Some leeway on April 18 deadline for U.S. farm law

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - If Congress is close to wrapping up work on the new U.S. farm law, the Bush administration may allow some leeway on an April 18 deadline for the new law, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said on Monday.

Disagreement between House and Senate tax committee leaders on how to pay for a $10 billion spending increase has slowed action on the farm bill, the five-year policy blueprint.

Congressional farm committee leaders also disagree on issues such as an agriculture disaster fund.

A one-month extension of some agricultural programs expires on April 18, creating an informal deadline for the new law, now six months overdue. President George W. Bush says if there is no agreement by April 18, Congress should extend the 2002 farm law for at least one year.

Asked if April 18 was a firm deadline, Schafer said "we can look at another short-term extension" if Congress is in the final stages of enacting a bill after agreeing on a spending level, a framework of key points and how to pay for it.

"I would not be able to recommend to the president that he sign another extension" if there is little progress, Schafer said in remarks to the North American Agricultural Journalists meeting.

Farm bills are broad legislation covering dozens of topics including public nutrition, crop subsidy, land stewardship and biofuel programs. Nutrition would get two-thirds of the $280 billion the new law would cost over five years if current programs are continued.

Also during remarks to NAAJ, Schafer said: