Lexington, KY - Congress moved one step closer to passing a 2012 Farm Bill as the legislation cleared the full Senate on June 21.
The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act passed in a somewhat bipartisan way 64-35; at least that is the way politicians are touting it. Thirty of the 46 Republican senators. including Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul voted “no,” while five democrats joined them in voting against the legislation.
Its sponsors estimate the legislation will save taxpayers $23 million by eliminating certain subsidies, including direct payments to farmers, while beefing up the crop insurance program. This alone is supposed to save $15 billion.
Most agriculture organizations have been cautiously supportive of the bill even though it will still have a price tag of about $500 billion up from the $300 billion the 2008 bill cost.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has been supportive of changes in the subsidy programs.
NCGA President Garry Niemeyer said the organization is pleased to see that a significant hurdle has been overcome.
“NCGA has advocated for an affordable crop insurance program, as well as a farm program that would provide risk management tools to growers when they are facing a loss beyond their control,” he said. “NCGA has also encouraged farm policy reforms that will be responsive to taxpayers and effective in helping farms remain viable and productive.”
The American Farm Bureau (AFB) has been supportive of the safety net that subsidies have provided in the past, but supported measures included in this bill to maintain more limited safe guards. AFB President Bob Stallman said while no farm bill is perfect, this is a solid bill that was worthy of Senate approval.
“The bill includes important reforms and is fiscally responsible, while including important provisions to enhance crop insurance, maintain a viable marketing loan program and minimize the potential for farm program provisions to drive producer decisions,” he said. “There is still a lot of hard work ahead to fully secure the kind of policy we believe our farm and ranch families need, but we applaud the Senate for approving a workable bill and moving this process forward.”
The American Soybean Association was also complimentary of the bill stating in a release from its President Steve Wellman that the legislation “would establish an effective risk management program for soybean producers that complements crop insurance, consolidate conservation programs, and have agriculture do its fair share to help address our nation's fiscal situation by reducing government spending on agriculture by $23 billion.”
In addition to production agriculture, the Farm Bill covers many areas including environmental issues, as well as food assistance for low-income families. In fact, the majority of the spending from the bill goes toward the food stamps. The Senate version of the bill cut approximately $4.5 billion from that program, a move advocates protested but recognized that it could have been worse.
Feeding America, a non-profit and the nation’s leading hunger-relief charity, released a statement last week concerning the bill.
Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of the organization said the need for federal nutrition assistance programs has never been greater.
“With unemployment stuck above eight percent nationally, millions of families scraping by with reduced wages or hours, and the charitable system stretched to the breaking point, it is critical that the 2012 Farm Bill protect and strengthen hunger-relief programs. While we are deeply disappointed that an amendment to restore the $4.5 billion in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) cuts failed to pass, we are pleased that the Senate demonstrated overwhelming bipartisan opposition to deeper cuts and harmful structural changes to SNAP by voting down several amendments to weaken the program. This sends a strong and clear message to the House that the Senate will firmly oppose further SNAP cuts. Now is the time to protect and strengthen nutrition assistance, not cut the benefits upon which so many vulnerable families rely.”
The amendments Escarra spoke of were just a few of the approximately 300 filed after the bill came out of committee.
From the environmental standpoint and from a local perspective, the Nature Conservancy of Kentucky weighed in on news of the legislation, as well.
Terry Cook, the organization’s state director, said the bill provides incentives to farmers, ranchers and other private landowners that result in cleaner water, improved soil conservation, enhanced wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities, increased flood control and economic benefits for local communities and rural economies. And, importantly, these programs help Kentucky’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest land owners to stay on the land as stewards of America’s natural resources.
The House will now try its hand at getting a version of the bill passed after the July 4th recess with deeper cuts expected.
House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas said "Although there will be differences between the Senate approach and our own, I hope my colleagues are encouraged by this success when we meet…to consider our own legislation. The House Agriculture Committee will consider a balanced proposal that saves taxpayers billions of dollars, recognizes the diversity of American agriculture, respects the risks producers face, and preserves the tools necessary for food production."
For more information about the Farm Bill go to http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/s164.