Before we can even get to the point of talking about changes that we want to make (in US farm spending), we've seen no indications from the Europeans that they're going to give us greater market access,
We will continue to work for deficit reduction that will not burden farmers, particularly after the high fuel costs and extreme weather of the 2005 crop year, and without harming the mutually-beneficial relationship between farmers and food stamp families.
I don't want to put any farmers at risk under the next farm bill. I want to do everything we possibly can to make sure we don't lose another case that is considered trade-distorting by the WTO.
Let me be clear -- the Congress will be writing the next farm bill in 2007 and I am deeply concerned the (Bush) administration is using the current negotiations to reshape farm policy without the full input of Congress and grassroots support,