By Brian Howell

The lagging national economy makes it all the more difficult for Congress to come up with a new Farm Bill. Lots of programs important to North Dakota are on the table, so U.S. Rep. Rick Berg brought a major Washington, DC player to Bismarck on Thursday to help further North Dakota interests.

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), the chairman of the House Ag Committee, has a lot of influence and wants to hear what issues matter most to North Dakota`s ag community as Congress goes to work on a new Farm Bill. North Dakota ag leaders obliged.

"Unfortunately, livestock producers over the last couple of years have had a chance to utilize some of those disaster programs because of some catastrophic weather events, and we think that those programs are important to producers as a, sort of, risk management," said Julie Ellingson, the executive vice president of the North Dakota Stockmen`s Association.

Livestock indemnity, research, export assistance and crop insurance seem to top the list for state farmers and ranchers.

"The real issues within the committee itself are the different commodity areas. I mean, the weather in North Dakota is different than the weather in Florida, or Oklahoma, or central California. How do you come up with programs, policies, that work for everyone? And that`s the challenge," said Lucas.

Lucas also explained the difficult political environment in Washington, which North Dakota farmers and ranchers appreciated.

"There`s a lot of unknowns there, but I think those (issues important to North Dakota ag interests) have all been a part of past farm bills and I think we`re hopeful," said N.D. Farmers Union President Woody Barth.

Berg is also optimistic.

"I`m excited, as we move forward, that we`re going to have North Dakota`s interests as part of the new Farm Bill," said Berg.

Lucas said regional unity is important.

"We have to come up with proposals that all commodity groups, or overwhelmingly all commodity groups, can support. Because if we fracture up, we won`t be able to get the critical mass to pass a bill on the floor of the United States House," said Lucas.

Lucas said it`s too early to tell how Congress will act but he would prefer a 1 year extension of the current Farm Bill if a new one can`t be passed. He also said that the U.S. Senate will probably move a little quicker on it at first.

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