FARMERS PRAISE SEN. BOND FOR LEADERSHIP

GORDONVILLE - Three members of a statewide agricultural steering committee for U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond praised the senator for his work on behalf of Missouri farmers the last six years and said they felt Bond has earned another term.

"He has supported us and it is our turn to support him," said Sheri Spader, a cattle farmer from Rosendale in northwest Missouri.

"It would be disastrous for the state of Missouri to lose someone like Kit Bond," added Don Lucietta of Lamar, chairman of the steering committee.

Lucietta stressed that Bond had been "a sound voice" for Missouri agriculture on issues ranging from wetlands to strengthening the new Farm Bill, to finding ways to reduce government bureaucratic red tape.

Lucietta said that as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Bond had gotten 23 provisions included in the 1990 Farm Bill to help Missouri farmers.

"His opponent evidently doesn't share that concern," said Lucietta of Democratic nominee Geri Rothman-Serot of Clayton. "In Southwest Missouri, we haven't seen her yet."

Byron Fink of Oregon in northeast Missouri, has been active in the Corn Growers Association and noted that he has been real pleased with Bond's "sincere interest in ethanol production."

As a corn farmer, Fink said he is anxious to find new markets for his crop and believes Bond will work to improve opportunities for ethanol production and use.

"Sen. Bond has really shown a lot of interest in agriculture," Fink added. "We need this kind of voice that will stand up for the needs of rural Missouri."

As one example of Bond's leadership, Spader explained how one farmer she knew in northwest Missouri had four different government agencies giving conflicting information on wetlands as he was trying to eliminate erosion on his land.

One government official even confused cattails with milo.

"Sen. Bond stepped in and got everything cleared up," said Spader. "It is very important to have someone who understands agriculture and understands agriculture production methods ... we can be profit oriented as well as environment oriented."

She noted that Bond favors having farmers deal with just one agency on wetlands.

Spader pointed out that next year Congress will be re-authorizing the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. If not done properly, the acts could have a negative impact on property rights. Since Rothman-Serot has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Spader said it seems having Bond involved in the reauthorization would bring about acts more favorable toward farmers and rural Missouri.

Lucietta said Bond has surrounded himself with an outstanding staff that is quick to respond to constituent problems.

All three agreed that Bond's efforts on behalf of agriculture will benefit all of rural Missouri. They also agreed that Bond had also helped Missouri in areas like getting increased funding in the new highway bill, by supporting rural enterprise zones, supporting the Parents and Teachers Program, making health care more accessible, and ongoing efforts to reduce bureaucratic deadlocks.

Lucietta said he has been active in previous campaigns for Bond and served on his agriculture advisory committee when Bond was governor. Spader and Fink are active in Bond's campaign for the first time.

On Wednesday the group also made stops in Jefferson City, St. Joseph, and Hannibal.