MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Farmers discussion with Argentine government stalled

“Farmers want results and if not they'll take to the highways again” warned Forte.

In a climate of growing frustration and with no advances to show, Argentine farmers held a new round of talks with government officials to discuss the promised review of camp and taxing policies.

A new source of contention was the presence in the discussions of Domestic Commerce Secretary Guillermo Moreno who farmers claim has been "pressing and threatening" livestock operators in the event of a resumption of the 21 day camp conflict that left cities short on food supplies. A thirty days truce was agreed (which ends May 2) for both sides to sit and discuss levies on grain and oilseeds exports and other camp grievances. Mrs. Kirchner government feels that to ensure income redistribution and taking advantage of the booming commodities prices, the government's duty is to tax windfall earnings. Wednesday was the fourth of the round of meetings and there are conflicting versions as to what really happened in Government House, Casa Rosada. Secretary of Agriculture Javier de Urquiza said that talks are "very high level and respectful" and justified Moreno's presence arguing that beef "is crucial for the food basket". Ulises Forte from one of the farmers' organizations was more caustic. "We came with a modern, looking forward proposal but found no chemistry from the government. We have coincidences on the diagnosis but the anachronistic, out dated tools of the government and Moreno are disastrous" "We're back at the starting point, worse than on March 11 when the latest increase in export levies that triggered the conflict, and we're not going to loose time over a coffee", he insisted, "We're under great pressure from our grass roots, out people want results and if not they'll take to the highways again" warned Forte.