DATE=7/17/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40955
TITLE= FARM POLICY / FOREIGN POLICY
BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE= CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WHEN AN AMERICAN FARMER HARVESTS HIS CROPS, HE DOES SO
WITH THE KNOWLEDGE MUCH OF THE FOOD HE RAISES WILL END UP HALF A
WORLD AWAY. EXPORTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN
THE UNITED STATES. AND AS CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT PAULA
WOLFSON REPORTS, THE LINKS BETWEEN FARM POLICY AND FOREIGN POLICY
ARE GROWING STRONGER ALL THE TIME.
TEXT: THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IS BOOMING. THE ONE GLARING
EXCEPTION IS THE FARM SECTOR.
THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION VARIES FROM REGION TO REGION. BUT
IN PLACES LIKE NORTH DAKOTA, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A FARM
CRISIS.
///POMEROY ACT////
UNFORTUNATELY, THE AREA I REPRESENT HAS BEEN LITERALLY
"GROUND ZERO" (THE HARDEST HIT AREA) FOR THE AGRICULTURE
DISASTER OF 1998.
////END ACT///
DEMOCRAT EARL POMEROY HOLDS NORTH DAKOTA'S LONE SEAT IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES. HIS STATE IS REELING FROM A COMBINATION OF
BAD WEATHER, LOW COMMODITY PRICES AND SHAKY MARKETS ABROAD.
////POMEROY ACT///
WITHOUT QUESTION, THE FORTUNES OF NORTH DAKOTA
AGRICULTURE AND UNITED STATES AGRICULTURE ARE GOING TO
TURN ON OUR ABILITY TO EXPORT OUR PRODUCT.
///END ACT///
THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT PREDICTS FARM EXPORTS NATIONWIDE WILL
DROP TO 55 BILLION DOLLARS IN FISCAL 1998, DOWN FROM A PEAK OF 60
BILLION JUST TWO YEARS AGO. THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA'S LARGEST
FARM ORGANIZATION SAYS HIS MEMBERS ARE WORRIED.
///KLEKNER ACT///
WE REALLY DO NOW LIVE AND DIE WITH THOSE FOREIGN
MARKETS.
////END ACT///
DEAN KLEKNER -- AN IOWA SOYBEAN FARMER -- HEADS THE AMERICAN
FARM BUREAU.
////KLEKNER ACT///
NEARLY A THIRD OF WHAT WE FARMERS PRODUCE IS EXPORTED.
THAT IS NOT TRUE OF EVERY CROP AND EVERY COMMODITY.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER -- FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AND ALL THE MEATS AND ALL THE GRAINS AND
EVERYTHING -- 30 PERCENT OR MORE IS EXPORTED.
////END ACT////
BOOSTING AND PRESERVING EXPORT MARKETS FOR AMERICAN FARMERS HAS
BECOME A POPULAR CAUSE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. LAWMAKERS
HAVE VOTED TO EXEMPT AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS FROM SANCTIONS IMPOSED
ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE -- REPUBLICAN BOB SMITH OF OREGON -- PROMISES MORE
ACTION IN THE WEEKS TO COME.
////SMITH ACT///
WE MUST IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL TRADE BY PASSING I-M-F, BY
PASSING FAST TRACK, BY -- AS WE ALREADY HAVE -- LIFTING
SANCTIONS ON PAKISTAN AND AS WELL, BY CREATING NORMAL
(TRADE) RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
////END ACT////
MOST OF THESE MEASURES HAVE PROVEN CONTROVERSIAL IN THE PAST.
THE PRESIDENT'S BID FOR "FAST TRACK" -- OR ENHANCED TRADE
NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY -- WAS PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION LAST YEAR
IN THE HOUSE DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT. THE EFFORT TO REPLENISH
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND HAS PLENTY OF CONGRESSIONAL
CRITICS, AS DOES THE NOTION OF TRADE WITH CHINA.
BUT BY CLOAKING ALL THESE BILLS IN THE MANTLE OF HELPING AMERICAN
FARMERS, REPUBLICAN LEADERS MAY ENHANCE THEIR CHANCES OF PASSAGE.
FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT DEAN KLEKNER SAYS POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS
COULD ALSO BE COMING INTO PLAY. HE SAYS HE'S NOT SURPRISED BY
THE ELECTION YEAR EMPHASIS ON AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.
////KLEKNER ACT///
WE ARE WITHIN THREE AND A HALF MONTHS OF AN ELECTION
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY AND
EXPECT THE POLITICIANS TO PLAY THIS FOR ALL ITS WORTH
WHILE THEY ARE IN SESSION PRIOR TO NOVEMBER FOURTH.
////END ACT/////
IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, SPARSELY POPULATED RURAL AREAS DO NOT
MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. BUT IN THIS YEAR'S RACE FOR CONTROL
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THEY COULD BE IMPORTANT.
DEMOCRATS NEED TO GAIN ONLY ELEVEN SEATS TO TAKE OVER THE
435-SEAT HOUSE. SEVENTEEN OF THE HARDEST FOUGHT CONTESTS ARE IN
FARM DISTRICTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/PLM
17-Jul-98 5:53 PM EDT (2153 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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