Risk Management Paper Released

May 12, 2006 -- The first in a series of 41 briefing papers that assess general views provided during the 2005 Farm Bill hearings was released this week. This paper describes the risks agricultural producers face; discusses current key risk management programs and tools available to producers through the private sector and government; and concludes with a discussion of program alternatives.

?Our purpose with these analysis papers is not to suggest policy but to inform and educate the public. Creating the next farm bill should be a transparent process and I encourage everyone affected by farm policy to be actively engaged and to work with Congress on the next farm bill,? said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

The risk management paper is available at:  www.usda.gov/documents/Farmbill07riskmgmtrev.doc. The paper is based on the more than 4,000 comments received orally and in writing during the 52 Farm Bill Forums completed across the nation in 2005.