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Press Release Archives 2007

AAM APPLAUDS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVISIONS IN SENATE FARM BILL

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2007

Press Release #17

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM APPLAUDS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVISIONS IN SENATE FARM BILL
STANDING DISASTER TRUST FUND ALSO KEY TO SAFETYNET

WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Dec. 14, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has expressed his organization’s appreciation to the U.S. Senate for key energy and safetynet provisions included in the recently passed Senate farm bill.  “Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman Harkin, D-Iowa, and Ranking Minority Member Chambliss, R-Ga., have shown their bipartisan leadership abilities in crafting a new farm bill to address the needs of the nation’s future energy development and the necessity for a better safetynet for the nation’s farm families,” declared Matlack.  “Inclusion of several renewable energy initiatives as well as a standing disaster assistance trust fund are key improvements over the 2002 farm bill.”

“The inclusion of a Biomass Crop Transition program is a critical first step in helping farmers shift to new alternative crops which will help America move towards energy independence,” added Matlack.  “By including incentives in the next farm program to produce and harvest biomass crops, farmers can help provide local, home-grown, renewable energy for industrial heat, electric cogeneration and cellulosic ethanol.  AAM’s goal is to retain the Biomass Crop Transition program from the Senate draft bill and the Biomass Energy Reserve contained in the House-passed version of the farm bill.”

“AAM has been a leader in advancing the issues of renewable, farm raised energy for almost three decades,” said Matlack.  “The thousands of demonstrating AAM members in Washington in 1979 and the portable alcohol plant we operated on the Mall in 1980 were a huge influence on Congress and then-President Carter who established the genesis of today’s ethanol industry.  We stand with Congress and President Bush today with the same vision for biomass energy production.”

“Of no less importance to farm and ranch families was the inclusion of a provision to establish a standing disaster trust fund to provide a better safetynet for farm families when natural disaster strikes,” added Matlack.  “By providing the trust fund, we eliminate the need for time-consuming, politically-charged campaigns for ad hoc disaster assistance.  We realize the importance of this trust fund when we reflect upon the plight of so many farm families hit by the devastating hurricanes of 2005 that are just now receiving critical disaster assistance.”

Matlack concluded by saying, “Because there were so many missed opportunities to improve many elements of farm policy, we do not see this as a great farm bill.  But this year’s farm bill, with the inclusion of the provisions we have identified in the House and Senate bills, can be a better farm bill than the one passed in 2002.  We look forward to the conferencing of the two bills, their final passage, and enactment by President Bush.”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM ANNOUNCES 2008 ANNUAL CONVENTION IN OKLAHOMA CITY JAN. 4-6

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2007

Press Release #16

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM ANNOUNCES 2008 ANNUAL CONVENTION IN OKLAHOMA CITY JAN. 4-6
AGRICULTURE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY -- PATHWAY TO PARITY

OKLAHOMA CITY (RuralWire), Dec. 13, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has announced that the organization will hold its twenty-ninth annual convention in Oklahoma City Jan. 4–6. AAM will focus on agriculture and renewable energy as a path to economic parity.

“Thirty years ago the American Agriculture Movement was born from a vision that foretold most of what has happened to farm and ranch families over the past three decades,” explained Matlack.  “As family farms and rural businesses were destroyed by the hundreds of thousands due to inadequate farm and trade policy, there were many of us that worked feverishly to stem the destructive tide and to bring Parity to rural America.”

“Today things are looking up for family farmers with the prices received for many commodities at their highest percentage of Parity in recent memory,” said Matlack.  “There is very good reason for optimism and it is critical that we continue our work to keep our focus on family farm agriculture and the needs of a healthy rural economy.  AAM deserves its fair share of credit for today’s more promising times.”

“AAM-inspired work has taken many forms and directions over the past thirty years and many of the ideas have borne fruit to help sustain the family farm system,” explained Matlack.  “But our tireless quest to put farmers into the business of producing local, renewable, clean energy is our most shining achievement.  It was AAM that, in the 1970s, set up a fuel ethanol still on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of what we called gasohol in those days.  Today’s production agriculture sector is just beginning to reap the harvest of AAM’s thirty years of leadership and initiative in the area of farm-raised renewable energy.  AAM helped light this pathway to Parity.”

“We defend with zeal our right to profit as we strive to bring America closer to energy independence,” declared Matlack.  “We will not be swayed by those who want us to believe farm families should be serfs to a cheap food system.  We also identify the worn-out and misleading rhetoric concerning ‘Food vs. Fuel’ as simply a ploy by those who wish to make their profits off of the backs of farm families.  American agriculture is up to the challenge to provide both food and fuel for our nation.  Do not miss out on the opportunities and challenges in renewable energy from agriculture at this critical time for family farm agriculture.”

