SENATE AG COMMITTEE CHAIR SAYS 2007 FARM BILL WILL BE MOST CONTROVERSIAL

Other priorities will delay progress

Several Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) members were in attendance as U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Saxby Chambliss gave the keynote address at the National Grain & Feed Association's 110^th annual convention last week in Charleston, SC. Chambliss said current key issues such as, but not limited to, lobby reform, immigration reform and the budget will all delay serious farm bill deliberation. This coupled with Bush's desire to cut ag spending; the fact that the bill will be written during a time of budget deficit; some political leadersare wanting to move away from farmer subsidies; and the direct impact the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, or lack there of, all indicate this farm bill may be the most controversial ever.