The Senate announced its Farm Bill conferees and the House may follow soon, as
conservation program funding looks to be at risk.

On Monday, Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced
the 11 Senators who would participate on the Farm Bill conference
committee. They include Sen. Harkin along with Senators Max Baucus
(D-MT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Blanche Lincoln
(D-AR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss
(R-GA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and
Pat Roberts (R-KS).

DTN correspendent Jerry Hagstrom reported Friday that House
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) said he wants to make an
offer to the Senate on a farm bill compromise next week.

"Peterson said he hopes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will
appoint conferees on the bill Tuesday so there could be a bicameral
meeting Wednesday," according to Hagstrom.

"In a speech to the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture, Peterson said he believes the process must move forward
because the current extension of the 2002 farm bill expires on March
15. He declined to provide reporters with details of his proposal,
but said it would be made public after cost estimates are received.
Peterson said he and his staff would work through the weekend with
the Congressional Budget Office to prepare a proposal," Hagstrom
reported.

He quoted Rep. Peterson as saying "we think we have an offer that we
won't like and they [the White House] won't like, but that they'll be
able to sign," indicating the offer would be better than current law
for commodity, conservation and nutrition interests but there will
be "pain for everybody" compared with the House and Senate bills.

Earlier, Hagstrom reported that Senator Baucus is floating a proposal
for the conference that would cut additional funding for the
conservation title to $3.6 billion from the $4.6 billion (over five
years) included in the Senate bill.

-- Duane Hovorka