The American Agriculture Movement will hold its twenty-ninth annual convention on Jan. 4-6 at the Holiday Inn Airport located at 2101 Meridian in Oklahoma City.  Hotel reservations may be made by calling (405)685-400 or (800)622-7666.  The convention theme is “Agriculture and Renewable Energy – Pathway to Parity” and will highlight presentations by experts involved in several renewable energy fields involving agriculture on Friday, Jan. 4th.  AAM’s regular business meeting will follow on Saturday, Jan. 5 and a wrap-up session will be held Sunday after AAM’s church service.  For more information contact Larry Matlack at (620) 727-0333.

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONCERNS WITH ARGENTINE DEFAULT

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2007

Press Release #15

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONCERNS WITH ARGENTINE DEFAULT
MATLACK CALLS UPON U.S. TREASURY TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF U.S. FARM AND RANCH FAMILIES

WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Dec. 4, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), recently expressed grave concerns over Argentina’s $100 billion debt default and the detrimental effects it has had on the ability of U.S. farm and ranch families to compete in the global marketplace.

In 2001 Argentina initiated the largest recorded sovereign debt default in history, an action that immediately drove down the value of the Argentine Peso, thus creating an unfair subsidy for Argentine exports, particularly their agricultural products.

“AAM has been very vocal for the past few decades in our call for the inclusion of currency issues and how they impact world trade,” said Matlack.  “Argentina’s actions related to their financial default are a manipulative practice to drive down the value of their currency and create an unfair export incentive for their country’s agricultural products.”

“AAM supports every nation’s sovereign right to establish its own domestic food and agriculture system,” explained Matlack.  “That is what we want for the United States and that is what we would want for Argentina, but currency manipulation has impacts well beyond a nation’s borders and food sovereignty.  We saw the similar issues with Mexico after ratification of NAFTA in the mid 1990s.  We feel that Argentina’s decision to drastically depart from debt restructuring norms is a clear attempt to extend their unfair currency advantage in the global market.”

“AAM encourages Argentina to return to the negotiating table to discuss a fair restructuring plan that will allow it to reaffirm itself as a member of the community of responsible nations,” concluded Matlack.  “We also call upon on the U.S. Department of Treasury to protect the interests of the U.S. farm and ranch families.  A refusal to act sends a signal to other countries that the U.S. does not have a clear and unified policy of eliminating trade distorting practices in world markets, a move that could result in further adverse impacts upon U.S. farmers and ranchers.

(30)

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM ASKS PRESIDENT BUSH TO EXPLAIN DELAYS IN DISASTER ASSISTANCE

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2007

Press Release #14

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM ASKS PRESIDENT BUSH TO EXPLAIN DELAYS IN DISASTER ASSISTANCE
ASSISTANCE STILL NOT IN THE HANDS OF 2005 DISASTER VICTIMS

WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Nov. 28, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), sent a letter to President Bush this week requesting an explanation of the current status and delayed implementation of the agricultural disaster provisions passed in Congress last spring and enacted by President Bush on May 25.

“It has been six long months since the disaster assistance became law and there still has been no relief for farm and ranch families hard hit by hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters in 2005, 2006 and earlier this year,” explained Matlack.  “We are calling upon President Bush to get to the bottom of the problem and explain the delays.”

The letter to the President stated, “None of the relief funds for agricultural disasters, authorized by the “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007” (P.L. 110-80) which was enacted by your hand on May 25, have been distributed by the Department of Agriculture as of this date.  In fact, it seems that none of the funds will be distributed until well after the first of the new year.”

“Farm and ranch families have yet to receive any assistance under the disaster assistance program.  Many of them have been told by USDA that funds are coming soon, but it now appears doubtful whether any payments will be made in this calendar year.  Farmers need to know when they can expect assistance as many of them are currently making plans to address their annual end-of-the-year financial affairs.”

Matlack stated in the letter, “We are calling upon you, Mr. President, to ask USDA to do their job and execute your signature on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 or explain the delay of the disaster relief and inform these families of when payments will be made for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 natural disasters”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM SAYS PRESIDENT BUSH'S VETO THREAT ON FARM BILL NOT ALL BAD

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2007

Press Release #13

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM SAYS PRESIDENT BUSH'S VETO THREAT ON FARM BILL NOT ALL BAD
PERMANENT LAW IS BEST PROGRAM FOR ALL

WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Nov. 7, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), sees the veto threat to the farm bill from President Bush as a potential way to achieve the best possible farm policy for 2008.

