This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
President Bush has signed a major farm bill. The new lawincreases government support programs for farmers. It is estimatedto cost one-hundred-ninety-thousand-million dollars over the nextten years. That is eighty-three-thousand-million dollars more thanthe cost of continuing current programs.
The law ends efforts by MisterBush’s Republican Party to reduce federal aid to farmers. Many inthe party had urged the president to veto the bill.
The measure replaces a farm program passed inNineteen-Ninety-Six. That program ended most restrictions on theamount of a crop that can be grown. It also ended traditional pricesupport payments for American farmers.
Mister Bush said the new law provides economic security forfarmers. He said it will do this without lowering prices for cropsor supporting crop production that is not needed.
The President noted that, in the past, Congress would pass a farmbill for a period of years, and then approve additional money eachyear. He said the additional payments made it difficult for Congressto operate within its budget. He said it also created problems forfarmers.
The new law raises payment rates to growers of grain and cotton.It re-establishes a system that provides federal aid to farmers whencrop prices drop too low. The law also re-establishes aid forproducers of wool and honey.
There is an eighty percent increase in the amount of money spenton farm programs to protect the environment. The law also includesfood aid for non-citizens who have lived in the United Stateslegally for at least five years.
The farm bill has critics in the United States and in othercountries. Conservatives say the government will spend too muchmoney on agriculture when the budget is in deficit. Others say themeasure is an effort to win political support for the President andmembers of Congress in important farm states.
Australia, Canada, the European Union and other countries havesaid the new law is in opposition to American calls for freer farmtrade. Some critics say the increased aid may violate internationaltrade rules.
However, President Bush says the farm program is within thelimits set by the World Trade Organization. He says the success ofAmerica’s farmers is necessary for the success of the Americaneconomy.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.