the debate and "shepherding the people's money properly."
Harkin said as he was hoping to expedite Schafer's nomination and in return Schafer would go to USDA with a mission of expediting the reauthorization of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act which was passed in 206. USDA still has not published a final rule and the program remains voluntary.
When Harkin asked if Schafer will publish the final rule without delay, Schafer replied, "I will do my best Mr. Chairman."
Policy is one of the most important issues facing farmers today, but often the most difficult to digest. Jacqui Fatka has a passion to decode the often difficult world of agricultural policy into terms understandable for today's ag players.
Fatka joined the Farm Progress team as E-Content Editor in August 2003 after graduating from Iowa State University. Prior to full-time employment with Farm Progress, she interned at Wallaces Farmer magazine, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's press office and the Iowa Pork Producers Association and freelanced for National Hog Farmer. She also worked as a public relations consultant with Iowa Industries for the Future, an effort to bring together major players in the biorenewables industry.
Currently Fatka is a staff editor at a sister publication, Feedstuffs. For Farm Futures she regularly tells the story of ongoing agricultural policy changes. Her byline can also be found on management profiles.
Fatka grew up on a grain and livestock farm near Atlantic, Iowa. She currently lives in central Ohio with her husband Eric.
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