Larry Pressler: “The farm bill is the most important legislation we have before us insofar as my State of South Dakota and insofar as our…”

“The farm bill is the most important legislation we have before us insofar as my State of South Dakota and insofar as our Nation is concerned. We forget that we are an agricultural Nation. Most of our exports in our Nation are agriculture. In fact, we pay our trade bills through agricultural exports. Many economists have predicted that in the next few years commodity prices will be at an all-time high because of the demand in Asia and elsewhere for our farm products. Therefore, I hope this farm bill will take into account the key role that agriculture plays. Mr. President, we seem to be split between two approaches here, temporarily: The freedom-to-farm approach and the traditional Department of Agriculture subsidy approach. It appears to me we will have to find a compromise between the two. In the long run, this Senator likes the concept of freedom to farm, possibly with a cap, because it may be that new crops will be developed. A farmer might well experiment with a totally new crop. Right now with our bureaucratic approach, the Department of Agriculture basically defines what crops are appropriate. However, I realize legislation is the art of the possible. It appears we will have to reach a compromise. I am very much anxious to be part of that compromise. I look forward to discussing this with my colleagues.”