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The next couple of months will be critical as Farm Bureau fights to maintain the structure and funding of the 2002 Farm Bill.

President Bush, looking for ways to reign in the nation’s rapidly growing deficit, has proposed cutting farmers’ federal payments and other agricultural funding by about $5.7 billion over 10 years.

Bush is seeking to lower the limit on crop subsidy payments to $250,000 per farmer, down from $360,000. He also has proposed extending the Milk Income Loss Contract program for two years, but payments would be reduced. Under his budget proposal, the federal crop insurance program would lose $140 million. Congress must pass its budget April 15.

AFBF recently sent a letter to newly appointed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, urging him to oppose any reduction or restructuring of the 2002 Farm Bill.

"With prices for many major commodities falling sharply from last year, reductions to farm programs would come at precisely the time that these supports are most needed in rural America," the letter said.

But Johanns said immediately after Bush released his budget proposal Feb. 7 that he supported the president’s proposals.

"My belief is that farmers and ranchers will look at this and understand that we have to deal with the deficit if they are going to have a long-term future in agriculture – not only for their generation but for the next generation and the next generation," he said during a news conference.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, noted that only 16 percent of the farm bill’s cost goes to farmers – most is allocated for food stamps, nutrition programs and humanitarian food aid. Johanns said the government will continue to "fully fund" the U.S. Agriculture Department’s three major nutrition assistance programs.

Not all agriculture programs would lose funding under Bush’s budget proposal. The Food and Agriculture Defense initiative would receive an additional $144 million while an additional $7.3 million would go to increased bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) research.

One of the best ways to express concern about proposed agricultural cuts is to contact lawmakers and point out why specific farm programs are necessary. Ohio Farm Bureau county presidents will be doing that during their annual lobbying trip to Washington D.C. in March.

"Don’t undermine the integrity of the farm bill is what we’ll be telling them," said Adam Sharp, OFBF’s director of national affairs.

OFBF also has set up a link on its Web site that can help you send a message to your lawmaker. To access it, visit www.ofbf.org, click on Government & Grassroots, then Legislative Action Center and follow the prompts.