“In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., senators stated, ‘With our constant focus on job creation, we write to urge you to schedule floor consideration of the ‘Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012′ as soon as possible.’”
“‘Federal crop insurance provides an effective risk management tool to farmers and ranchers when they are facing losses beyond their control,’ the letter stated. ‘It reduces taxpayer risk exposure; it makes hedging possible to help mitigate market volatility; and it provides lenders with greater certainty that loans made to producers will be repaid.’”
The release added that, “NCGA has previously stated that crop insurance remains the number one priority in the new farm bill as well as a market oriented, risk management tool to cover multi-year price declines.”
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “The crop insurance industry could benefit from ‘common sense structural changes,’ according to a pair of senators, who cite a recent government study in calling on the Senate Agriculture Committee to further investigate reducing premium subsidies to farmers.
“In a bi-partisan letter, Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote earlier this week to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and ranking member Pat Roberts, R-Kan., asking them examine ways to find taxpayer savings in crop insurance. Coburn and Durbin cited a Government Accountability Office report last month requested by Coburn that highlighted the growing costs of the crop insurance program.”
DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom reported yesterday that, “All crops need a farm program that protects them from multiyear price drops, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said Tuesday, a position with which House Agriculture ranking member Collin Peterson agrees.
“In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with The Hagstrom Report and DTN, Lucas, R-Okla., praised Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., for her ‘herculean efforts’ to get a bill through committee, and said that he would not underestimate her ability to convince Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to provide time on the Senate floor to debate the bill.
“However, Lucas said although the Senate bill’s ‘shallow loss’ revenue program that would cover some losses beyond crop insurance is ‘a great tool’ in good times when prices are high, it would not provide a proper safety net if prices plummet.”
DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “During the congressional recess and this week, both aides and lobbyists were reluctant to speak on the record about the proposed farm bill.
“One aide to a senator who is not a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee said committee aides had begun asking staffers from other offices their opinion of the bill and whether their bosses would support it as written.”
A news release yesterday from the National Farmers Union (NFU) stated that, “[NFU] and a coalition of agricultural, conservation, environmental, energy, forestry, hunger, and rural stakeholders sent a letter to Senate leadership today urging them to bring the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 to the Senate floor as soon as possible. NFU led the effort, which was supported by more than 125 organizations.
“‘This is one piece of legislation upon which all Americans depend, urban as well as rural,’ stated the letter. ‘With limited time remaining before the expiration of current program authorities, time is of the essence.’”
Also yesterday, the Senate Agriculture Committee provided an updated summary of the Farm Bill proposal it passed on April 26; this summary overview is available here.
Daniel Malloy reported on Friday evening at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Online that, “Tim Burch’s family farm in southwest Georgia has been buoyed by federal farm subsidies in years when cotton and peanut prices have plummeted.
“That safety net is threatened this year, Burch said, as Congress moves forward on a new farm bill, aiming for tens of billions of dollars in cuts by remaking the federal subsidy system. The result earned bipartisan support in a Senate committee last month, but a group of Southern senators including Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss refused to back the bill, saying it’s a raw deal in particular for peanut and rice farmers.
“In a phone interview last week, Burch, of Baker County, said a new proposed insurance plan would be inadequate.”
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “The chance of a farm bill coming out of the U.S. Senate anytime soon could hinge largely on safety net prospects for a pair of Southern crops that collectively account for about 4.5 million acres of the 320 million or so acres that will be planted this year.
“With the cotton industry largely satisfied with its new insurance program, rice and peanut farmers are counting on Southern senators to make a stand for them before the Senate floor debate on the new farm bill. They also see more hope in the House, where Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., has said the Senate farm bill doesn’t do enough to factor in regional and crop differences.”
Senate Agriculture Committee Member John Boozman (R., Ark.) was a guest yesterday on KASU radio (Jonesboro, Ark.) with host Mark Smith where in part, the two discussed 2012 Farm Bill issues and the bill that passed the Senate Agriculture Committee last week.
During a portion of yesterday’s discussion, Sen. Boozman elaborated on concerns from Southern producers, the potential difference in the House “vision” of the measure, why the Senate Ag Committee voted on a Farm Bill proposal prior to the House Ag Committee, and the SNAP (food stamps) program. The discussion of these issues can be heard in this clip from the KASU program (MP3- 3:50).
