Congress' intent with the passage of the Freedom to Farm Bill was USDA's full utilization of all tools available to enhance sales and discourage unfair competition. The Asian financial crisis and limitations on exports due to U.S. government sanctions on 70 countries are causing a drop in commodity prices and U.S. agricultural export opportunities.
Trade sanctions are ineffective and only hurt American farmers and ranchers.
In 1996, Congress passed the Freedom to Farm bill that returned control of farming and ranching operations to producers and in exchange there was reduction in direct government financial support. Our agriculture producers feed the world but are being stopped at the door by the current Administration's poor foreign policy choices. The Administration continues to use our agriculture products as a bargaining chip to enforce its own policies. But the only group suffering under these actions are the American farmers and ranchers. Barrett represents Nebraska's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.