Harris News Service has compiled a series of columns this summer by Kansans touching on the many aspects and broad implications of the federal farm bill, which is now up for renewal in Congress. The Sunflower State has three congressional members on the agricultural committees that will write the legistlation: Sen. Pat Roberts, 1st District Rep. Jerry Moran and 2nd District Rep. Nancy Boyda.
To contact them go to www.house.gov
and www.senate.gov.
A 2007 Farm Bill for Dighton and Djidian
Jim French |
The U.S. Farm Bill is reauthorized approximately every 5 years. This omnibus legislation determines the policies which govern food and nutrition, commodity, conservation, and rural development programs. These policies affect all Americans, because we all eat, and rely on our natural resources to provide clean water and air, healthy food, and recreation. But some parts of the Farm Bill, such as commodity programs, have specific impacts on rural Kansas, and rural West Africa. |
Food stamp cuts at stake
Roger Martin |
I was at the grocery store when I noticed that quarts of milk were on sale. They were cheap because they were set to expire soon. I bought a couple for a buck.Did you know that that's more than the average food stamp benefit, per person, per meal, in Kansas – which happens to be 95 cents? |
Winds of change blowing for farm subsidies
Troy Dumler |
The 2002 farm bill, the legislation that is responsible for establishing the type and amount of subsidies that are provided to farmers, expires in September. |
Family farms need research support
Louise Ehmke |
Since our family has been involved in direct production agriculture for more than 100 years, we're quite interested in discussions dealing with farm policy. The '07 farm talks indeed promise to be lively. |
Recent farm bills have failed
Donn Teske |
The 2007 Farm Bill now being drafted has a variety of different forces that traditionally haven't been players in the development of past farm bills. |
Farm Bill vital to Kansas agriculture
Adrian Polansky |
Kansas produces more wheat, grain sorghum and beef than any other state in the nation. Cash receipts for farm marketings were nearly $10 billion in 2005, and Kansas ranks seventh in farm product exports, which were valued at $2.7 billion in 2005. |
Rethink Rural Development
Steve Baccus |
For those of us who grew up in small, rural Kansas communities, our way of life is innate. The life lessons of hard work, honesty, accountability and helping your neighbor when theyÕre in need are second nature to us. |
Rural renewal demands a broader Farm Bill
Ron Wilson |
What's at stake for rural America in the 2007 farm bill? A way of life endangered by depopulation, brain drain and urban domination. |
A farm bill for all of us
Dan Nagengast |
The sprawling patchwork of legislation known as "The Farm Bill" is dealt with about every five years. This time around, more people who are affected by it are at the table during negotiations. |
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