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> height="1.5270833333333333in"}
>
> **of**

### Release No. 0015.02

> **Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman**

# **Remarks to the National Association of Wheat Growers 2002 Wheat Industry Conference and Exposition**

# **Wednesday, January 16, 2001**

> \- - -
>
> : " Thank you so much, Colleen, for that very kind introduction. We
> really appreciate the job you\'re doing as the new president of the
> Farm Broadcasters. You know, Farm Broadcasters came to Washington last
> year early in my term, and I had the opportunity, and they were very
> proud to introduce their incoming president, the first woman, as I was
> being introduced as the first woman Secretary of Agriculture.
>
> "So we really appreciate the Farm Broadcasters and what they do
> because I think a lot of us don\'t recognize how much the farm
> broadcasters give us the opportunity to share a message and to be
> there to talk to people all over the country, and we really appreciate
> the job they do. So thank you.
>
> "It is a great pleasure to be here today and to be with all of you
> need to be with these associations and really compliment the
> leadership of all of the associations that are represented here today
> for the work that you do in helping agriculture particularly on issues
> that we deal with in Washington.
>
> "I enjoyed the opportunity to spend a little quality time outside the
> nation\'s capital. For those of us who do work in Washington, it\'s
> extremely important to get out and to meet farmers and ranchers all
> over the country and to have the opportunity to really talk about the
> issues that are on people\'s minds. So this is a great experience for
> me to be with all of you today.
>
> "That reminds me of a story about two members of Congress. They were
> from the city, and they thought, well, we really need to get a feel
> for the countryside. So they flew to Kansas, and they rented a car,
> and they started driving across the fruited plains. And they were
> driving along, and all of a sudden they saw one of their congressional
> colleagues, and he was in a wheat field all by himself, and he was
> sitting in a rowboat.
>
> "So they pulled the car over to the side of the road, and they got
> out, and they yelled to their colleague, and they said, \"What are you
> doing in that rowboat?\"
>
> "And he said, \"Well, I heard there were oceans of wheat out here in
> Kansas, so I thought I\'d come out here and do a little fishing.\"
>
> -more-
>
> -2-
>
> 'Well, the one Congressman in the car turns to the other, and he says,
> \"Well, you know, it\'s things like this that give Washington a bad
> name.\"
>
> "And the other Congressman in the car says, \"Yeah. And, boy, if I
> knew how to swim, I\'d go tell him off.\" (Laughter)
>
> **"** Like many of you here today, I\'m proud of the rural upbringing
> that I had growing up on a small peach farm in a little town outside
> Modesto, California. The memories that I have from that are forever
> lasting, and the values that we have from the farms and ranches is
> longlasting and really critical to who I think all of us are that are
> in agriculture. It\'s the foundation on which our country was built.
>
> "And what I see in farm communities all across the country of people
> of hope, and faith, and willing to help each other all across this
> great nation. This was very evident this week, earlier this week, when
> I traveled with the President through Illinois. We visited the John
> Deere Manufacturing facility there in Moline, and then in Missouri
> meeting with farmers at a local feed mill.
>
> "And it was amazing to us to watch to see the patriotism and all of
> the people all along the way where the motorcade was going and the
> spirit that people had, waiving flags, just spontaneously like the
> school kids. It was quite remarkable. Everybody was cheering on the
> President and showing support for the country in what\'s been just a
> very critical time since September 11th.
>
> "And I must say, and of course I\'m a little biased, but I just want
> to ask you, don\'t you think the President is doing a great job?
> (Applause)
>
> "I\'ll take that as a solid yes, and I also want to tell you that the
> President does send his regards to you.
>
> "He told me especially to thank you for all of the good work that you
> do, like growing the wheat that goes into make pretzels. (Laughter)
>
> "I traveled with the President on Air Force One on Monday, as we went
> out to Illinois, and there was a pretzel that fell into the aisleway,
> and three Secret Service agents fell on it right away. (Laughter)
>
> "When we were examining this issue a little more closely after the
> incident on Sunday night, and we figured out that the problem with the
> pretzel was that we believe it might have been made with Canadian
> wheat. (Laughter) (Applause)
>
> " But, seriously, the President looks great. He was doing great. The
> incident did not impact him at all.
>
> "During this trip, he was focused on the economy, and trade and
> particularly the importance of trade and the economy to farmers. When
> you look back, a lot has changed in the past year, but not President
> Bush\'s commitment to ensuring that American agriculture remains a
> vibrant cornerstone of our nation\'s economy.
