During the first part of a three day bus tour through Iowa, President Obama today called on Congress to pass the Farm Bill. In addition, President Obama spoke about GOP vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan’s perspective on the Farm Bill process.
President Obama also briefly discussed executive branch action to help assist farmers and ranchers currently enduring the 2012 drought.
A portion of the President’s remarks from this morning can be heard here:
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Roll Call writer Daniel Newhauser was a guest on this morning’s “Washington Journal” program on C-SPAN. Mr. Newhauser discussed the drought, the Farm Bill and the presidential campaign while talking phone calls from viewers.
A full replay of today’s “Washington Journal” program can be viewed here, while an audio clip where he specifically talks about the prospects of the Farm Bill passing before it expires in September can be heard here:
Meanwhile, Bernie Becker reported today at The Hill’s On the Money Blog that, “President Obama is poised to announce Monday that his administration will make up to $170 million in purchases to assist farmers struggling through one of the worst droughts in decades, according to an administration official.
“Obama is expected to announce the purchases of catfish, chicken, lamb and pork during a campaign trip through Iowa, a swing state that is also an agricultural center.”
And Politico writer Jennifer Epstein reported today that, “President Obama will use his first speech of his three-day bus tour to hit Paul Ryan as a leader of Republican opposition to the farm bill…”‘But right now, too many members of Congress are blocking that bill from becoming law. Now, I’m told Governor Romney’s new running mate might be around Iowa these next few days. And he’s one of those leaders of Congress standing in the way. So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and our rural communities. It’s time to put politics aside and pass it right away.’”
During his presentation today on C-SPAN, Daniel Newhauser spoke about Rep. Ryan’s views and ideas relating to the Farm Bill:
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Crop Production Estimates
A news release Friday from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) stated that, “Affected by one of the worst droughts on record [related Des Moines Register graphic], U.S. corn growers are forecast to harvest 87.4 million acres in 2012, down 2 percent from June estimates, according to the Crop Production report released today by [NASS]…[D]espite planting the largest number of acres to corn in the past 75 years, growers are forecast to produce 10.8 billion bushels in 2012, down 13 percent from 2011 [related graph]. Based on conditions as of August 1, corn yields are expected to average 123.4 bushels per acre, down 23.8 bushels from last year.”
The NASS update added that, “This year’s soybean production is forecast at 2.69 billion bushels, down 12 percent from 2011 [related graph]. Soybean yield is expected to average 36.1 bushels per acre, down 5.4 bushels from the 2011 crop.
“In contrast to corn and soybeans, all wheat production remains largely unaffected by the drought and is forecast at 2.27 billion bushels, up 13 percent from 2011.”
(more…)
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Posted by Keith Good • August, 13, 2012 • 12:02 pm 
