MEETINGS AROUND STATE ADDRESS FARM CRISIS AND FUTURE

Farmers are experiencing difficult times with low commodity prices, a downturn in the hog industry and decreased agricultural exports.

"While the economic picture for many in America is positive, low commodity prices are taking a toll on the farm," said U.S. Sen. "Kit" Bond during an "Ag Crisis" meeting at Columbia Friday.

Bond, U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft and U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof met with some Missouri farm leaders and officials of statewide commodities groups at the University of Missouri to discuss conditions of the state's farm economy.

The recent dowwturn in the hog market has resulted in prices not experienced since the Great Depression, said Bond. "Consumers are paying more for a canned ham at the store than farmers are receiving for a 260-pound hog at market," Bond said.

The lawmakers discussed a need for emergency disaster relief, new export opportunities, tax relief and amendments to the 1996 Farm Bill.

"With fewer farmers in America it is more difficult to respond legislatively, so it is vital that those who are advocates for agriculture to unite around the best and most realistic plan," said Bond.

The federal government last year responded with an emergency aid package that provided $6 billion and a total commitment of $18 billion.

The meeting was about preserving a way of life for future generations, said Ashcroft, who is initiating a bipartisan effort in the Senate to ensure that farmers in Missouri and across the nation are not victimized in diplomatic disputes with foreign leaders. "Family farming is the bedrock of life in rural America," he said.

Ashcroft is seeking passage of the Food and Medicine for the World Act as an amendment to the pending Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

"U.S. unilateral agriculture embargoes against foreign leaders put our farmers at a sever disadvantage on a competitive world market," said Ashcroft. Such actions deny needed food and medicine to innocent people in foreign lands."

The U.S. government canceled 17 million tons in grain sales to one foreign country. "My amendment will protect farmers and innocent people from being used as pawns of diplomacy," said Ashcroft.

Ashcroft said his plan had the bipartisan backing of many lawmakers and some 36 national organizations, including the Missouri Farm Bureau.

"Having grown up on a family farm in Southeast Missouri, I understand the challenges that farmers and ranchers face to make a living in agriculture," said Hulshof.

Fridays session was hosted by Missouri University Chancellor Richard Wallace and Dean Tom Payne.

Meanwhile, meetings have been scheduled by the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation to discuss family farming.

"Over the past five years 5,000 Missouri farmers have gone out of business," said Charles Kruse, president of the Farm Bureau. "We are holding meetings across the state to discuss agricultural issues."

The local meeting will be held Monday at the Eagles Lodge in Dexter at 6:30 p.m.

Other meetings will be held Tuesday at Shelbina and Thursday at Springfield. Meetings have already been held at Sedalia and St. Joseph.

Farming is big business in Missouri, including Southeast Missouri. In 1977, there were 102,000 farms in Missouri, ranking it second in the U.S. in number of farms. These farms produced and sold more than $5.6 billion worth of agriculture products. Of that amount, almost $1.6 billion came from overseas farm exports.