>
> -more-
>
> -3-
>
> Let me assure you this administration remains committed to working
> with Congress to complete a farm bill quickly, one that will provide
> agriculture some certainty and to ensure that our farmers and ranchers
> have the assistance they need.
>
> "President Bush sincerely believes in bipartisanship when it comes to
> moving America forward. And in this case, the President has insisted
> upon a bipartisan bill, a bill that is based on sound principles, one
> that is generous, but affordable, and is consistent with the
> congressional budget agreement that was reached last year.
>
> "The farm bill must provide a reasonable safety net for producers
> without encouraging overproduction, thereby creating lower prices. The
> farm bill must also support our strong commitment to international
> trade, and it should strengthen conservation programs to encourage
> good stewardship on working farmland, and the bill should establish
> farm savings accounts to help farmers manage risk. This is
> particularly important for small acreage farmers who sometimes are
> left behind.
>
> "The administration has supported the farm bill approach in the Senate
> that\'s been introduced by two well-respected farm state legislators,
> Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Pat Roberts of Kansas. Their
> approach is fair and responsible and would help a broad range of
> farmers and ranchers across the country.
>
> "And we look forward to the return of Congress next week and hope that
> we can then forge a bipartisan consensus on a new farm bill. It\'s a
> new year, and there are events from the last year that I hope we will
> never relive. There are lessons that I hope we will never forget.
> Foremost among them there are no challenges we cannot overcome, as
> long as we remain alert, tenacious and work together to forge
> solutions.
>
> "Last year we were threatened by the outbreak of karnal bunt in your
> industry, but we didn\'t let that paralyze the industry. We
> quarantined\--there\'s something going on back here. I don\'t quite
> know what it is\--we quarantined counties quickly, we provided
> compensation to producers, we established a team to coordinate a
> federal-state response to work with the industry, and the same was
> true when we saw the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the spread
> of mad cow disease in other parts of the world.
>
> "Those situations could have been disastrous to our farmers and
> ranchers had they spread to America\'s shores. But we were vigilant,
> we kept our guard up, and we remain steadfast today.
>
> "It\'s interesting, the last time I had the privilege of addressing
> this group was at your conference in San Diego, I think, in 1997,
> maybe 4 years ago or so. And at that time, I was Secretary of the
> California Department of Food and Agriculture, and I remember that
> speech well because it was the first time I\'d had the opportunity to
> speak to the wheat growers since the outbreak of karnal bunt in
> California and a few other states, something that we had not
> previously with. And I remember taking the opportunity at that time to
> talk about the importance of pest and disease programs. Little did I
> know at that time that they would occupy much of my first year in
> office as Secretary of Agriculture, nor would I have ever imagined at
> that time that I would become Secretary of Agriculture.
>
> -more-
>
> -4-
>
> "I think today we are more focused than ever on these critical kinds
> of programs. We think more needs to be done, particularly if we look
> at the next farm bill, to ensure that these types of infrastructure
> programs are enhanced over the long term. The very livelihood of
> America\'s farmers and ranchers depends on it.
>
> "In the past year we have continuously reviewed all of our systems to
> ensure that they protect against any potential outbreaks, and we have
> responded appropriately, and we have worked to find ways to respond
> appropriately should we ever face an emergency.
>
> "We have strengthened our state and Federal partnerships to ensure
> that protection systems and staffing at the local levels are fully
> adequate.
>
> "We are constantly examining the best and most responsible ways to
> accomplish these tasks and keep our safeguards strong and up to date.
> Whether we like it or not, that\'s the reality, and most particularly
> the reality in the post-September 11th world.
>
> "Much has been said about how the world has changed in the past four
> months. You still hear the word crisis used a lot, as in world crisis,
> or America\'s crisis of character. You might be interested to know
> that the Chinese word for crisis is made of two characters. One
> symbolizes danger, the other opportunity. And I think we can say the
> same about American agriculture. Our industry, our way of life, is
> always in danger. Yet there is a tremendous opportunity as we open up
> new markets and tear down old barriers.
>
> "That is America\'s new mission, protecting against danger and seizing
> opportunity, and we will prevail.
>
> "That\'s why USDA has been working closely with Governor Tom Ridge and
> the Office of Homeland Security, as well as other Federal and state
> agencies, and that\'s why when the President last week signed the new
> law bolstering America\'s defense, it was critical that it included
> strong commitment to bolstering those security efforts here at home.
>
> "That\'s what we\'re doing at USDA. With the bill signed last week,
> we\'re increasing spending by more than \$300 million to further
> strengthen food safety and plant and animal tests and disease
> protection and research.
