FARM LEADER DISAPPOINTED BY WETLANDS LAW

There was a time when the federal government encouraged, and often paid, farmers to drain and fill swamps and wetlands. This acreage was viewed as a source of disease.

In 1970, under the federal water bank program, farmers and ranchers were paid not to crop wetlands. The Comprehensive American Wetlands Act of 1990 goes a step further. It protects wetlands, which are now considered as a valuable resource in their natural state.

"There are some problems with the 1990 bill," said Don Fischer, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. "One of the problem areas is that of defining a wetland, and another is to compensate the American farmer for wetlands which have to be set aside."

Fischer, who was in Southeast Missouri to dedicate the opening of a new Farm Bureau Federation and Affiliated Companies Service Center at Sikeston today, stopped in Cape Girardeau Tuesday. He discussed wetlands, "fast track" trade negotiating, federal highways reauthorization and other issues of concern to agriculture.

Accompanying Fischer on this week's visit was Frank Pierce, of the Farm Bureau Public Affairs office.

Farm Bureau, which has offices in every county, offers a full line of insurance protection to urban and rural Missourians. The federation is the state's largest not-for-profit farm and rural service organization. It represents more than 17,000 families in Missouri and is affiliated with the national farm group that has more than 3.5 million members.

"We keep up with and support actions which are favorable to the agricultural community," said Fischer. "That includes Hayes-Ridge, HR 13-30 bill, which would more accurately define a wetland and also provide compensation for farmers who must stop farming land currently in production, if it is declared a wetland."

Fischer said that under the new 1990 Wetlands Act, some areas that bear no resemblance to swamps and marshes would be considered wetlands.

In Louisiana, for example, about 5 million acres of cropland that have been farmed for generations are now subject to wetlands designation, which severely restricts future farming activities.

"Many areas in Southeast Missouri face this same type of wetlands problem," said Fischer. "It hasn't been many years ago that the government was urging people to drain land and get it into production. Now, it's just the opposite.

"We don't want to destroy true wetlands, such as marshes and swamps," said Fischer. "We know that those are wetlands and should remain so. But there are farmers who have been farming their land all their lives and are now having someone tell them they're farming wetlands."

Fischer recently led a delegation of about 175 Missouri farmers, ranchers and farm bureau leaders to Washington, D.C., where they met with elected representatives concerning wetlands and other issues.

"One of the things we talked about was obtaining increases in federal highway funds in Missouri," said Fischer. "October 1 is the expiration date for the current Federal Highway Funding Act, and Congress will be passing a new highway funding bill."

Fischer said some changes proposed by the Farm Bureau could bring more highway funds into Missouri.

"We're supporting a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal that a more equitable show of federal fund tax dollars be returned to Missouri," he said. "

The Farm Bureau also supports the "fast track" negotiating authority.

"What this does is give U.S. trade representatives more flexibility to negotiate with other nations," said Fischer. "This is a major help for agriculture trade.

"Farm income is expected to drop this year," said Fischer. "In 1990, net farm income was about $49 billion. Early predictions are that that figure could drop to $42 billion this year."

Fischer said that a recent export facility at Kansas City could be a boost to livestock producers in Missouri.

"The new export facility is located at Kansas City Airport," said Fischer. "This will help farmers in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. Farmers in these areas previously had to get their livestock to Chicago for export."