Release No. 0475.02

of

Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman

To the National Association of Farm Broadcasters

Friday, November 15, 2002

MR. WICK:

I would like to welcome you to our Newsmakers Session. My name is Don Wick, I serve as farm broadcaster at WCCO radio in Minneapolis. I served as your president in 1997. We have a powerful program this morning, and certainly there is no shortage of issues. It's kind of laid the groundwork.

We're going to be hearing from Secretary Veneman, J.B. Penn will be joining us in a bit, and Charlie Kruse from the Missouri Farm Bureau will be our final speaker this morning in our Newsmakers Session.

We are honored to have Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman join us to Kick off our Newsmakers session. Secretary Veneman is the 27th Agriculture Secretary. President George W. Bush said when he chose her that he made that decision because of her lifelong commitment to food and farm issues and her bipartisan approach to problem solving. Certainly, during her tenure as Secretary, there has been no shortage of challenges--the farm bill, homeland security, food safety, trade just to name a few.

She joins us via satellite. Please join me in welcoming Secretary Ann Veneman.

[Applause.]

SECRETARY VENEMAN:

"Good morning. I am very pleased to join you today from Washington. I would have loved to be with you in Kansas City, but unfortunately that wasn't possible this year. I do hope that you will give me a rain check.

"First, I'd like to thank Colleen Callahan for her service to NAFB. Colleen and I, as you know, share a common bond as the first women to head our respective organizations. She has done an outstanding job as your president.

"And congratulations to Tom Brand, KFEQ in St. Joseph, Missouri, for taking over the helm as your new president. Tom, I know you will continue the tradition of strong leadership for your organization, and we look forward to working with you in your position as president.

"I also want to thank all of you for your kind notes over the past month or so. Larry and Alisa tell me that you are selling pink ribbons like the one Alisa gave me to wear today for breast cancer and that the contributions are being sent in my name. I am very touched, and I have really, really appreciated all of your support, your encouragement and your kind thoughts over the past couple of months.

"As always, by looking at your program today, you are having another successful conference. I am pleased that, once again, you have allowed USDA the opportunity to participate. I know that Bruce Knight was there with you yesterday and JB Penn is there with you today. JB is doing a great job.

We're very proud of his work and our whole team at USDA. I just want you to know that you should save all of the really tough questions that you have today for him.

"We understand the importance of what farm broadcasters do to inform the farm sector about the issues impacting their operations and businesses. It's so important to communicate with people in communities all across this country. That's why we've done so many of these forums this year because radio delivers the news directly to farmers and ranchers.

"I'd like to also compliment our radio and television team here at USDA. They do a great job throughout the year providing stories, sound bites and information to all of you. Brenda Curtis, Gary Crawford, Kristy Pettis, Pat O'Leary and Bob Ellison are all well-respected for their work, but there are also many people behind the scenes here who make sure you are connected. All of us here appreciate their continued hard work, dedication and service.

"We are winding down what has been a very busy year, as was indicated in the introduction. There are many issues, many opportunities, and many accomplishments. Of course, the new farm bill and farm bill implementation top the list. Our team has done an excellent job with implementation. This new farm bill is very complex, and our employees throughout the country have worked in a timely, efficient and effective manner.

"We've met the timetables, and as a result, more than $13 billion is flowing to our farm sector in this final quarter of this year, but our job is far from over. There is still much to do, in terms of implementation, and we will work with the Congress and all interested parties to continue moving forward with this implementation process.

"This year also saw good progress on the trade front. As you know, this time last year I had just returned from Doha and addressed this conference from this studio as well, where we launched the Doha Round of trade negotiations.

"And this summer, the U.S. announced a bold and visionary proposal regarding agriculture negotiations so that we can level the playing field in our trade arena. The President also signed Trade Promotion Authority, which gives us an important tool for negotiating trade agreements.

"This year we also worked on a host of issues--near record-level forest fires, homeland security, food safety, drought, to name just a few.

"As the 108th Congress readies, we look forward to working with this new Congress, and we look forward to getting to know those who have been recently elected. As you know, it is almost a record number, 10 in the Senate and 51 new members in the House of Representatives. We want to work in a bipartisan manner to achieve what has been a very aggressive and bold agenda by President Bush on the economic, homeland security, trade and agricultural issues.

"In Agriculture, we will have two new chairmen. I spoke with Senator Cochran earlier this week. We shared ideas and discussed a host of issues, and I look forward to working with him in his new chairmanship position.

