WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2003 - U.S. agriculture and rural organizations from across the nation united Wednesday with the University of Tennessee's Agriculture Policy Analysis Center (APAC) to release a groundbreaking policy study that suggests a reformed U.S. farm and trade policy would benefit farmers worldwide. APAC and the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) primarily funded the study, titled "Rethinking U.S. Agriculture Policy: Changing Course to Secure Farmer Livelihoods Worldwide," which found conclusive evidence that U.S. farm and trade policy negatively impacted agriculture in the U.S. and around the globe.

"U.S. policies heavily influence the fate of farmers well beyond our borders, therefore policy approaches addressing the needs of U.S. farmers should also recognize our larger global influence," said APAC Director Dr. Daryll E. Ray. "We have found conclusive evidence through our analysis that those influences have indeed led the way for the global downward spiral of farm prices and farm income."

"However, we can also predict with a certain degree of accuracy that the elimination of U.S. farm subsidies without real price-enhancing reform of U.S policy will destroy our farm and rural economy, and surprisingly to many, would maintain the problems facing farmers in developing counties rather than alleviate them," Ray added.

U.S. agriculture and rural organizations will travel to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Cancun Ministerial advocating xxx message while participating in the agriculture policy negotiations scheduled for September 10-14, 2003. Organization representatives include: John Dittrich, American Corn Growers Association; David Frederickson, National Farmers Union; Katherine Ozer, National Family Farm Coalition; Lorette Picciano, Rural Coalition; Federation of Southern Cooperatives; Dennis Olson, Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy; and Bill Christison, Missouri Rural Crisis Center.

APAC's analysis and discussion blueprint includes acreage diversion through short-term conservation uses and longer-term acreage reserves, a farmer-owned food security reserve and price supports as a replacement for the current and expensive policy of direct government subsidies. It also explores the use of non-tradable energy crops as a viable alternative to short and long-term acreage diversion options.

"This is not a farm bill proposal," Ray said. "This is a blueprint for analysis and discussion of one possible solution to the serious problems facing farm families and their communities worldwide." Ray, holder of the Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy, followed the news conference with a detailed presentation of the study.

For more information about the study or Dr. Ray's presentation, please go to http://www.agpolicy.org/ or contact APAC by calling (865) 974-7407. Mention Cancun briefing and events as well.