“There are a few American’s that need a new farm bill,” said Matlack, “including all of those that eat, and for them we would hope a new farm bill is passed and enacted soon.  As the U.S. Senate debates the new farm bill, the President has stated he intends to veto the bill when passed.  AAM says to the President ‘Bring It On!’ With the 2002 farm bill expired and the new farm bill vetoed by the President, no farm bill would be in place, presenting the best of both worlds from a farmer’s standpoint. Without a new farm bill the nation would revert back to permanent farm law. Permanent farm law would provide Parity prices for most farm products, saving taxpayers tens of billion of dollars in subsidies.”

Matlack explained that under permanent farm law, which is comprised of several laws passed in the 1930s and 40s, crop farmers would be allowed to vote in a referendum on two options – if the referendum is approved by farmers for mandatory set-a-sides, they will receive 90-percent Parity nonrecourse loans (i.e. a price floor) and be required to reduce their planted acres as prescribed by the Secretary.  If the referendum is disapproved by farmers, they would be allowed full production at 50-percent Parity nonrecourse loans.

“In practice, given that America and the world needs every acre planted to meet demand for food and fuel, farmers would most likely approve the referendum because the Secretary would not require any planting restriction,” added Matlack.  “That means that wheat farmers would be provided a floor price of $9.90 per bushel, and corn farms would be provided a price floor of $7.33 per bushel. Cotton farmers would realize a floor price of $1.77 per pound, which is four times the current price and would help not only U.S. cotton farmers but also cotton farmers in West Africa hard hit with depressed world cotton prices.  Taxpayers would be relieved of the burden of paying cash subsidies to farmers because farmers would be provided a fair price in the marketplace.”

“Even if farmers were to vote against supply management under permanent farm law, they would still receive a floor price of 50 percent of Parity,” continued Matlack.  “Under such a scenario, farmers could produce all the crops they wished and receive a floor price of $4.07 per bushel for corn, $5.50 per bushel for wheat and $1.04 per pound for cotton.”

“If President Bush vetoes a new farm bill and since the last farm bill has expired, the provisions of permanent farm law are the law of the land,” concluded Matlack.  “We intend to do what we can to ensure permanent farm law is administered in 2008.”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM MONTHLY PARITY REPORT

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2007

Press Release #12

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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FARMERS STILL SELLING MANY CROPS FOR LESS THAN HALF PARITY
WHEAT AND BARLEY PRICES IMPROVE -- HOG PRICES DOWN -- COTTON PRICES STILL WOEFULLY INADEQUATE

WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Nov. 6, 2007 – The American Agriculture Movement (AAM) reports that the prices farmers received for many crops and livestock are still less than 50 percent of Parity*, but improving markets have moved wheat prices to 73 percent of Parity and barley to 68 percent.

AAM President Larry Matlack stated that even though prices have recovered in 2007, when compared to the previous decade, too many farmers and livestock operators are still selling their goods for less than half of the price necessary to put them on an equitable financial level with the balance of the overall U.S. economy.

AAM PARITY REPORT -- OCTOBER 2007

Commodity and Unit

Price

100% Parity

Percent of Parity

 

Received

Price

Price Received

Barley, per bu.

$ 5.18

$ 7.67

68%

Beef Cattle (all), per cwt.

$ 90.80

$ 215.00

42%

Calves, per cwt.

$ 125.00

$ 309.00

40%

Corn, per bu.

$ 3.29

$ 8.14

40%

Cotton (upland), per lb.

$ 0.532

$ 2.08

26%

Dry Edible Beans, per cwt.

$ 26.80

$ 57.60

47%

Grain Sorghum, per cwt.

$ 5.99

$ 13.90

43%

Hogs, per cwt.

$ 42.60

$ 124.00

34%

Milk (all), per cwt.

$ 21.20

$ 40.70

51%

Oats, per bu.

$ 2.35

$ 4.56

52%

Rice, per cwt.

$ 10.70

$ 29.70

36%

Soybeans, per bu.

$ 8.58

$ 18.00

48%

Wheat, per bu.

$ 8.02

$ 11.00

73%

Source: Agricultural Prices – National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA

 

 

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM PRESIDENT APPLAUDS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVISIONS IN PROPOSED SENATE FARM BILL

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2007

Press Release #11

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM PRESIDENT APPLAUDS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVISIONS IN PROPOSED SENATE FARM BILL
STANDING DISASTER TRUST FUND ALSO KEY TO SAFETYNET

WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Oct. 30, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), recently expressed his organization’s gratitude to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee for key energy and safetynet provisions included in the recently passed committee draft of the next farm bill.  “Chairman Harkin, D-Iowa, and Ranking Minority Member Chambliss, R-Ga., have shown their bipartisan leadership abilities in crafting a new farm bill to address the needs of the nation’s future energy development and the necessity for a better safetynet for the nation’s farm families,” declared Matlack.  “Inclusion of several renewable energy initiatives as well as a standing disaster assistance trust fund are key improvements over the 2002 farm bill.”

