By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

Kansas State University farm economist Barry Flinchbaugh said Tuesday that as farmers rake in record high commodity prices this is a tough time to pass a farm bill.

"On the other hand, this should be a perfect time to reform federal farm policy," he said at the Kansas Commodity Classic at Salina's Holiday Inn Convention Center.

Flinchbaugh, 65, took shots at the U.S. Senate and the media in expressing his angst that Congress has yet to push a bill to conference committee, which is part of the path to the president signing the bill into law.

"I have never seen a farm bill debate as bogged down as this one is," Flinchbaugh said.

Having been involved in every farm bill since 1968, he said, this policy renewal is stalled in the Senate by partisan politics and feuds between commodity groups. The House passed its version in July.

"Frankly, there is no excuse for it taking this long," Flinchbaugh said.

The $100 billion farm bill includes $20 billion a year in farm commodity programs, which is of interest to members of the state's corn, wheat and grain sorghum producers associations -- 150 people in all -- who met Tuesday in Salina.

Flinchbaugh took issue with "urban newspaper" editorials complaining that 70 percent of farm payments go to 10 percent of the farmers.

"We've only got 300,000 bona fide farmers in this country, and yes, they get the bulk of the payments. They should. They make most of the food," Flinchbaugh said.

Direct payments desired

Among the problems is passing a bill that allows for direct payments to farmers regardless of how much farmers raise or what price the commodity is bringing. "That's very difficult with record income," he said.

This year, Flinchbaugh said, farmers will make a record $87.5 billion in net cash income. Normal is about $60 billion.

The direct payment is essential in northwest Kansas, said farmer Brian Baalman, president of the Kansas Corn Growers Association.

"We have to have protection from (having) no crop. That's our biggest fear," he said.

His Menlo area farm in Thomas County has performed well this year.

"Now, it looks good without a farm bill. We'd like to become more independent, but there has to be a protection program on the bottom," Baalman said.

Countercyclical programs that provide assistance during low prices will only provide assistance to cotton and rice growers this year, Flinchbaugh said.

But as has proved true in the past, the spike in commodity prices will not last.

"What goes up, must come down. If prices fall three years from now, commodity programs will kick in, and it will cost more than what's been predicted," he said.

With a direct payment in place, farmers will get a check, "no matter what happens," Flinchbaugh said.

Targeting revenue

Instead of targeting price for assistance, he is pushing for targeting revenue. If the plan is written correctly, target revenue will "protect farmers from low prices and low yields," he said. "If you don't have anything to sell, price is irrelevant."

Despite the political wrangling, Flinchbaugh predicts President Bush will sign a new bill into law by Dec. 31.

National Association of Wheat Growers president John Thaemert, Sylvan Grove, expects the direct payment to remain intact.

"I think the general direction of the farm bill is solid," he said.

The need for immigrants

Looking ahead, Flinchbaugh fears the farm bill's biggest foe is immigration. A proposed guest worker program has been stripped from current legislation, but he is concerned.

"It's the only thing I see on the horizon that could cause the ag economy to collapse. In the next five years, 53 percent of farm work will be done by illegal immigrants," he said. "We've got people who want to load them up and ship them back."

Illegal immigrants come to the Unites States to "make some money so they can send it home to their families," Flinchbaugh said. "Farmers hire them because they work."

Nobody in the audience of 150 moved when Flinchbaugh asked if any were Native Americans.

"Damn, there's a bunch of immigrants in here. Box 'em up," he said. "This issue's loaded with racial prejudice. If we don't settle this, we won't be eating fruits and vegetables."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

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