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## Release No. 0193.02

## Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623

## Wayne Baggett (202) 720-2032

# USDA TEAM ACTIVELY WORKING ON FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION

# *Veneman Establishes Farm Bill Working Group to Cut Red Tape and Ensure*

# *Efficient, Timely Process*

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2002 -- In an address that was broadcast to USDA
employees across the country, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today
said USDA is committed to a timely and efficient farm bill
implementation process. The Secretary announced the formation of a Farm
Bill Working Group, consisting of USDA's Chief Economist, Budget
Director and

Sub-cabinet officials that will be instrumental in ensuring appropriate
planning, coordination and implementation.

"USDA employees have been working for many months in anticipation of the
new farm bill," said Veneman. "Our farm bill implementation team will
include key career and sub-cabinet

officials with all mission areas working together to ensure an efficient
and timely process."

Veneman noted that the farm bill contains new programs that are
widespread and impact many sectors including farm services, natural
resources, conservation, rural development, nutrition, food safety,
research, pests and diseases, as well as international trade. The
measure establishes new authorities and additional rules, regulations
and procedures.

"The President signed the farm bill almost immediately upon receiving it
from the Congress so we here at USDA could begin with the important task
of implementation," Veneman said. "Now the hard work begins and while it
will be a difficult task, our goal is to cut red tape so we can get the
job done."

Secretary Veneman assured farmers that the USDA team is working hard to
implement the new programs and outlined several measures already
underway, including: the creation of a farm bill website
(<http://www.usda.gov/farmbill>); implementing eGovernment, which will
soon allow producers to complete and submit some forms on-line;
developing and sending to county offices new software to aid in updating
producer information; meeting with representatives of farm and commodity
organizations; and developing informational materials about new
programs.

Veneman highlighted to employees the many facets of the new farm bill
which:

-   Provides certainty and a strong safety net for farmers over the next
    six years;

-   Provides record-level support for conservation programs to preserve
    wetlands and improve soil and water quality on working farms;

-   Demonstrates compassion through new support for food stamp and
    nutrition programs;

-   Helps expand trade for U.S. food and agriculture products overseas;

-   Contains an energy title to help examine new uses for agriculture as
    an energy source;

-   Invests more in research, value-added programs, animal and plant
    disease protections, food safety and rural development.

> -more-

"While it's not a perfect bill, the new measure provides certainty, a
strong safety net for farmers and complies with our international trade
obligations," said Veneman. "It also provides investments in important
areas such as conservation, trade, nutrition, research, rural
development and energy."

On other farm bill issues, the Secretary noted that USDA has been
administering the last year of the FAIR Act while the new farm bill was
being developed, which has provided nearly \$4 billion in direct
payments to producers this year. The new law provides some additional
direct payments for 2002, and these will be made in the fall using
updated acreage bases. The new law also provides for a first installment
of 2003 direct payments in December 2002. The first advance
counter-cyclical payments for 2002 will be made in October with a second
advance in February 2003. The final payment will be made at the end of
each marketing year for each commodity, once the final season average
price is known.

The marketing loan program continues to operate largely as before, but
with readjusted loan rates for most crops. The new loan rates are
applicable immediately to the 2002 harvested crops, beginning with wheat
now being harvested.

Additional information is being provided immediately upon development on
the USDA website <http://www.usda.gov/> which also has links to other
USDA agencies involved with farm bill implementation.

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