About 40 LaPorte-area farmers shared thoughts about farm prices and other agricultural hot topics with U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly (D-South Bend) at a meeting Saturday at the Conservation Club in Union Mills.

Donnelly was appointed to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Poultry and Dairy. The Agriculture Committee, in addition to dealing with issues of renewable energy and disaster assistance, is charged with reauthorizing the farm bill. The 2007 Farm Bill will establish funding and program priorities for U.S. agriculture producers for the next five years, and Donnelly said he requested the assignment.

“I sought out this agriculture assignment because it is absolutely critical to this district that we have a voice in the farm bill,” he said.

Dave Scarborough, president of the LaPorte County Farm Bureau, organized the Saturday meeting at Donnelly's request. He said it only took a few phone calls to assemble the sizable farm audience. Donnelly made it clear he was there to listen.

“LaPorte County has a congressman who is able to get your input directly into the farm bill,” Donnelly said. “I came to listen.”

LaCrosse farmer Glenn Abbett shared his concerns about a provision in the 2002 Farm Bill preventing farmers who grow commercial row crops, such as corn, soybeans and seed corn, from also raising fruits and vegetables for processors if they receive any kind of government assistance. Abbett said the fresh-produce growers want to limit competition from other growers. An exception is made only if a farmer had been growing fresh produce before the last farm bill was passed. But this exception can't be passed from one generation to the next, or from one spouse to a surviving spouse.

In addition to row crops, the Abbett family farm produces tomatoes for Red Gold and green beans for Pick Sweet. Diversification helps them stay in business through market-driven price fluctuations. Glenn Abbett is concerned he won't be able to continue producing fresh vegetables when his father passes on. He said other LaPorte County growers are affected, since the county has more acres of processing tomatoes than any area outside of California.

“Farmers must be able to grow, but the 2002 Farm Bill locks us out of growing produce,” Abbett said. “We need to (be able to) diversify so we don't rely on (government) subsidies.”

Frank Szilagyi, 45, grows corn and soybeans on his 500-acre family farm near Mill Creek. But he also works at a body shop to supplement his farm income. The problem, Szilagyi said, is the continual fluctuation in corn prices and the lack of a safety net for farmers, who still need to cover expenses.   “A 125-horsepower tractor that used to cost $20,000 now costs between $60,000 to $80,000, and corn is the same price,” Szilagyi said. “We need a better safety net. We're not trying to pass this (cost) on to consumers, but we can't survive on $1.99 (a bushel) corn. I'm trying to feed my family.”

Donnelly sees ethanol production as a way to boost corn prices by providing another market, besides food and export, and expects it to benefit national security as well.

“Ethanol provides that extra place for products to go,” he said.

The congressman is in the process of developing an agricultural advisory board from constituents in the 12-county district and promised farmers in the audience he would keep in touch with them as the farm bill moves forward.

“It should be driven by real-world experience rather than by some people at a cocktail party in Washington,” Donnelly said.