"Yesterday, Senator Cochran announced that Hunt Shipman will be joining him as chief of staff to the committee. We are very sorry to lose Hunt. He's been a valuable member of our team, and he's done an outstanding job here at USDA, but we will look forward to working closely with him in his new position as chief of staff to the committee.

"We were all disappointed and surprised to learn this week of the retirement of Chairman Combest. I have appreciated the opportunity to work with Mr. Combest. He's been a strong leader for U.S. producers, and we wish him and his wife all the best.

"As we look ahead, there are several areas that are important to our nation's agricultural sector. President Bush and this administration have been working hard to achieve a policy agenda that moves our country forward and supports a strong food and agriculture sector.

"In the new Congress, we want to see continued progress in this regard. It includes aggressive trade policies so our farmers and ranchers can compete in markets around the world. We know that trade helps create jobs, and nothing is more important to the long-term health of the farm sector than bringing new market opportunities for our farmers and ranchers. Through good trade agreements, we can help grow markets for our farmers and ranchers.

"This administration wants to continue to see tax relief to help farm businesses. Whether it's permanently ending the death tax or providing relief for hardworking Americans, it makes sense to allow more people to save and invest their own income, rather than the Federal Government.

"We also want to continue promoting renewable energy. The President has a strong energy policy that includes agriculture as part of the solution. This administration has increased investment in renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, and we have supported, as part of the energy bill, a renewable fuel standard and tax incentive to encourage more investment in biofuels. We hope that the Congress moves quickly to pass the President's Energy Bill.

"President Bush and I have also advocated strong conservation programs to give our farmers, who are the best stewards of the land, strong incentives to best manage working lands for the benefit of agriculture and the environment. That's why we pushed hard to ensure the new farm bill contained record levels of support for environmental stewardship.

"The law signed by the President boosts conservation funding by 80 percent, with 85 percent of that new money targeted to programs for working farmlands, and we are on track to have the regulations for the program completed early in the New Year.

"Next year, we will be working with the Congress on reauthorization of child nutrition programs and WIC. This administration has been a strong advocate for these programs. We have proposed record-level funding in these areas in our budget.

"Another priority has been to ensure our rural communities have the tools needed to grow, prosper and compete. Rural areas are important to this nation's economy, and that's why we've worked hard to provide millions of dollars in grants and loans, to spur economic growth and create jobs. We've also invested in infrastructure projects, such as new water systems, hospitals, schools, housing projects, value-added processing facilities and technology development.

"The President also believes that we need to do everything we can to protect the homeland. We are very pleased that both the House and the Senate are working to finalize the measure that will create a new Department of Homeland Security. A new department will help our nation better coordinate, plan and prepare our nation's homeland security programs. USDA will continue to be a big part of these efforts, and we continue to be vigilant and work with the food and agriculture sector to protect against intentional, as well as unintentional threats.

"This year, USDA also conducts the agricultural census, a survey that takes place every five years. Many of you have been provided with PSAs and other information as we begin this census. It will be important to help get information out to producers across the country because we need them all to participate in this process. The information that we collect through this census helps the effective delivery of our programs, so we appreciate the work the farm broadcasters and other media representatives do to encourage farmer participation in the census.

"In closing, thanks to all of you for your continued involvement in American agriculture. Farm radio broadcasters and news services around the country do so much to help educate people about farming, our food system and the importance of agriculture to our daily lives. You get the news out there about the important issues. Your work is appreciated by so many people. And from all of us here at USDA, we wish you continued success and a productive conference.

"Thank you, again, so much for having me join you today, and I look forward to answering a few questions.

"Thanks so much."

[Applause.]

MR. WICK: We ask people to go to the center. As people go to the center aisle, first of all, we appreciate not only the pink ribbon, but that NAFB logo on your jacket as well.

SECRETARY VENEMAN: "I'm well outfitted for the event."

MR. WICK: Very good. Madam Secretary, you have a standing invitation for next year's convention. We'll look forward to seeing you here next year.

SECRETARY VENEMAN: "Thank you."

QUESTION:

With regard to energy policy and the failed attempt to have a new energy bill this year, can you discuss the administration's hopes for that at the beginning of next year? And then, Madam Secretary, in-house, what about the incentive for biodiesel that at this point is in question under the USDA?

SECRETARY VENEMAN:

"Well, as you know, the President has been very, very proactive on energy policy, generally, and on renewable energy sources as it pertains to agriculture.

"As I've said many times, the President, within the first two weeks of his administration, began a process to put together a national energy strategy--the first time it's been done in a generation.

