Political Quotes

“today I rise to support the 2002 farm bill conference report because it is good for Oregon producers at home and in the world market. Agriculture in Oregon is a $3.5 billion business. There are 40,000 farms in Oregon, totaling over 17 million acres. The average farm size is 430 acres, with a stunning variety of crops, made up of 10,000 plus wheat farms in the eastern part of the State to 100 acre vineyards in the western part of the State. Overall, the Oregon Farm Bureau supports this farm bill. Oregon wheat and barley growers are anxious to see the workings of the new loan rates and market transition payments. They are also pleased to hear that all changes are in effect for the 2002 crop. Oregon dairy producers tell me the compromise that maintains a permanent $9.90 milk price support program will help them in the long term, whereas the establishment of a 3.5 year National Dairy Program to provide assistance to all U.S. dairy producers will help them in the short term. Oregon's wool producers are pleased that the conference report provides marketing loans or loan deficiency payments to them based on a loan rate of $1 per pound for graded wool and $.40 per pound for non- graded wool. This conference report also provides $94 million, nationally, for apple producers who have suffered low market prices. But those are just specific examples of how this conference report will be good for Oregon producers.”