Tom Harkin: “I thank the President. A poll came out today of 1,000 farmers taken nationwide by a polling firm. It was done for the…”

“I thank the President. A poll came out today of 1,000 farmers taken nationwide by a polling firm. It was done for the Nebraska Wheat Growers, American Corn Growers and the Nebraska Farmers Union--1,000 farmers. Two questions I will point out: One, Congress should modify the current farm program. Yes, 76.9 percent; no, 17 percent. Congress should lift loan caps and raise loan rates 59 cents per bushel on wheat and 32 cents on corn. Yes, 72.5 percent; no, 19.4 percent. Over 3 to 1. Farmers recognize this is the best way to proceed rather than getting a direct payment. Keep in mind, if we raise the loan rates, it gives the farmer a marketing tool. The farmer can get the loan and hold on to the crop. If prices go up next year, the farmer can sell that crop and then pay the loan back to the Government with interest. If, however, we are just going to get a bunch of money and send it out to farmers in a payment, there is no chance that any of that money is ever going to come back to the Government. Keep in mind, these loans have interest charges, and if farmers pay those loans back, they pay them back with interest. Secondly, if we make a payment to farmers this fall, as I hear some people want to do, just one big lump sum, just a check that goes out, a lot of those people getting that money will not be in farming next year, and it won't go to the producers.”