>
> "We have fully funded our food safety inspection systems and have more
> than 7600 inspectors throughout the country working to ensure a safe
> food supply. And we are modernizing our labs and making sure that
> those facilities are safe and secure because they provide such a
> service to American agriculture.
>
> "When it comes to our industry, the old adage is true. The best
> offense is a good defense. But that doesn\'t mean we can afford to
> become insular or become latter day fortress America. Opportunity
> abounds right here in this hemisphere and all around the globe.
>
> -more
>
> -5-
>
> "As many of you are aware, this is my second tour of duty at USDA,
> having also served the first \-- under the first President Bush, we
> called him Bush 41 as opposed to Bush 43. A lot has changed over the
> past decade, even as the President\'s last name has not. It\'s a new
> century and a new age defined by the internet and instant messages.
> Farmers now buy inputs over the computer, manage their land with the
> help of satellite technology, and follow market news on line. We see
> more opportunity throughout the future.
>
> "I often like to talk about the success of the Dakota Growers Pasta
> Company. It is the first fully integrated entirely farmer-owned pasta
> plant and in just eight short years its success and innovation have
> made it the third largest pasta manufacturer in North America, a real
> tribute to the \-- I see somebody back there must be a member. But a
> real tribute to what the wheat farmers of this country can do when
> they come together.
>
> "This company is also understanding the importance of the
> international marketplace and selling in the export markets.
>
> "When we looked back 10 years ago, America had yet to see the benefits
> of the NAFTA or of the Uruguay Round that was negotiated under the
> general agreement on tariffs and trade. Now we\'re only two years into
> the 21st century, and yet it\'s evident that these times are defined
> by competition. There\'s competition, you see it every night on the
> news, freedom versus terrorism.
>
> "There\'s more competition in the market. It\'s a global competition
> for expanding free markets.
>
> "Consider the importance of the overseas markets to us today. As you
> know, about half of our wheat crop in the United States is sold in the
> international marketplace. So is 40 percent of all the cotton we
> produce, a third of the soybeans, and a fifth of the corn. You heard
> that correctly. Half of the wheat you produce is sold for export.
>
> "I know there are cynics who think that overseas trade is an overblown
> notion. They say we should be talking instead about how we can help
> the American farmer, but as the President continues to say, pursuing
> new trade accords and opening new markets is in the farmers\' best
> interest. Our farmers are the most competitive and the most innovative
> of anywhere in the world. We shouldn\'t be afraid to compete, but we
> must fight hard to open new markets and ensure a level playing field.
>
> "Let me give you an example of why this is so important. A little over
> a decade ago McDonald\'s started selling fast food in Chile. But
> today, if you order a burger and fries in Santiago, odds are that it
> may not be American wheat in your hamburger bun or french fries made
> from Idaho potatoes.
>
> "While we, as America, have been talking about a free trade agreement
> with Chile for 10 years, Canada acted. They now have preferential
> tariff access into that country, and they are taking market share away
> from us in wheat, and potatoes, and other items.
>
> -more-
>
> -6-
>
> "That\'s simply not acceptable. President Bush and this administration
> are going to change that so that our farmers aren\'t left behind and
> forced to suffer the consequences. But to do that, we need the
> appropriate tools, and one of those is trade promotion authority.
> We\'re hopeful that the Senate will follow the leadership of the House
> of Representatives and pass trade promotion authority soon after they
> come back later next week.
>
> "Simply put, trade boils down to supply and demand. We cannot consume
> what we produce in this country. And there\'s demand for wheat
> overseas, so we have to look to open new markets. China, of course,
> offers great hope, and its entry into the World Trade Organization
> opens the door to greater markets and more
>
> consumers, particularly the emerging middle class that\'s growing all
> around the world, but particularly in China.
>
> "As these new consumers develop and economies improve around the
> world, they are better able to buy our food products, and I can\'t
> think of anyone else who stands to reap those benefits more than the
> American farmer.
>
> "The International Food Policy Research Institute predicts that by
> 2020, 85 percent of all new global demand for cereals and meat will be
> in developing countries. Reaching into these growing markets, getting
> access to their burgeoning middle-class consumers will be key to
> expanding U.S. agricultural exports.
>
> "Trade is the future. That\'s where America\'s farmers will find
> growth and prosperity. But as the great football coach, George Allen,
> likes to say, \"The future is now.\" What we do today to gain greater
> access to markets not only will enrich your lives, but will provide
> security to future generations of farmers to come.
>
> "Removing trade barriers around the world is fundamental to the
> long-term prosperity of the U.S. food and agriculture sector. We must
> work to get more access to these markets. Why? Because, as each
> barrier falls, a window of opportunity opens.
