Kansas farmers and ranchers gathered with me at the State Fair in Hutchinson earlier this month to talk about the issues that are most pressing: the drought, high energy costs and the new Farm Bill that Congress will draft in 2007.

I asked the Chairman of the all powerful Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), to join me at the fair so he could sit on the wagon tongue with our farmers and ranchers and hear their concerns firsthand. Saxby served on the House Agriculture Committee when I was chairman during the 1996 farm bill – and he understands the tough issues we face and need to craft a farm bill that will provide the farm income necessary to support our farms, ranches, and rural communities At two different events, we had frank discussions with Kansas producers that will guide our action in the Senate.

As a result, my first priority is to get to work on drought relief. I’ve joined my colleagues to ensure the Treasury Department has extended the capital gains deferment period on cattle sold due to drought conditions. I’ve also been working closely with Secretary Johanns and the state FSA office to allow and expand emergency haying and grazing of CRP land and see how to make it more flexible to respond to the needs of Kansans.

But more needs to be done.

While USDA’s recent Ag Drought Disaster package falls well short of addressing the need, it does acknowledge there are real losses from drought. And that acknowledgment will hopefully be something that we can build on with a legislative package that can pass the Congress. As history has shown, moving a disaster package is a heavy lift in both chambers. However, if we can support those that suffer from floods, fires and hurricanes, we ought to be able to provide assistance to those that grow the food and fiber that feeds and clothes this nation.

I am committed to working to pass a disaster package this year. Several of my colleagues have introduced disaster proposals, and I will work with them to try to get a package that can be supported in the Senate on a bipartisan basis. When a disaster package is offered on the Senate floor, you have my assurances that I’ll support it.