"As part of that strategy, it included strong reference to renewable sources, as well as additional sources in being able to produce energy from here at home. The energy bill that's been pending in the Congress has been very contentious in some regards, but it has included in the Senate version something that we support in the administration, and that is a renewable fuels standard, and we continue to support that standard as part of the energy bill.

"The President continues to have a very, very strong interest in getting that energy bill passed as quickly as possible. As you say, it now looks like it probably will not be until next year in the new Congress, but again the President is going to aggressively pursue that agenda.

"We, also, as you know, for the first time, got an energy title in the farm bill, and through our farm bill working group and through our rural development, we are aggressively pursuing the implementation of that title and doing everything that we can to enhance this great opportunity for our farmers and ranchers.

MR. WICK: Next question?

QUESTION: Madam Secretary, Tony Purcell with the Texas State Network.

We continue to have a real problem with the State of Chihuahua in Mexico over water. You've sent some money, the money is nice, and the farmers in the valley appreciate it, but what about getting the water? I mean that's the end solution. Are we making any progress on getting them to release the water?

SECRETARY VENEMAN:

"Well, this has been a longstanding issue with Mexico, as you know, one which USDA does not have the lead on, but certainly I have had had conversations when I visited in Mexico with my counterpart, as well as the Environment Minister, as well as President Fox himself. I know that this is a priority issue between the countries to get resolved, and Mexico has indicated that they will be able to comply with the treaty that requires that they provide the water.

"Again, we're continuing, as this administration, to work hard on this issue. There is a meeting that is scheduled the week of Thanksgiving, on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, which is called the Binational Commission, which will include several members of the Cabinet, led by Secretary Powell, where we will have a joint meeting on a whole range of issues with our Mexican counterparts, and I would expect that this issue will be again addressed at that forum as well.

MR. WICK: Skip Davis?

QUESTION: Madam Secretary, Skip Davis from WASK Radio, Lafayette, Indiana.

Federal rules will soon be preempting state warehouse rules. Is there any move in Washington to provide Federal protections that the states are now protecting producers and the warehouse situation?

SECRETARY VENEMAN: Well, this issue has been of great interest to a number of our states, and we have been working, through our agencies, very hard to work out the issues that are of concern. In fact, Hunt Shipman was just out in Kansas City this week working on this issue, working to try to finalize the rules and finalize the issues that are of concern. We have also got a working group with the NASDA on this issue, and I can't tell you the ultimate outcome, but hopefully we're going to reach agreement very soon on something that's acceptable to all parties.

MR. WICK: Next question?

QUESTION: Andy Patrick with the Northwest Ag Information Network.

What are the latest developments with the negotiations between the U.S. and Taiwan to lift the apple ban that was placed on U.S. apples last week by the Taiwanese?

SECRETARY VENEMAN:

"Well, this issue is another in a long string of sanitary and phytosanitary issues that we are encountering all around the world.

One of the things that, and I'm sure JB Penn will talk about this today, is we talk about these issues as market maintenance. We have so many areas where we need to continue to maintain access for our products.

"I think that the issue there was that they claimed that coddling moths were found. We are working with our APHIS people and their inspection folks to try to get this resolved as quickly as possible because it is an important market.

QUESTION: Thank you very much.

MR. WICK: Now, if I could introduce President Colleen Callahan. We'd like to make a special presentation.

MS. CALLAHAN: Madam Secretary, on behalf of our National Association of Farm Broadcasters, we want you to know that, while we have been discussing the challenge of change professionally for our organization these last several days that you have been dealing with the challenge of change on a very personal level.

In light of that, we want you to recognize our interests in your fight against breast cancer, as we present to you a card that was created by our association and signed by membership and supporters of our organization in the past two days that we have been here in Kansas City.

So as this card is presented to you with signatures and well wishes, we want to let you know that our thoughts are with you during this difficult time and the challenges of change and also to let you know that we have been offering the Susan G. Komen Foundation breast cancer pins, and I notice that you're not only wearing your own pin this morning, but our NAFB pin, we are very proud to see, and that when we arrive in Washington, D.C., next April for our Washington Watch, we will be presenting to you a certificate recognition of the funds that have been collected here that will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation from the NAFB in your honor.

We'll be pleased to present you with a very special pin, one that I am wearing today, that has a pearl on that to signify your own personal struggle with breast cancer. So thank you for giving the extra effort to join us today.

SECRETARY VENEMAN: “Thank you, and I'm very touched by your kindness.”

[Applause.]

MR. WICK: Thanks so much for your time, Madam Secretary.

SECRETARY VENEMAN: “Thank you all so much.”

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