U.S. FARM POLICY DEBATE COULD HIT SENATE SOON
The Senate this week might take up
proposed legislation that could serve as a lightning rod to
expose broad initiatives to change U.S. farm policy.
    The Senate could consider a House-passed bill that would
allow wheat and feedgrains farmers to receive at least 92 pct
of their income support payments if flooding last year
prevented, or will prevent, them from planting their 1987
crops, Senate staff members told Reuters.
    Also pending is a bill extend the life of the National
Commission on Dairy Policy.
    Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, R-Minn., intends to offer an amendment
to one of the bills that would suspend the minimum planting
requirement for all 1987 wheat, feedgrain, cotton and rice
producers, an aide said.
    Under current law, producers must plant at least 50 pct of
their base acreage to be eligible for 92 pct of their
deficiency payments.
    Most major U.S. farm groups have lobbied hard against
making any fundamental changes in the 1985 farm bill out of
fear a full-scale debate could expose agricultural problems to
budget-cutting pressures.
    Representatives of these farm groups have said they also
fear efforts by Midwestern Democrats to force a floor vote on a
bill that would require large acreage set-asides in return for
sharply higher support prices.
    However, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, sponsor of the bill, told
Reuters he did not intend to offer his measure as a floor
amendment but to bring it through the committee.
 Reuter
