State Ag Director Wants Farmers To Focus On Crops – Not Bush Budget

The State Agriculture Director says farmers in Missouri should be worried about what goes on on their own ground, and not what happens in Washington, D.C. Missouri Director of Agriculture Fred Ferrell says farmers in this state should be less worried about President Bush’s proposed five percent cut in farm subsidies and $250,000 cap on federal payments to farmers, and more concerned about what the spring planting season will bring. Ferrell says the subsidies are based on how good crop prices are and won’t kick in if prices are at a certain level. However, he admits he doesn’t expect the prices to be very good this year. Ferrell says right now, he still wants to wait and see what the Congress actually approves from Bush’s proposed budget. And he says the proposed cuts really come as no surprise.