“The inclusion of a Biomass Crop Transition program is a critical first step in helping farmers shift to new alternative crops which will help America move towards energy independence,” added Matlack.  “By including incentives in the next farm program to produce and harvest biomass crops, farmers can help provide local, home-grown, renewable energy for industrial heat, electric cogeneration and cellulosic ethanol.  AAM’s goal is to retain the Biomass Crop Transition program from the Senate draft bill and the Biomass Energy Reserve contained in the House passed farm bill.”

“AAM has been a leader in advancing the issues of renewable, farm raised energy for almost three decades,” said Matlack.  “The thousands of demonstrating AAM members in Washington in 1979 and the portable alcohol plant we operated on the Mall in 1980 were a huge influence on Congress and then-President Carter who established the genesis of today’s ethanol industry.  We stand with Congress and President Bush today with the same vision for biomass energy production.”

“Of no less importance to farm and ranch families was the inclusion of a provision to establish a standing disaster trust fund to provide a better safetynet for farm families when natural disaster strikes,” added Matlack.  “By providing the trust fund, we eliminate the need for time-consuming, politically charged campaigns for ad hoc disaster assistance.  We realize the importance of this trust fund when we reflect upon the plight of so many farm families hit by the devastating hurricanes of 2005 that are just now receiving critical disaster assistance.”

Matlack concluded by saying, “We do not see this as a great farm bill because there were so many missed opportunities to improve many elements of farm policy.  But this year’s farm bill, with the inclusion of the provisions we have identified in the House passed and Senate drafted bills, is a better farm bill than the one passed in 2002.”

(30)

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM PRESIDENT APPLAUDS NEW CONGRESSIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2007

Press Release #10

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM PRESIDENT APPLAUDS NEW CONGRESSIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES:
PETERSON ADVANCES 25 X '25 -- BAUCUS ADVANCES BIOMASS

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), praised two major Congressional initiatives advanced recently by Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

“AAM is gratified with House passage of the 25 X ’25 Resolution (H.Con.Res 25), sponsored by Chairman Peterson with bipartisan cosponsorship of 72 other members of the House,” declared Matlack. “Chairman Peterson’s leadership resulted in overwhelming passage of the measure on the House floor on Oct. 15. The 25 X ’25 resolution has been in the making for over two years and helps set the course for our nation to move toward energy independence using domestic renewable energy sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, biomass, wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable American energy sources.”

H.Con.Res 25 expresses “The sense of Congress that it is the goal of the United States that, not later than January 1, 2025, the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the United States should provide from renewable resources not less than 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States and continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.”

“AAM was also very pleased with many of the provisions of the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act passed out of the Senate Finance Committee on Oct. 4,” added Matlack. “We are especially excited with a provision for an additional 25-cent per gallon federal PTC for ethanol produced through a process using at least 90 percent non-fossil fuels such as biomass for thermal heat. The extra 25 cents per gallon will help make ethanol even more renewable and affordable while reducing our dependence on imported energy and lowering our GHG emissions. The use of crop residues and other forms of biomass readily available to ethanol plants to replace fossil fuel will vastly improve the energy balance of ethanol and will be a key step in the development of an infrastructure for the cellulose ethanol industry. It is just good citizenship to encourage the production and use of American produced and grown renewable energy. Again we commend those Senators and Congressmen for their foresight to move this industry along.”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

PARITY MAY BE A DREAM, BUT CURRENT FARM PROGRAMS ARE A NIGHTMARE

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2007

Press Release #9

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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PARITY MAY BE A DREAM, BUT CURRENT FARM PROGRAMS ARE A NIGHTMARE
An Editorial Comment by
Larry Matlack, President, American Agriculture Movement
October 12, 2007

Following AAM’s recent decision to publish the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Parity Index, we have received a few letters and calls asking why AAM would spend the time and resources on what some would call an archaic index of farm indicators. Our old friend Ken Root from WHO Radio in Des Moines submitted an editorial last month to a farm publication or two titled “Parity is a Dream.” I also received an email from longtime agricultural economists John A. Schnittker who candidly pointed out that “AAM makes few friends by agitating for price parity.”

We are so pleased that Ken, John and others are paying such close attention. Thank you for the kind words and awareness that so many have brought to this important issue as they were quick to point out that “According to AAM calculations, corn should be $8.10.” Well, that calculation is not according to AAM, but it is according to the USDA – as mandated by laws passed by the United States Congress.

We would like to also point out that AAM is not the only organization that posts the Parity Index on a regular basis, because the National Farmers Union (NFU), the National Farmers Organization (NFO) and the USDA post the Parity numbers monthly as well. I guess they also do so to, as Mr. Root puts it, “remain a source of anger for some and amusement of others.”

