Current Crisis Affecting US
Agricultural Policy

The Associated Press State & Local Wire
September 19, 2001
Terror attacks could change agribusiness

By The Associated Press

The terrorist attacks point out the need to ensure the safety of the
nation's food supply, Northwest farm groups say.

One major change that could result from the Sept. 11 attacks will be
increased emphasis on food security, especially on contaminants that
could sicken people or damage crops, said Tom Wahl, director of the
International Marketing Program for Agricultural Commodities and
Trade at Washington State University in Pullman.

"I think we are going to see a higher level of inspections on a lot of
things," he said. "Consumers want to make sure what they are eating is
safe." "I now feel we will see that what was once taken for granted -
freedom, safety and complete independence from other countries for our
source of food, energy and all the staples for a strong country -
should be of concern," Washington Association of Wheat Growers
President Perry Dozier said.

Action on farm legislation, particularly a new farm bill, has been
delayed while Congress turns its attention to responding to the attacks.

When Congress does take up agricultural issues, the farm bill likely
will emerge as a separate budget item, said Jack Silzel, who advises Rep.
George Nethercutt, R-Wash., on farm issues.

"This is good news for farmers," he said. "It may seem obvious to
farmers, but remember most people in Congress ... don't have agricultural
interests in their districts."

Silzel said food safety likely will become an important issue, now that
Americans are concerned about biological and chemical terrorism.

"I don't think some in Congress saw the consequences of all this," he
said. "What happened has jarred everybody back to looking at the essentials,
such as food. They look at it as a national security issue."

Meanwhile, farmers are afraid that fuel and fertilizer prices will climb,
said Dozier, a Waitsburg wheat grower. Already, shipments of Washington
peaches to the East Coast stalled "drastically" after last week's attacks,
said B.J. Thurlby, manager at the Washington State Fruit Commission in
Yakima.

"We expected things to slow down and they did," he said. "It's starting to
flow again this week, and it's starting to pick up. People need food."

At the Washington Growers Clearing House in Wenatchee, Dan Kelly said
there were few concerns yet about how American reprisals will affect the
apple crop, which is down about a quarter from last year.

The biggest impact could be in Middle East sales, which last year
accounted for about 3 percent of the Washington crop.

Among the war-related issues that could affect farmers are U.S.
sanctions and the federal budget, which is being tapped to fund
military action.

Meanwhile, supply and demand basics should remain stable.

"I don't see anything at this point that suggests there will be a big
disruption of trade patterns," Wahl said, adding that the situation
could change depending upon U.S. actions.