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But that never happened, and the so-called Doha round of WTO negotiations was suspended this summer. Because there is little hope of reviving the talks any time soon, the Farm bill should not be rewritten next year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). The national organization is urging members of Congress to extend the current Farm bill by at least one year and make minor changes, if necessary, to comply with current WTO rules.

"It’s very obvious that we’re not going to be able to have a successful completion to (the Doha) talks until after it’s time to renew the Farm bill," said Mary Kay Thatcher, AFBF’s Farm Policy specialist.

Adam Sharp, director of national affairs for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF), said many believe that writing a new Farm bill next year could put the United States at a disadvantage when trade talks resume some day.

"We shouldn’t rewrite the Farm bill and modify our programs and reduce funding if we’re not going to get something for it. We won’t have any leverage when we go back to the WTO negotiating table," he said. "And if we were to get some type of WTO agreement, the Farm bill would probably have to be rewritten again to be in compliance."

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated that it favors rewriting the Farm bill next year, many members of Congress are divided about whether that should happen, Sharp said. Now is a good time for Farm Bureau members to contact members of Congress to express their opinions about whether to extend the Farm bill, Sharp said.

"This is an election year, and members of Congress are busy campaigning in their hometowns and eager to hear what’s on the minds of their constituents," he said. "If you have a strong opinion about the Farm bill, it’s a good time to make your opinions known."

Ohio Farm Bureau’s policy development committee is just now starting to debate the issue, Sharp said, noting that OFBF has not taken a position on whether it supports extending the Farm bill or rewriting it next year.

"The policy development committee will be listening to both sides and will be interested in receiving input from county Farm Bureaus," Sharp said.

Another trade related issue in which AFBF took a position is Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which allows the president to negotiate trade agreements without going through Congress. TPA is set to expire July 1. AFBF, along with the National Association of Manufacturers and the Coalition of Service Industries, issued a statement last month that Congress needs to renew TPA.

"Extending TPA will allow U.S. trade negotiators to aggressively pursue regional and bilateral trade opportunities, which will secure market access for our farm goods that the Doha round has not offered," said Bob Stallman, AFBF president.

AFBF said that without TPA, Congress could amend trade agreements that other countries have already signed off on.

"It’s just like if you make a deal to buy a house, but the owner goes back and changes the terms after the contract is signed," said David Salmonsen, AFBF trade specialist. "Nobody would negotiate to buy a house under those circumstances, and no other countries are going to want to negotiate a trade agreement with the U.S. under those circumstances either. They want to know what the real deal is going to be."