AAM, as do the other organizations listed above, post the Parity numbers only as an index. There are certainly other indexes, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to name one of hundreds, which help us all understand current economics in relations to historic benchmarks. Just because the cost of living has outpaced wages by a frightening pace over the past decade does not mean that we should eliminate calculating and publicizing the CPI, but it is a useful tool to be used to understand where we are today in relationship the past.

But the official USDA Parity index may indeed take on a whole new importance if Congress fails to pass a new farm bill soon. The last farm bill expired on Oct. 1, and unless Congress passes a new bill soon, we will revert back to the permanent farm laws passed in the 1930s and 1940s, as amended. I will be the first to admit that this is only an academic point, but under permanent law most farmers would have two options for most of their program crops. There is a requirement for a referendum by the farmers as to whether they wish to have mandatory set-a-sides. If they vote YES, then they would receive 90-percent of Parity nonrecourse loans which would equate to a $7.29 corn loan rate and a $9.90 wheat loan rate. If farmers vote NO for mandatory set-a-sides, they would receive only 50-percent of Parity nonrecourse loans which would equate to a $4.05 corn loan rate and a $5.50 wheat loan rate.

Under such a scenario, there would be no Loan Deficiency Payments, Marketing Loan Gains, Fixed Payments or Counter Cyclical Payments. There would simply be a price support program to help farmers get a fair price from the food processors, integrated livestock factories and grain traders at either 50 percent of Parity, 90 percent of Parity or any other index as Congress sees fit to pass, the President sees fit to enact and the USDA sees fit to administer.

Sure, Parity is a dream, but the current farm program, where farmers receive three separate payments passed on three different yields based on three different prices is a nightmare. AAM has a dream where someday American farmers can achieve Parity in the economy. That dream includes having neighbors rather than having your neighbors' land. Attempting to reach Parity in the market is part of loving others and a source of great happiness. We are ready to wake up from the nightmare that is current farm policy.

AAM CONGRATULATES BAUCUS AND GRASSLEY FOR HEARTLAND BILL

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2007

Press Release #8

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM CONGRATULATES BAUCUS AND GRASSLEY FOR HEARTLAND BILL:
STANDING DISASTER BILL CRITICAL TO FARM FAMILIES WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), praised the passage of the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act of 2007 by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance this week. “The bill includes many key tax provisions for expanded production of clean, domestic, renewable energy,” said Matlack. “But even more important was the inclusion of an ‘Agricultural Disaster Relief Fund’ to provide standing authority for the federal government to provide assistance to farm and ranch families when natural disaster strikes.”

“Our hats are off to Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. and Ranking Member Charles Grassley, R-Iowa and the rest of the Finance committee,” said Matlack. “Job well done Senators! And they found ways to pay for the entire package without putting our government deeper into debt.”

Matlack explained the importance of standing authority for agricultural disasters, saying, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is just now administering an emergency disaster program for natural disasters that happened early in 2007, in 2006 and even 2005 when horrible hurricanes and unrelenting drought hammered many farm and ranch families. USDA could have and would have been able to act much more quickly had the ‘Agricultural Disaster Relief Fund’ contained in the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act been in place at the time.

“This is an excellent example of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst – ahead of time. The disaster fund will take political delays out of the equation in the future, and it liberates Congress from the task of finding the funding for future emergency assistance. Congress will no longer be forced to take money out of conservation or other critical programs to pay for disaster assistance. It will already be paid for,” added Matlack.

“AAM thanks you for your leadership and sound planning. Once again -- job well done, Senators!”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM OPPOSED TO FARM BILL MARRIAGE PENALTY

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2007

Press Release #7

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM OPPOSED TO FARM BILL MARRIAGE PENALTY:
AAM JOINS WITH WIFE IN OPPOSITION TO FARM BENEFITS LIMITATIONS BASED ON HOUSEHOLDS

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), says his organization opposes payment limitations provisions based on “farm households” as recently proposed by Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

“AAM stands solidly with the Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) in their opposition to a proposal for the commodity title of the 2007 Farm Bill to limit of farm payments by households rather than individuals,” declared Matlack.  “If both spouses operate separate farming operations, then their benefits should not be limited as if they were a combined operation.  Spouses should not be treated any differently than that of a father and son’s operations or a mother and daughter’s operations, or any other similar situation.”

“The right of farm women to be considered a separate entity from their husbands was won in a long-fought WIFE battle more than a decade ago,” said Pam Potthoff, President of WIFE. “Under a Harkin’s proposal being discussed in Washington this person status would be eliminated.”

