U.

Thursday, November 01, 2001

U.S. Senator Mark Dayton’s aide visited Albert Lea Wednesday to speak about new farm programs the Senate is discussing.

Gary Wertish, the senator’s Agriculture Outreach Director, emphasized the new farm programs would consolidate local farmers to stay in the business.

The Senate version of the bill that will be discussed in the Agriculture Committee, of which Dayton is a member, would increase crop subsidy rates and reward farmers for good environmental practices such as erosion control.

&uot;Without the payments from the government the farmers won’t survive in the current market situation. The Senate bill will target payments for small and medium size farmers,&uot; Wertish said.

The House already approved the bill, which would expand subsidy programs for grain, cotton and soybean growers at a cost of $170 billion over the next 10 years.

The Bush administration has been critical of the House bill, saying it would encourage overproduction and primarily help big farms that need assistance the least.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks slowed the process of the new farm bill, Wertish said. &uot;But the incident also made us aware of the importance of foods in terms of national security,&uot; he said.

Wertish also said that Dayton has been working on consolidating farmers’ economic base by promoting grain-based alternative fuels. Dayton introduced the biodiesel bill in June, which provides tax credits for soybean-based fuel blends.

Wertish plans to tour around the state to talk with farmers and other community members about the issue.