SENATE PASSES 2007 FARM BILL

News Date December 18, 2007

       The Senate passed the 2007 farm bill (H.R. 2419) on December 14 by a vote of 79 to 14 after a week of debate and more than a month of delays. The farm bill now goes to a conference committee in January to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
       During Senate debate, lawmakers defeated about a dozen amendments that were offered. There were two key votes on farm payment limitations. Senators rejected an amendment offered by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) which would set an annual income limit of $250,000 on which producers can receive direct payments. The vote failed by 56 to 43 because 60 votes were required for passage.  Lawmakers also rejected an amendment offered by Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) which would limit participation in commodity programs to full-time farmers with incomes less than $750,000 per year and part-time farmers making less than $250,000 a year. The vote was 48 to 47 and 60 votes were required for passage.
       Earlier in the week, the Senate defeated a proposal by Sen. John Tester (D-Mont.) regarding unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act that would prevent meat packers from giving "unreasonable preference" to any particular person or locality. The vote was 40 to 55. Lawmakers also defeated an amendment proposed by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and John Sununu (R-N.H.) that would have cut $2 billion in spending from the federal crop insurance program and use the money for conservation and nutrition programs. The vote was 32 to 63. 
       The farm bill still faces some hurdles in the conference committee and the Bush administration has threatened to veto the legislation (see separate story).  (Contact: Charlie Ingram or Jennifer Yezak)