Ag secretary shares views on farm issues
Staff reporter
Twenty-five to 30 area ranchers and farmers heard comments March 8 from Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky during Ag Day.
The event was sponsored by Central National Bank and Jerry Cady National Farmers Union Insurance Agency and was held in Marion City Building Basement.
Polansky encouraged ag producers to consider non-traditional means of farming operations.
Ethanol, biodiesel, and organic crop varieties should all be considered.
He said he saw a presentation by an organic farmer from Illinois who said he had a load of soybeans discounted because it wasn't genetically enhanced.
Polansky said animal identification was moving "frustratingly slow."
"We're at a competitive disadvantage," he said, because without animal identification and tracking, cattle in the U.S. are in a more vulnerable position regarding disease.
He added that marketing will drive the identification system and a need to track diseased animals.
"We don't want to be like Great Britain," Polansky said, where six million head of cattle were killed because of mad cow disease.
Beef market prices also are a concern. He emphasized it is important for the U.S. to continue working with Japan for exporting beef.
"The farm bill is important to Kansas," said Polansky. "Reduction of payments will put us back to the 1980s."
The current legislature is proposing a one- to two-year extension to allow adjustments and safety net payments.
Polansky said it is "absolutely not true" that there is an effort to try and change the structure of the program.
"We need to see significant changes in how the farm bill operates," he said.
The state's budget deficit has an impact on the interest rates and other factors.
Congress recently passed reductions of $60 billion.
"Ag producers are willing to play our role in dealing with deficits but not willing to sacrifice well being in the future so someone else can have a tax break," said Polansky.
Environmentally-friendly farming is likely to be part of farm safety net payments, he said. No till and minimal till continue to be good methods of farming.
Another option with the farm bill could be fruit and vegetable production. Currently producers cannot plant fruit and vegetables on land that hasn't grown them before. Fruit and vegetable growers will want a bigger part of the next farm bill, he added.
Two areas of payments will be hit — green (environmental) and insurance. Some states have 60 percent of the crops based on farm payments.
If farm payments are phased out, it needs to be done gradually, Polansky said.
Polansky said more markets needed to be accessed for trading.
"I encourage those involved to make knowledgeable decisions," he said. He cited the U.S. making agreements to have nuclear ships refueled in certain areas of the world as a trade for commodities.
"We need to communicate that they need to find other markets for cattle but don't want to trade the farm," said Polansky.
He added that this year and next year the U.S. will be at a trade deficit.
Homeland security remains an issue where half of food consumed in the U.S. is imported.
Biodiesel has a better potential for success than ethanol, said Polansky.
"Biodiesel is in its infancy with challenges until more quantity can be produced and a marketing system be established," he said. Use of the alternative fuels could reduce petroleum use.
Corn shortages for the fuel is not an issue, said Polansky.
"Within 10 years and with adequate rain and irrigation, 300 bushels of corn will be commonplace," he said. "As a cattle person, I shouldn't complain about paying more for corn to help the corn producer."
Polansky is a lifelong Kansan, and was appointed as secretary in 2003.
