Association Perspectives:

“It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over”

One of Yogi Berra’s most famous catch phrases is appropriate in describing the efforts of wheat and barley groups on issues that affect grain growers: “It ain’t over til it’s over.” And even then, it might not be over.

Grain groups, working cooperatively with Congressional staff, have been hammering the need for disaster assistance since last summer.  Congress adjourned its last session without addressing the matter.  However, preliminary discussion with Congressional staff indicates that an attempt will be made to attach a disaster assistance package to one of the 2003 Appropriations bills that Congress will consider in early January. When Congress adjourned for the holidays, it had not enacted 11 of the 13 appropriations bills needed to keep the government operating. Instead, federal lawmakers adopted a short term “Continuing Resolution,” which allows the government to continue operating at the previous year’s funding level.

The Continuing Resolution expires on January 11, which means that Congress, scheduled to reconvene on January 7, will have three days to enact all 11 remaining 2003 Appropriation bills. This most likely will be done by combining them into one large “Omnibus” appropriation bill, to which the disaster assistance package would be offered as an amendment. Details on the size and scope of the package are still under consideration.

Don’t hold your breath for disaster assistance, but don’t totally write it off, either.  It ain’t over til it’s over…

In another example of tenacity, the U.S. grain production sector won a major victory when the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a preliminary and nearly unanimous decision that U.S. producers of hard red spring and durum wheat are materially injured by imports of like wheats from Canada. With the affirmative ITC ruling, investigations into a countervailing duty and antidumping measures will proceed. More information on the preliminary ruling is available on the ITC web site at www.usitc.gov/er/nl2002/ER1119z1.htm .

The North Dakota Wheat Commission can be credited for taking the lead on resolving this trade issue, despite roadblocks and setbacks in a battle that has been waged for over 10 years.  The issue isn’t resolved yet, but the preliminary ruling is a significant step forward.  It ain’t over til it’s over…