Farm bill takes step forward

By Robert Wolfington III
A tentative agreement between the U.S. House and Senate for the next farm bill was reached Thursday amidst veto threats from the White House.

The bill, called “The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008” on the House Agriculture Committee Web site, is expected to be voted on Wednesday, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. said Thursday.

Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, said in a news release Thursday he was satisfied with the results in the agreement.

“This is a good farm bill,” Buis said in the release. “Conferees were challenged to write a new farm bill under the pressure of competing demands and reduced budget. They produced a good, fully-paid-for bill that will benefit all Americans.”

During a conference call with reporters Thursday, Coleman said the bill was good for Minnesota.

“A deal has been reached in the House and Senate farm bill conference,” Coleman said. “It’s a bill I believe should get to the House next week on Wednesday and should get to the Senate that same day.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said it has been a difficult run-up to Thursday’s agreement.

“This has been an uphill struggle,” Klobuchar said in a news release Thursday. “But it was worth the effort to make sure that we are spending the public’s money wisely and that federal support is going to the nation’s hardworking farmers and not to urban millionaires.”

The Associated Press reported the Bush administration indicated Congress likely would not put together a bill the president would support.

The AP story said Bush has described the bill as “bloated” with farm subsidies.

The AP story said the proposed $300 billion bill eliminates some government payouts for individuals who make more than $750,000 in farm income subsidies. Non-farmers who make $500,000 would also be in ineligible for government payments.

Coleman, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the House and Senate have worked to find a compromise with the administration.

“There has been an effort to meet the president half-way,” said Coleman.

“I think I have nine pages of things that have been done in this farm bill to meet the concerns of the administration. In spite of that he is indicating his intent (to veto it).”

Klobuchar said in her release the bill still provides a safety net for farmers in Minnesota with permanent disaster relief and an energy title that encourages cellulosic energy crops.

The House Agriculture Committee Web site has a breakdown of the preliminary bill agreed upon Thursday.

Food security, homegrown renewable energy, reforming farm programs, protecting the environment and international food aid were listed as key parts to the bill, the Web site said.

Klobuchar said in her release the bill represented a good bipartisan effort.

“This is a strong, bipartisan bill,” Klobuchar said in the release. “I am particularly pleased that the incentives for cellulosic biofuels — the next generation of renewable, homegrown energy — remain in the bill.

“I want to thank our Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, for their leadership in negotiating this agreement.”