The farm bill and the Basin

By DD BIXBY  

H&N Staff Writer 

May 22, 2008

   Irrigation pivots and other modernized irrigation equipment seen in the Klamath Basin today were paid for with funds from the last farm bill, passed in 2002. 

   Because of the 2001 drought and water shut-off, the Klamath Basin was listed as an area in need of disaster funds and was specifically named in the 2002 bill, bringing about $50 million into the area. 

   In the 2007 farm bill — expected to get final approval today when the Senate joins the House to override President Bush’s veto — the Klamath Basin is not specifically listed. 

   But local agriculture and industry experts say the Basin will likely still gain from the bill’s programs. 

   Greg Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water User’s Association, said although many of the bill’s programs focus on such crops as corn and cotton, which aren’t grown in the area, its conservation programs would be good matches for the Klamath Basin . 

   Water program 

   Addington said the Klamath Water Users are interested in the bill’s agriculture water enhancement program. While a former environmental quality program carved out a chunk of change for Klamath irrigators in 2002, the program was strictly limited to on-farm improvements, he said. 

   The water enhancement program offers conservation projects on a larger scale, available not only to farmers and water districts, but also to watershed councils and tribes. 

   “It kind of gets what was missing the first time,” Addington said. 

   He still believes the focus of the bill should stay on farms, but adds that building programs and conservation efforts within an entire watershed would be a more complete approach. 

   Addington said some of the wording has Klamath Water Users Association members a bit nervous because funding might be able to purchase water rights or dry up land. 

   “We’re not crazy about that language. We want the focus to be on conservation and efficiency and not reduced production,” he said. 

   The Klamath Basin will have to compete for funding on a national level. 

   “It’s all pretty competitive at this point,” Addington said. “We just have to believe no matter how they set the criteria or rankings, we come out pretty good. I think we can compete pretty effectively at a national level.” 

   Research on crops 

   Sid Staunton, of Staunton Farms in Tulelake, said funding for research on specialty crops also would help Klamath Basin farmers down the road. 

   Much of the focus on farm bills can be centered on subsidy or commodity programs, and Basin farmers are looking at specialty crops because they are not a part of a commodity program. 

    Staunton said growers were excited about the research funding, which was missing from previous years’ farm bills. 

   “Because we can’t put the same seed in the ground year after year without production going down,” he said. 

   Specialty crops include mint and potatoes, both big crops in the Basin. 

    Staunton said the research money would likely go to extension agencies such as the Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center and the Intermountain Research and Extension Center . 

   Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center director Willie Riggs called the Farm Bill significant for the Northwest. 

   “It always seems like the West gets the smaller piece of the pie because of production capability,” he said. “But for California , Oregon and Washington , this bill could finally give us some breathing room we’re not accustomed to.”

Side Bar

Congressional override of farm bill’s presidential veto expected today

   After seven months languishing in Congress, the 2007 farm bill gained ground last week when the House of Representatives voted 318-116 to pass it. 

   The Senate passed it the next day, 81-15. Both had enough votes to override President Bush’s expected veto. 

   Bush objected to the $290-billion bill because he said it was “fiscally irresponsible and gave away too much money to wealthy farmers.” the Associated Press reported. Bush vetoed the bill Wednesday, and within hours the House overrode it, passing it again with a two-thirds majority. The Senate is expected to do the same today. 

   To override a presidential veto, an action must pass both House and Senate with two thirds votes.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

Source:  http://pioneer.olivesoftware.com/Daily/Skins/heraldandnews/navigator.asp?