In 1987 WIFE filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government to guarantee women would be regarded as eligible entities in regard to farm programs.  WIFE’s conviction that a farm wife working in partnership with her husband should be recognized as a “separate person” was the reason for the lawsuit.  Following years of litigation, a provision was included in the 1990 Farm Bill giving the Secretary of Agriculture the discretionary power to allow spouses to be considered separate persons in regard to farm program payments.  In January of 1991, Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter used his authority to do just that and WIFE dropped the lawsuit.  Since then the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has remained true to its word and farm wives have been regarded as separate entities from their husbands.

“Harkin’s proposal attacks the very heart of the farm family and Rural America by inferring the institution of marriage is a second-class arrangement,” added Potthoff.  “A farming partnership between a man and his wife should be treated the same as one between a man farming with his brother, sister, mother, father or friend.”

“Married couples should not be penalized for working together,” concluded Matlack.  “That is why AAM opposes this marriage penalty proposal.  We all believe a spouse is a separate person and should have the same right as any other person to qualify for a separate payment limitations. AAM and WIFE will continue to monitor the ‘person status’ implementation for eligible farm women under farm programs.  America must realize the strength of American agriculture lies in the most capable hands of farmer husbands and wives working side by side to produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for this nation.”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM OPPOSES INCREASE IN BEEF TAX

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2007

Press Release #6

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM OPPOSES INCREASE IN BEEF TAX:
BEEF CHECKOFF SHOULD NOT BE INCREASED UNTIL THEY ARE MADE VOLUNTARY

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), expressed his organization’s opposition to a 100-percent increase, or any increase, in the Beef Checkoff Program until the program is amended to allow producers the right of refund.

“We are hearing a lot of chatter coming from inside the beltway from those making big bucks on the federally mandated $1-per head checkoff program who want a 100-percent increase the beef assessment,” stated Matlack.  “This is a 100-percent tax increase on everyone that sells beef in the United States.  It is a tax because it is mandated to be paid at every point of sale for every animal, beef and dairy, and there are no provisions to allow producers the right to refund.” 

Explaining the reasons why AAM considers the beef checkoff a tax, Matlack explained, “You would think that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution would protect cattle producers from being forced to pay the checkoff, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled summer before last that the checkoff is ‘government speech’ and not private speech.  It walks, talks and acts like a tax, so of course it is a beef tax.”

“We need to stop and compare this request for a tax increase on cattle producers to the rhetoric surrounding the narrow passage of the 2007 farm bill in the House of Representatives last July,” explained Matlack.  “Under provisions in the farm bill, a tax loophole was closed on U.S. subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies in order to help pay for critical nutrition programs.  All but 19 Republicans voted against the bill based, in most cases, on the single issue of a perceived tax increase on foreign entities.  Our hopes, expectations and demands of those same lawmakers are that they oppose any tax increase on cattle producers in the U.S. as much as they oppose closing a tax loophole on foreign interest in order to feed the hungry.”

“Instead of the increase in the beef tax, we need legislation passed and enacted to allow producers the right to a refund of the all commodity checkoffs,” added Matlack.  “Until the programs allow refunds, and are therefore voluntary, they cannot be considered as anything other than a tax.  There is also a desperate need for heightened and renewed oversight of all commodity checkoff programs by Congress to insure that not one red cent of these funds are being used for lobbying, especially to advance the self-interest of the processors and packers that do not pay the beef tax – that is unless they are a captive supplier, which is a separate issue for another time.”

“AAM does not oppose research and promotion checkoff programs,” concluded Matlack.  “But we do demand they be voluntary and acceptable to those paying them.  Before any consideration of increasing the beef tax, we demand Congressional oversight hearings and the right of refund.”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM MONTHLY PARITY REPORT

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2007

Press Release #5

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2007 – The American Agriculture Movement (AAM) reports that the prices received by farmers for most crops and livestock are still less than 50 percent of Parity*. 

AAM President Larry Matlack stated that prices have recovered in 2007 when compared to the previous decade, but farmers and livestock operators are still selling their goods for less than half of the prices they should to put them on an equitable financial level with the balance of the overall U.S. economy.

AAM PARITY REPORT -- AUGUST 2007

Commodity and Unit

Price

 100% Parity

Percent of Parity

 

Received

 Price

Price Received

Barley, per bu.

 $    3.57

 $            7.64

47%

Beef cattle (all), per cwt.

 $  90.50

 $         214.00

42%

Calves, per cwt.

 $129.00

 $         308.00

42%

Corn, per bu.

 $    3.17

 $            8.10

39%

Cotton (upland), per lb.

 $  0.449

 $            2.07

22%

Dry edible beans, per cwt.

 $  26.40

 $           57.40

46%

Grain Sorghum, per cwt.

 $    5.89

 $           13.80

43%

Hogs, per cwt.

