April 4, 2002

For immediate release:

Contact: Ben Lilliston, 612-870-3416, blilliston@iatp.org

Minneapolis – The U.S. Farm Bill negotiations are heading into the home stretch between the House and Senate Conferees. Conferees are expected to reconvene during the week of April 7. The final bill will set farm policy in the U.S. for the next 5-10 years, and will directly impact farm income, the environment, energy production, rural economic development, and food safety.

To further explore the various proposals being considered by Congress, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy has designed an on-line web guide to the Farm Bill. The on-line guide includes important documents and interviews with experts on various aspects of the Farm Bill.

What you will find at: www.agobservatory.org

• The latest news stories covering the farm bill;
• Interviews and articles with farm bill experts including: Alan Guebert, syndicated agriculture columnist, Dr. Daryl Ray, University of Tennessee, Dr. Richard Levins, University of Minnesota, and Former House Agriculture Committee member David Minge.

• A plan to use renewable energy within the farm bill.
• Analysis of the Proposed Packer Ban.
• Analysis of key agriculture policy indicators.
• A list serve to keep you up to date on the latest farm bill news.

The on-line web guide to the Farm Bill, can be found at: www.agobservatory.org

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.

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