North Dakota Insurance

Zuruckprallend of great economic crisis in the years 1980, farmers have enjoyed almost a decade, improvement of exports and rising incomes. Considering also promising two years ago, Congress in the phase-down of crop subsidies, had its origin in the Dust Bowl years of depression - and the lobby of Agriculture signed off on the plan.

But suddenly, agriculture is once again turn sour, give rise to calls for Congress to act. Many questions remain firm on the back burner of policy, some Republicans are concerned that the slowdown could be for the vulnerable in the November-options.

Net farm income fall by 8 per cent this year, 1997, despite forecasts record corn and soybean production, with prices for some crops may reach 10-year low. Asia, the financial difficulties begin to influence American producers, which have seen a sharp drop in deliveries to the Pacific Rim - an area that normally engulfs nearly 20 percent of their production.

At the beginning of the revolt of the market, wheat and barley are manufacturers fight against a devastating fungus known as the “crust” for incomes of up to 40 per cent in higher levels and causing billions of dollars of losses country.

A growing chorus of farmers raises congress, a contribution to their woes, using so-called freedom Farm Act (PL 104-127) during the year 1996. The law against many Democrats, gradually reduce the 2002 harvest, through grants, in addition, farmers freedom to switch crops in response to market demand. (1996 Almanac, p. 3-15)

They are concerned about the economic situation and policy Fallout, the Clinton administration, the legislature for a revision of the Law on the Elimination of the Confederation of Cap-ready and develop a new period of six months. This would allow farmers higher subsidies and let you immediately for sale in markets weak.

The agriculture and charges that the Congress, he failed to provide in the areas of trade negotiating position by the refusal of the authority to replenish the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and exploitation, federal legislation Finance crop insurance programs.

Republican, have so far resisted the pressure.

“We have a contract with farmers that by the year 2002, we would always grants …. We remain with this treaty, “said the chairman of the House Agriculture Bob Smith, R-Ore.” Farmers have always known that we are in a business cycle. ”

The grim outlook is one reason why May 6, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-GA., Bloqués an effort by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer, R-Texas, aimed at the elimination of subsidies for the Confederation ethanol.

Gingrich, a potential presidential candidate in 2000, knows that ethanol is a test at the beginning of theme group corn state of Iowa, he said the legislature passing a large part because the fear that some Republicans Middle west to be losing their seats after the claim of aid.

House Democrats, a detector chance in rural areas, November this year, developing a comprehensive set of proposals, agriculture, its candidates can be considered as banners to paint in the fall as Republicans insensitive to the plight of farmers.

– Democrats hope that the farm issue is much to play for them in Republican circles prisoners in Mississippi, Kentucky, Minnesota, Idaho and elsewhere, and that defending the incumbent in countries such as North Dakota, Texas, Missouri and Wisconsin.

But play the issues of agriculture in different states, not reduced more and more a part of the benefit. And even then, the farm where the problems unwell for some Republicans, the Democrats have not yet proved, they exploit the GOP’s weaknesses.

For example, the Democrats’ Top Picks, all have a passport in the districts of Kansas home Todd Tiahrt and Jim Ryun Georgia and the districts of Saxby Chambliss and Charlie Norwood - First or Second-term Republican, won in 1996 with 53 To cent of the vote or less.

In the south-east of Minnesota, a country of corn, cereals, milk, pork and agriculture - sometimes called “the valley of the Jolly Green Giant” - GOP Rep. Gil Gutknecht be vulnerable. He won in 1996 with only 53 per cent, while President Clinton, his circle of 11 percentage points.

But Democrats, the headquarters for a dozen years of this century, have not been able to recruit from each state Sen. Tracy Beckman in the middle of the race April. Until then, Gutknecht has raised nearly $ 500000