 $  53.20

 $         123.00

43%

Milk (all), per cwt.

 $  21.70

 $           40.50

55%

Oats, per bu.

 $    2.25

 $            4.54

50%

Rice, per cwt.

 $    9.89

 $           29.50

34%

Soybeans, per bu.

 $    7.49

 $           17.90

42%

Wheat, per bu.

 $    5.85

 $           11.00

53%

Source: Agricultural Prices – National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA

 

 

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM TAKES EXCEPTION WITH SECRETARY'S NET FARM INCOME PROJECTIONS

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2007

Press Release #4

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM TAKES EXCEPTION WITH SECRETARY'S NET FARM INCOME PROJECTIONS
OFF-FARM INCOME STILL MAKES UP ALMOST 85 PERCENT OF FARM INCOME
 

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has announced his organization’s concerns and exceptions with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johann’s recent announcement on 2007 net farm income numbers.

 

“The Secretary’s projection that 2007 net farm income will reach a record $87.1 billion may be true, but it is also truly misleading,” said Matlack.  “What he fails to mention is that almost 85 percent of that income is derived from off-farm sources.  In other words, farmers, their spouses and children are still forced to work in one, two or more off-farm jobs just to survive.  They have to work those extra jobs for income, health insurance, retirement benefits and other family necessities.”

 

Matlack acknowledged the fact that 2007 will be a much better year for most farm families than any for over a decade, “But official U.S.D.A. statistics still show that farm operator household earnings from farm activities is projected to average only $11,668 in 2007,” said Matlack.  “That is less than $1,000 a month in net farm income, so it is way too soon to start singing ‘Happy days are here again’ just yet.”

 

Matlack explained that the “farm operator household earnings from farm activities” (http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/WellBeing/Data/Table1FOHHIncome2002-07f.xls) is often overlooked or avoided by politicians.  “This is usually done in an attempt to convince the public and Congress to end the economic safetynet established under federal farm programs,” warned Matlack.  “AAM feels strongly that the record must be set straight on this issue, especially during this critical time while the 2007 farm bill is being drafted by Congress.”

 

“That old saying popularized by Mark Twain that there are ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’ still rings true today, but failure to use all of the statistics to tell the whole truth is even more unforgivable.  We are still a long way from PARITY,” concluded Matlack.

 

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AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM SUPPORTS  HARKIN LIVESTOCK TITLE

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2007

Press Release #3

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM SUPPORTS HARKIN LIVESTOCK TITLE

WASHINGTON, Aug 29, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has announced his organization’s support for the draft Livestock Title of the pending Senate farm bill.  In the letter, Matlack thanked Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, for his “tireless work to include livestock provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill.”

“We applaud your work to include a livestock title in your Chairman’s mark and your willingness to fight for legal rights of the nation’s livestock and poultry growers, said Matlack in a recent letter to Chairman Harkin.
The letter stated “The Livestock Title provides many of the initiatives we need to promote enforcement of laws designed to protect producers from unfair, deceptive and anti-competitive practices.  We are specifically pleased to see provisions that:

  • make arbitration voluntary;

  • protect producers from arbitrary contract terminations for capital investments of $100,000 or more;

  • provide USDA enforcement authority over live poultry dealers for all poultry;

  • allow a producer to recover for an unfair practice without having to prove that it adversely affected competition in the market place;

  • close the loophole in the Agriculture Fair Practices Act that enables companies to discriminate against producers on the basis of membership in an organization or cooperative; and

  • require the Secretary of Agriculture to define the term ‘unreasonable preference or advantage.’”

Matlack concluded his letter by stating, “We also look forward to amendments either in the Agricultural Committee or on the Senate floor that strengthen the Livestock Title by adding competition structure issues to the Farm Bill.  Both the Captive Supply Reform Act and the Packer Ban provide market structure solutions to ensure open, transparent markets for livestock.  These provisions are much needed reforms in today’s concentrated agricultural market system.”

Harkin’s committee is planning deliberation of the farm bill when Congress returns from its August recess.  The House of Representatives completed action on its farm bill prior to the recess.

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AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM PRESIDENT SUPPORTS CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLE FOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2007

Press Release #2

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM PRESIDENT SUPPORTS CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLE FOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS
FOREIGN COMPANIES ENJOY THE WEALTH OF THE U.S. -- THEY SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE


WASHINGTON, Aug 23, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has taken exception with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns on the issue of closing a tax loophole which would require U.S. subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies to pay taxes on profits made in the U.S.  “Those foreign companies enjoy access to the opportunities and wealth of the United States and they should pay their fair share for that access,” said Matlack.  “It is high time that we worry more about the feeding the malnourished and keeping families on their farms than whether foreign-owned companies get to keep a tax loophole which should have been closed years ago.”

