Farm Bill Offers New Opportunities

Washington, D.C., journalist Jim Wiesemeyer hit to all fields July 28 as he shared his views of the issues and players who will be shaping U.S. agriculture in the near future. 

“You’re in a growth industry,” he said.  “Anything that’s protein is growth.”

He urged cattlemen to examine every issue to see if it increases competitiveness.   Wiesemeyer said that increased budget pressure will change the debate on the next Farm Bill, which already is warming up.  “Now you can discuss some of the biggest issues in farm policy rather than farm politics,” he said.  This Farm Bill will be like no other, he said, because many people will be lining up for a piece of the pie.

He pointed out that agriculture will only be asked to provide $3 billion of $300 billion in federal budget cuts and that can be done over five years.  He urged cattlemen to remember the 2002 Farm Bill, which brought country of origin labeling.

Citing the Canadian border situation, he said, “The days of challenging dissident farm groups are at hand.  They (R-Calf) have converted Canadians, a trade partner, into a competitor, and a fierce competitor.”

The Canadian border issue created a situation that aggravated industry concentration in the packing and feeding industry.  U.S. feedlots that used to count on Canadian cattle to help fill their yards will have to work harder to fill them, especially now since the border economics make it less enticing to shop feeders south, says Cattle-Fax.

Prior to May 20, 2003, Canadian slaughter capacity was 72,000 head per week.  Today it is 88,000 head and will be 97,000 head by December.  The level for total sufficiency is estimated to be 105,000.