THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 21, 1996 TAG: 9610210033
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION 96: AT ISSUE: PRIORITIES
As Virginians look forward to the Nov. 5 election, they're thinking a
lot about issues that are important in their lives. This week we
examine the qualities citizens want in their leaders, and how a few
Hampton Roads residents view those qualities.
SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 147 lines
Wetlands protection, endangered species, foreign grain embargoes and crop programs - Rodney Foster, a Chesapeake farmer, can rattle off the laws and regulations associated with all of these, plus the collection of federal agencies he deals with to ensure his family farms are following the rules.
To make a living, Foster, 50, farms soybeans, corn and wheat on about 2,500 acres - seven farms his family owns and 38 they lease.
He's been forced over the years to learn a battery of agricultural and environmental laws, many of which have changed every two years with each new Congress. And as good as he's gotten at navigating the paperwork, he's spent thousands of dollars on consultants and lawyers to guard against a mistake.
``Only those outside the agricultural circles think farmers get too much,'' said Foster from one of his family farms in rural southern Chesapeake.
Foster is referring to the ``Farm Bill,'' which for years has provided farmers with subsidies to keep certain land idle and to grow specific crops. The payments, however, are ending in five years and with them will go the safety net for farmers who suffer from weather or other disasters - such as grain embargoes imposed on countries that offend the United States. When those countries are cut off from U.S. food, Foster said the city's 235 producers lose a market.
The 1.7 percent of the American public that farms also provides food for the other 98.3 percent of the domestic population at some of the cheapest prices in the world.
Once federal payments end, Foster worries that inflation will drive farmers out of business. A combine that cost $35,000 in 1964, for example, now costs $140,000, and a tractor that cost $11,000 has gone up to $100,000, he said.
He also worries that the market for his goods will sag, which, ultimately, would cost consumers more at the grocery store, he said.
``Farmers have to work a lot more acreage to survive on the farm these days,'' said Foster. ``Many little farmers already sold out or leased out and went to work somewhere else. The main thing now that the government needs to do is guarantee the market stays strong.''
Foster said he has enough acreage and plants a variety of crops, so a bad season for one item won't devastate him. Corn needs more water than soybeans, so a rainy summer means he gets one good harvest and one bad one.
But, he added, ``As necessary as we are, no one seems to be paying enough attention to our future.'' FOSTER'S QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES
The nation's farmers provide some of the cheapest food for domestic and international consumers. What do you propose to do for farmers so that when the farm bill subsidies stop in five years, they won't end up on welfare to survive? SENATE Virginia
John W. Warner (R)
``As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I played an active role in writing the 1995 farm bill. The goal of this legislation is to eliminate government subsidies, not agricultural profits. Farmers and other agribusiness leaders agree that tax dollars are no longer the solution to a more productive America. This bill moves American agriculture from subsidy-supported to market-oriented over the next seven years. It will maintain the government's partnership with farmers while ensuring that government farm programs operate at no cost to taxpayers.''
Mark Warner (D)
``Farming is the backbone of the Virginia economy, and America's farmers literally feed the world. I am committed to working with Virginia's farmers and promoting our agricultural economy. I'll support efforts to make sure that farmers aren't subject to illogical, burdensome regulations. I'll also work to ensure that they have the flexibility to plant and grow what they want without federal intrusion and a maze of rules.'' HOUSE 2nd District
Owen B. Pickett (D)
``The five-year phase-out of farm subsidies has been carefully planned to allow farmers to adjust gradually to doing business in a market economy without interference by the federal government. The impact of this dramatic policy must be carefully and timely monitored to determine its effect both on farmers and on the production of food and fiber for our nation, with appropriate adjustments made where unanticipated adverse consequences become apparent.''
John F. Tate (R)
``We need to work harder to open foreign markets to our farmers. America has the most efficient, productive farms in the world. Without all the trade barriers and outrageous tariffs, our farmers would be extremely competitive in the world market and there won't be a problem.'' 3rd District
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D)
``The final version of the farm bill included significant input from the agricultural community, so subsidies were phased out rather than eliminated all at once. Now we need to focus on exporting so there will be a market for all agricultural products.''
Elsie Goodwyn Holland (R)
``We could reduce whatever taxes these guys have to deal with and reduce regulations we impose on farmers. Give them an opportunity to make decisions without so many regulations.'' 4th District
Norman Sisisky (D)
``I believe strongly in the small family farmer. Farmers are unusually vulnerable to the elements and very volatile commodity markets. They could be ruined in a heartbeat. And I certainly don't want them to have to go on welfare to survive. So we do need to focus on ways to help stabilize the markets and prices and reduce some of the uncertainties in farming. But that doesn't mean over-regulation by the government. I fought hard this year to keep some type of peanut program. It may not be the same program as before, but it still would stabilize the price. I often tell people in the community that they do not know what the real price of food would be if we didn't have the small family farm.''
Anthony J. Zevgolis (R)
``I want to say this about the farm subsidy: It's always been inequitable anyway. The wealthy farmers were the ones who really got the subsidies. But to help the farmers, they need to be brought into the mainstream of health care, and provided full deductibility of their health-care premiums. The farmers certainly are going to get tax credits, the same as businessmen. I think what we need to do is fight unfair competition and bring down the walls of trade around the world that unfairly inhibit the fair competition of our farmers on world markets..." MEMO: ON TUESDAY: Bess E. Mann, who teaches American government to
schoolchildren in Virginia Beach, believes most politicians are too
selfish to be concerned about what's best for the nation. ILLUSTRATION: [Photo appeared on page B1.]
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
The Virginian-Pilot
Rodney Foster of Chesapeake makes his living by farming corn,
soybeans and wheat. Foster worries that disasters and inflation will
drive farmers out of business once farm subsidies end.
Rodney Foster of Chesapeake farms soybeans, corn and wheat.
[Photos of candidates]
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES RACE VIRGINIA ISSUES CANDIDATES PRIORITIES by CNB