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11-06-2004, 10:35 AM
http://www.casperstartribune.net/news/wyoming/e75c722bacefee5c87256f440000cbff.txt Farmers, ranchers differ on election impact
By TED MONOSON
Star-Tribune Washington bureau Saturday, November 06, 2004
WASHINGTON -- Farmers and ranchers are split on what President Bush's second term holds for Wyoming residents involved in agriculture.
Farm organization lobbyists paint a grim picture, while the heads of ranching organizations say they are optimistic.
"I think we are going to go through some tough times for ag interests," National Farmers Union lobbyist Tom Buis said. "This next Congress will have to get a grip on the deficit, and when that happens it will fall heavily on agriculture."
Wyoming Farm Bureau executive vice president Ken Hamilton shared Buis' assessment that farmers should expect to see less money coming from the federal government.
"I think you will see a similar direction as the last four years," Hamilton said. "I'm not sure it will be as generous."
Ranchers receive significantly less from the federal government than farmers do and thus are less worried that federal payments will be reduced as President Bush and Congress aim to rein in the deficit.
Wyoming Stock Growers Association executive vice president Jim Magagna is optimistic the Bush administration will push policies that enable the Cowboy State's livestock industry to prosper.
"In the natural resources arena, maybe we will see some reasonable amendments to the Endangered Species Act," Magagna said. "That's always uphill, but I think we have a better chance than we did before Tuesday."
Magagna is also optimistic the Bush administration will complete a rollback of former Democratic President Bill Clinton's efforts to reform federal grazing regulations. The rules, which were crafted by former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, aim to increase public involvement in the process of leasing federal lands.
According to a Bureau of Land Management release on the proposed rule, the agency "could involve the public in such matters as day-to-day grazing administration, but would no longer be required to do so." The proposed rule also would reinstate a rule allowing the BLM and ranchers to share title to range improvements, such as fences, wells and water pipelines.
Despite his optimism, Magagna is warily watching federal efforts to create an animal identification program to combat mad cow disease.
Implementation of a program created in the 2002 farm bill that requires country-of-origin labeling for agriculture products remains uncertain. The Bush administration has pushed back the implementation date for the program.
Wyoming Farm Bureau executive vice president Hamilton noted that with the defeat of country-of-origin labeling proponent Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., it will be difficult to get the program implemented.
"I know Sen. Daschle really focused on that," Hamilton said. "I'm hoping that someone else will pick up the ball, but that may not be realistic."
Farmers Union lobbyist Buis and Mary Kay Thatcher, his counterpart at the American Farm Bureau Federation, said farming and ranching interests will suffer from the loss of Daschle and Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Texas. Stenholm was the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.
"I think Tom Daschle was truly a loss," Thatcher said. "We had a guy as minority leader who deeply cared about agriculture. It is going to make it a lot more difficult to protect farmers."
Thatcher noted that Stenholm, who was first elected in 1978, has worked on several farm bills.
"The loss of Charlie Stenholm is heartbreaking," Thatcher said. "He is insightful, and he had institutional memory. He's been through the wars and the battles."
Washington bureau reporter Ted Monoson can be reached at (202) 544-6919 or at monoson@trib.com.
By TED MONOSON
Star-Tribune Washington bureau Saturday, November 06, 2004
WASHINGTON -- Farmers and ranchers are split on what President Bush's second term holds for Wyoming residents involved in agriculture.
Farm organization lobbyists paint a grim picture, while the heads of ranching organizations say they are optimistic.
"I think we are going to go through some tough times for ag interests," National Farmers Union lobbyist Tom Buis said. "This next Congress will have to get a grip on the deficit, and when that happens it will fall heavily on agriculture."
Wyoming Farm Bureau executive vice president Ken Hamilton shared Buis' assessment that farmers should expect to see less money coming from the federal government.
"I think you will see a similar direction as the last four years," Hamilton said. "I'm not sure it will be as generous."
Ranchers receive significantly less from the federal government than farmers do and thus are less worried that federal payments will be reduced as President Bush and Congress aim to rein in the deficit.
Wyoming Stock Growers Association executive vice president Jim Magagna is optimistic the Bush administration will push policies that enable the Cowboy State's livestock industry to prosper.
"In the natural resources arena, maybe we will see some reasonable amendments to the Endangered Species Act," Magagna said. "That's always uphill, but I think we have a better chance than we did before Tuesday."
Magagna is also optimistic the Bush administration will complete a rollback of former Democratic President Bill Clinton's efforts to reform federal grazing regulations. The rules, which were crafted by former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, aim to increase public involvement in the process of leasing federal lands.
According to a Bureau of Land Management release on the proposed rule, the agency "could involve the public in such matters as day-to-day grazing administration, but would no longer be required to do so." The proposed rule also would reinstate a rule allowing the BLM and ranchers to share title to range improvements, such as fences, wells and water pipelines.
Despite his optimism, Magagna is warily watching federal efforts to create an animal identification program to combat mad cow disease.
Implementation of a program created in the 2002 farm bill that requires country-of-origin labeling for agriculture products remains uncertain. The Bush administration has pushed back the implementation date for the program.
Wyoming Farm Bureau executive vice president Hamilton noted that with the defeat of country-of-origin labeling proponent Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., it will be difficult to get the program implemented.
"I know Sen. Daschle really focused on that," Hamilton said. "I'm hoping that someone else will pick up the ball, but that may not be realistic."
Farmers Union lobbyist Buis and Mary Kay Thatcher, his counterpart at the American Farm Bureau Federation, said farming and ranching interests will suffer from the loss of Daschle and Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Texas. Stenholm was the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.
"I think Tom Daschle was truly a loss," Thatcher said. "We had a guy as minority leader who deeply cared about agriculture. It is going to make it a lot more difficult to protect farmers."
Thatcher noted that Stenholm, who was first elected in 1978, has worked on several farm bills.
"The loss of Charlie Stenholm is heartbreaking," Thatcher said. "He is insightful, and he had institutional memory. He's been through the wars and the battles."
Washington bureau reporter Ted Monoson can be reached at (202) 544-6919 or at monoson@trib.com.