>
> "This past year we launched an historic new round of trade
> negotiations, and agriculture is at the heart of those discussions. We
> went into the negotiations in Doha seeking to tear down the walls that
> other countries have built that hurt our farmers, particularly the
> large export subsidies of the European Union. And we came home with a
> victory, a solid framework that sets a positive stage for future
> agriculture negotiations and future wheat sales.
>
> "The Doha declaration sends a powerful signal that the world trading
> nations support peaceful and open exchange. They reject the closed
> minds and closed markets that are protectionism. We now have a clear
> direction and ambitious objectives for agriculture trade reform to
> substantially reduce tariffs and increase market access, to work
> toward the elimination of export subsidies and to reduce
> trade-distorting domestic support.
>
> "One of the more immediate effects, and this is the area of trade and
> the environment, the Doha agreement closed the door on the use of
> environmental measures as unfair trade practices.
>
> -more-
>
> -7-
>
> And the entry of China and Taiwan into the WTO, voted on during the
> Doha meeting, represents a significant milestone in furthering the
> cause of open markets, rules-based systems for trade, and
> opportunities for U.S. farmers and exporters.
>
> "The entry of these two countries will boost food and agriculture
> sales as much as \$2.5 billion a year for America\'s farmers, and
> that\'s the kind of progress that we all support. This appeals to us
> because we are capitalists by practice and competitive by nature.
>
> "Maybe you\'ve heard the story about the Texas farmer who visited one
> of his counterparts in Australia. This Aussie farmer takes the Texas
> farmer out into a wheat field, but the Texan isn\'t impressed. He
> says, \"Texas wheat fields are twice as big and the wheat is twice as
> high.\"
>
> "Well, then they look at cattle, and the Texan isn\'t impressed. They
> don\'t raise longhorns in Australia.
>
> "Then, a kangaroo goes hopping by, and the Texan is confused. His
> Australian friend says, \"You mean you don\'t have grasshoppers in
> Texas?\" (Laughter)
>
> " Today, the world is seeing a different side of the American farmer,
> the same side that emerged after the two World Wars, when humanitarian
> aid meant not only repairing cities and roads, but putting food on the
> tables. Our farmers are prominent in international relief efforts, and
> wheat, of course, plays a key role.
>
> "Maybe you\'ve seen the pictures of the mounds of white bags of wheat
> with the big blue USA labels being loaded onto trucks in Peshawar for
> the journey to Afghan women and children. Wheat just happens to be the
> traditional food of Afghanistan. And for America, helping others in
> need is our tradition and our obligation, as the world\'s Super Power.
>
> "I know that that makes you proud, and you should be. It\'s your
> products that\'s helping that country. It\'s your work that
> underscores the good that lies in the heart of this nation.
>
> "Friends, I ask that you think about American agriculture, about its
> traditions firmly rooted in the past, but just as important is its
> vast potential in this, the next great American century. What\'s
> needed is a cooperative effort. Together we must build a consensus
> that moves agriculture policy in a direction that is forward-looking
> in its vision and global in its perspective.
>
> "And together we must pay greater attention to the compatibility of
> domestic farm programs and our international undertakings and
> activities, helping our industry at home, while aggressively marketing
> our goods abroad.
>
> -more-
>
> -8-
>
> "As we make the choices today that shape the future, let us not forget
> what worked for the American farmer in the past, the values and
> principles that sustained us through the good times, as well as
> through the depths of recession.
>
> That means pursuing a course that gives American farmers and ranchers
> an opportunity for reliable economic growth and sustainable use of our
> natural resources.
>
> "We can achieve this when Congress returns from recess and do so by
> passing a bipartisan farm bill that will best help America\'s farmers
> and ranchers for the foreseeable future. By working together, there is
> no challenge that, together, we cannot overcome, whether that
> challenge is a new solid farm bill or opening global markets.
>
> "The world has changed dramatically since the tragedies of September
> 11th. Today, America stands firmly united. We are a proud nation,
> strong and enduring. We care deeply about our fellow neighbors and
> lend a helping hand when it is needed. I believe, and I know that the
> President believes, that the American spirit is vibrant in our rural
> communities in the heartland, where farmers and ranchers work to
> cultivate our land, to feed and clothe our citizens and those around
> the world.
>
> "Now it\'s time to put our national unity to its best use, to liberate
> the world from its oppressors and here at home to guarantee that
> America remains the world\'s standard-bearer of opportunity and
> prosperity.
>
> "Thank you for your contributions to this great country, and thank you
> very much for allowing me to be with you today." (Applause)

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