According to staff, Senator Richard Lugar (Rep-IN) is preparing to introduce a farm bill that will double spending for conservation programs and make "revolutionary" changes in traditional farm commodities programs. At a meeting held yesterday in Washington DC, Senator Lugar's staff indicated that specifics of the proposal will be unveiled at a press conference later this. Initial disclosures indicate that Lugar's plan will invest in "working" farm conservation, support nutritional programs and overhaul existing commodities programs replacing them with a "voucher" system that would pay those actively involved in farming a percentage of their previous five year income. The summary also indicates the bill will "remove" existing caps on EQIP funding making this money available for factory animal farms. The bill apparently has White House support and is targeted to raise agricultural spending to $25 billion over five years; considerably less than the $73.5 Billion, ten-year proposal advanced last week by the House of Representatives.

2. ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY: THE ULTIMATE IN HOMELAND SECURITY

While many Americans don't connect conflicts in the Middle East with US dependancy of foreign oil reserves, two notable exceptions are Senate Agriculture leader Richard Lugar (Rep-IN) and former CIA director James Woolsey. In a 1999 study now gaining renewed attention, Lugar and co-author Woolsey, stated the matter succintly: "Oil is a magnet for conflict." The report, which highlights the possibilities for energy sufficiency through the use of "cellulosic ethanol," added, "growing reliance on Middle Eastern oil not only adds to that regions' disproportionate leverage but provides the resources with which rogue nations support international terrorism." If bio-energy alternatives were pursued on a large scale the report pointed out that U.S, " intrusive military presence in the region could be reduced, both ameliorating anti-American tensions and making U.S. involvement in a Middle Eastern war less likely."

With commodity prices predicted to remain at historic lows and energy uncertainties associated with events of the last month, more farmers have expressed interest in renewable energy resources. Investment in biofuels, solar and wind power can potentially provide income for farmers, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and curb greenhouse gas emissions. When the House Farm Bill was being considered last week, Rep. Boswell (D-IA) offered an amendment to create a farmer-owned and government-owned renewable energy reserve of agricultural commodities. This amendment failed, but lawmakers did agree to an amendment offered by Rep. Inslee (D-WA) modifying the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to assist farmers and ranchers for the assessment and development of their on-farm renewable resources, including biomass for the production of power and fuels, wind, and solar. We also have word that the Senator Harkin is planning to add an energy title to his version of the Senate Farm Bill. 

Folks in North Dakota, much like rural residents all over America have an independent streak longer than the tail of Halley's comet. Now, one organic farmer in North Dakota is letting his independence shine bright as he begins organizing farmers to join him in civil case against the Monsanto corporation. According to CropChoice (Oct. 9), North Dakota organic wheat farmer Terry Kemmet has banded together with other family farmers and they are considering launching "a co-plaintiff action suit against Monsanto, for, among other things, trespass with its genetic engineering technology and harm to export markets." In a guest opinion letter to CropChoice Kemmit said, "Monsanto and other companies seem to be polluting organic and commercial crops across the fence... Our basic constitutional right to property is soon to be lost. Our right to grow the type of plants that we want to grow and market is being overshadowed by the rights of a patent. Soon we won't even be able to save our own seed." To learn more about this issue, call or e-mail Terry Kemmet at 701-327-8285 or tkembek@bektel.com