Matlack directed his remarks to Johanns who has called closing the tax loophole a ‘tax increase’ which President Bush opposes.  The loophole will be closed to help pay for $4 billion in critical nutrition funding in the next farm bill if provisions passed by the U.S. House on July 27 by a vote of 231-191 are enacted.

“The Secretary said last month that he had not had any farmers contact him in support of a tax increase to help pay for the farm bill,” added Matlack.  “But I can assure the Secretary that all of the farmers I have talked to support closing this loophole to pay for necessary nutrition programs and to avoid allowing the federal government to go deeper into debt.  Of course conservative farmers and ranchers do not support higher taxes, but we do feel that everyone should pay their fair share – including U.S. subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies.”

Matlack explained that the options before Congress were to 1) not fund the nutrition programs and not take action to battle malnutrition, 2) fund the nutrition programs and borrow more money to add the federal debt to be paid for by our grandchildren and their grandchildren, or 3) close the tax loophole and pay for the program.  “AAM supports the ‘Pay-Go’ option chosen by the majority of House members that voted for and passed the farm bill,” declared Matlack.

"The farm bill is usually debated and constructed in a non-partisan fashion,” concluded Matlack.  “But the Secretary has made this farm bill much too partisan by whipping Republican lawmakers into voting against the farm bill based on the closing of the tax loophole and by chastising the 19 Republican members that voted for the bill.  These actions by the Secretary are setting new and dangerous precedents by politicizing the farm bill process and are counter-productive to the process.”

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The American Agriculture Movement, Inc. is the farmer/rancher organization that sponsored the 1979 tractorcade and protests that brought 50,000 farmers and 5,000 tractors to Washington D.C. in 1978 and 1979 to protest the FARM CRISIS. AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35% of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

AAM PRESIDENT COMMENDS HOUSE ACTION ON FARM BILL

  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2007

Press Release #1

President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
13118 East Stroud Road
Burrton, KS 67020
larry@stingerltd.com

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AAM PRESIDENT COMMENDS HOUSE ACTION ON FARM BILL
BIOMASS ENERGY RESERVE CRUCIAL FIRST STEP FOR NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION

WASHINGTON, Aug 13, 2007 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), commended recent actions by the House Committee on Agriculture for including a Biomass Energy Reserve (BER) in the recently passed 2007 farm bill.  “We commend Congressman Collin Peterson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, as well as his colleagues and staff at the committee for their leadership, initiative and hard work on the passage of a new and better farm bill,” said Matlack.  “While we feel the farm bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last month comes up a little short of restoring Parity* for America’s farm and ranch families, we also believe it moves farm programs in a positive direction.”

“The inclusion of a BER is a critical first step in helping farmers shift to new alternative crops which will help America move towards energy independence,” added Matlack.  “By including incentives in the next farm program to produce and harvest biomass crops, farmers can help provide local, home-grown, renewable energy for industrial heat, electric cogeneration and cellulosic ethanol.”

“But we are extremely concerned that a standing disaster program was not included in the House-passed farm bill,” warned Matlack.  “We sincerely hope and strongly urge the U.S. Senate to include a standing disaster program in their farm bill.  Farm and ranch families cannot depend on privatized crop insurance for all of their disaster safetynet.  Nor does anyone wish to depend on politically charged ad hoc disaster bills.  It took almost two years for Congress to act to address the needs of disaster-stricken victims of hurricane Katrina.  We must have a better plan.”

Matlack explained the AAM supports many other provisions of the House-passed farm bill, including;

  • Extension for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),

  • extension and expansion of the bill’s energy title,

  • improvements to most conservation programs,

  • approval of interstate shipment of state-inspected meat,

  • improved legal rights for contract livestock producers,

  • mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for most food,

  • provisions to allow school lunch programs to buy locally produced foods,

  • expanded, mandatory spending for the McGovern-Dole International Child Nutrition Program,

  • additional resources for many other nutrition programs, and

  • responsible use of Pay-Go rules for funding to assist in containing the federal debt.

“AAM also calls upon the Senate to include in its farm bill S. 1403, the Farm-to-Fuel Investment Act, introduced by Senators Klobuchar, D-Minn., Harkin, D-Iowa and Conrad, D-N.D.,” concluded Matlack.  This program, similar to Chairman Peterson’s BER, will encourage farmers to grow dedicated energy crops on marginal land. These crops have the potential to provide our country with industrial heat, electric cogeneration and cellulosic ethanol.”

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*AAM stands for food producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices brought in 1910-1914 when producer-middlemen-consumer had a balanced income. Today, 15 commodities average 35 percent of PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and help rose many times. AAM still demands a parity price increase for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.

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