A news release yesterday from the Senate Agriculture Committee stated that, “Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, led the Committee in considering and approving the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, last Thursdaywith broad bipartisan support. The bill reforms food and agricultural policy by eliminatingdirect payments, consolidating programs and ending duplication, and cracking down on abuse in food assistance programs. This new Farm Bill saves $23 billion while strengthening crop insurance and other initiatives that help create American agricultural jobs.”
The release went on to include statements by Senators “from both sides of the aisle, praising the bill for its major reforms, and for the collaborative, inclusive and exceptionally bipartisan process of drafting it.”
Farm Bill: Lawmaker, and Executive Branch Perspectives
Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R., Kan.) was a guest on Friday’s AgriTalk radio program with Mike Adams where part of their conversation turned to last week’s Senate action on the Farm Bill. In part, Sen. Roberts noted that, “I think that we can talk [Senate Leader] Harry Reid [D., Nev.] into putting this on the floor,” and added that, “I really don’t expect that many amendments.”
The Kansas Republican pointed out that, “We saved over $23 billion for the taxpayer. We are the first authorizing committee- agriculture led the way- in providing significant deficit reduction to reduce the debt and spending, over $23 billion.”
To listen to the full remarks on the Farm Bill from Sen. Roberts, just click here (MP3- 3:31).
Farm Bill: Some Groups Seek Delay in Senate Markup
David Rogers reported last night at Politico that, “A draft Senate farm bill would save $26.4 billion over the next 10 years, but it faces resistance from Southern commodity interests who are pressing for a delay in Wednesday’s markup before the Senate Agriculture Committee.
“The new cost estimates, released late Monday by the Congressional Budget Office, offer the most complete assessment yet of the 900-page measure that seeks to end the current system of direct cash payments to growers and reinvest more in new forms of crop insurance.”
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported on Friday that, “Farmers will have to choose between a commodity program based on their individual farm or one that factors in countywide yield and income.
“Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Friday released a 900-page ‘chairman’s mark’ of the farm bill for the full committee to debate or amend. The committee is set to meet on Wednesday to consider the legislation.
Budget Issues (Farm Bill): House Ag Committee Business Meeting on Budget Reconciliation Instructions
Reuters writer Emily Stephenson reported yesterday that, “A U.S. congressional panel approved about $33 billion in cuts over 10 years from food stamp benefits, in a largely symbolic and highly partisan vote opposed by committee Democrats and by anti-poverty groups.
“The cuts advanced by the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee on Wednesday would reduce spending on food stamps that help 46 million people buy food by $7.7 billion in the first year, by $19.7 billion in five years, and the balance in the next five years.
“The cuts are expected to die in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But the vote by voice underscored Republicans’ preference for domestic spending cuts over defense cuts or tax hikes as they try to avoid automatic cuts that take effect in January.”
Farm Bill Developments: Timing, SNAP Issues, and Conservation
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported yesterday that, “Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are ready to hold a committee meeting next week to adopt and pass a new farm bill.
“Reflecting a bipartisanship not seen recently, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said she and ranking member Pat Roberts, R-Kan., will have a ‘joint mark for the committee,’ meaning they will present one bill to the entire committee under both of their names. The formal mark could be released by the end of this week, she said.
“Stabenow hasn’t officially announced a markup date, but the Senate Agriculture Committee is planning for April 25. It’s possible the mark-up session could take more than one day.”
The “Washington Insider” section of DTN reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “Senate staffers have been meeting to hammer out details of a bill that members can begin to discuss this week. Lawmakers’ main challenge is expected to be to cut overall farm spending, and the Senate committee has talked of cuts of about $23 billion over 10 years, the figure both committees submitted to the super committee last year. However, the Republican-led House is working with two deeper-cuts: a budget reconciliation bill that trims farm bill spending by $33 billion over 11 years, and the annual budget resolution that cuts agriculture by $180 billion over a decade.
“Nevertheless, observers still say they expect Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., to propose legislation similar to that drafted last fall. This is thought likely to include a proposal to end direct payment programs, boost crop insurance, and attempt to rewrite dairy policy to protect farmers’ operating margins.”
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Posted by Keith Good • May, 16, 2012 • 3:54 am 