Tighter payment limitations affect cotton farmers in Kansas
13 Sep '05
3 min read
Gary Feist, an Anthony, Kansas, cotton ginner, told Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns that the current farm program provides an important safety net for US agriculture in a fiscally responsible manner – and it's important the bill's current structure be maintained for the legislation's duration.
Feist, speaking at one of USDA's farm bill listening sessions at the Kansas State Fair here, also emphasized that Kansas agriculture would be harmed by more restrictive payment limits. He noted that analysis by the Federal Government's Payment Limit Commission indicated that tighter limits on contract payments under the 1996 farm bill would have taken $53 million from Kansas farmers.
Feist, who also grows cotton in Manchester, OK, near the Kansas border, said that both the Commission and the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) concluded that payment limitations affect cotton and rice farmers disproportionately compared to feed grain, oilseed and wheat farmers. He said limitations changes now likely will result in a production shift to other crops.
Feist pointed out that the farm bill includes limitations for each element of the program with payment limits being applied cumulatively to all program crops on the farm.
Feist said that proponents of lower limitations argue that “big” farmers receive the majority of benefits. However, he said it is important to remember that per-bushel or per-pound support is the same, regardless of the farmer's size.
marketing@alchempro.com
