Farm bill safety net key to U.S. agriculture, congressman tells Clemson forum

Published: September 8, 2010

Rep. Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., chairman of the U.S. House agriculture committee, answers questions about the farm bill at the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center. image by: Peter Hull

FLORENCE — The multibillion dollar U.S. agriculture industry has been one of the bright spots during the nation's economic slump, a leading federal lawmaker said Wednesday.

Rep. Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., chairman of the U.S. House agriculture committee, visited the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center for a question-and-answer session with local farmers on the upcoming farm bill.

The goal of the legislation is to maintain the agriculture economic engine, Peterson said.

The farm bill gives farmers the tools to stay in business and grow, he said. Without the farm bill, U.S. agriculture would not have the safety net the bill provides and young farmers would not have the means to enter the industry.

“We have the best farmers in the world and we continue to be spoiled,” Peterson said. “Americans pay less for food than anyone in the world.”

A 2008 report compiled for the Palmetto Agribusiness Council said South Carolina’s agriculture industry generates annual direct and indirect economic outputs of $10 billion and $16.8 billion, respectively.

Further, the state’s agribusiness generates $3.5 billion a year in labor income and supports more than 115,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Nevertheless, Peterson said that as he travels the country, he tells everyone that the bill will not seek extra funding. There is a baseline and the new bill will operate within that baseline, he said.

But there will be changes to improve farmers’ working and economic conditions, he said.

“We’re not going to make any changes unless it’s better for the farmer,” Peterson said.

Peterson said he hopes the bill will be signed by President Obama in December.

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