February 12, 2007

Potential farm program changes and implications for the 2007 farm bill will be the focus of four meetings in Nebraska and three in Kansas in February and March. The meetings will be sponsored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and Kansas State University Research and Extension. All meetings will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With a new Congress at work in Washington, the debate on the 2007 Farm Bill is already picking up, said Brad Lubben, UNL Extension public policy specialist. Several factors will drive this debate, including economic, budget, trade, and political considerations. The agriculture committees will be working on several proposals to fit into a new farm bill in time to replace or extend the 2002 Farm Bill before it expires in September.

Into this mix will come several ideas for future farm programs, Lubben said. There have already been calls for continuing the basic provisions of the current farm income safety net, changing the safety net approach from price to revenue, and even shifting major funding from the safety net to conservation and other programs including energy. Understanding these major proposals and how they might affect farms and farm operators is critical to preparing a sound business and management strategy for the coming farm program.

Ag policy specialists from UNL and KSU will discuss these issues at the meetings. Lubben and Paul Burgener, agricultural economics research analyst, will provide input from UNL.

Each meeting will provide an overview of the farm bill debate and will focus on the mechanics and implications of the various farm bill proposals. Specific topics will include potential modifications to current farm programs, the mechanics of a proposed revenue safety net to replace part of the current safety net programs, and efforts to shift funding to an expanded and enhanced Conservation Security Program. Each meeting will also provide an opportunity for producers to discuss the major options and provide feedback that will contribute to the policy debate.

Registration and more information is available at the UNL agricultural economics Web site at http://www.agecon.unl.edu/farmbill.html or through Lubben, (402) 472-2235, or blubben2@unl.edu. Or, contact one of the host extension educators listed below.

Meeting locations