American Farm Bureau Chief Economist Speaks about 2007 Farm Bill
By Alice Roach

Bob Young, American Farm Bureau’s chief economist and MU alum, visited the Columbia campus Sept. 21 to discuss the current status of the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill.

Though Young expressed that the U.S. Agriculture Committee has $180-190 billion for crafting the new farm bill, cuts in the agriculture budget are inevitable as the national deficit grows deeper in the red.

“The notion that agriculture will have the same amount as previous years is ludicrous,” Young said. “We will receive cuts.”

According to Young, the current 2002 U.S. Farm Bill expires with the 2007-2008 crop. A new law has to be in place by May 2008. He later went on to explain that the committee is dealing with budget reconciliations like in past years. The budget continues to get tighter as the government picks up after Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. 2007 Farm Bill encompasses programs pertaining to crop insurance, food programs, commodities and conservation. With all of these different groups seeking funds, the future of the bill has become blurred.

“If you were to write the farm bill today, it would be a confusing picture,” Young said.

Young pinpointed a few ideas the U.S. would like to see with passage of the farm bill. The U.S. wants to eliminate subsidies, improve market access and have the ability to adjust program support. Countries throughout the world are watching the bill’s developments as they look for reductions in U.S. domestic support and seek free-trade.

Eunice Patron, an agricultural economics Ph. D. student, attended the seminar. She says that implications of the bill will reach out to all Americans.

“I think it (the bill) is basic, especially if you are an American citizen,” Patron said. “Decisions in the bill will affect all farmers. It is going to affect prices and consumers and society in general.”

The United States Department of Agriculture has conducted several forums concerning the farm bill and will continue to do so. In addition to hearing feedback from meeting-style events, the USDA encourages the public to comment and make recommendations concerning the bill at www.usda.gov/farmbill. Young sees this feedback process as a way for young persons in agriculture to voice their opinion about the bill that will shape their futures.

The USDA is “listening to young farmers about barriers to entry,” Young said. “They are the future of agriculture.”

Young earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in atmospheric science at MU and later received his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from MU.

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