FARM BILL CONFEREES APPROVE MAJOR TITLES
News Date May 06, 2008
House and Senate Farm Bill conferees met May 1 and completed work on most titles of the farm bill, but postponed action on several key items where agreement could not be reached. Congress also passed legislation to extend current farm bill programs for another two weeks until May 16.
Lawmakers are continuing negotiations with the administration on payment limitations; reimbursements for geographically disadvantaged farmers in Hawaii and Alaska; dairy import assessments; and privatization of state food stamp program administration. Final votes are expected the week of May 5 when the conferees are scheduled to meet again. Negotiations are also continuing on a tax package that will be used to fund farm bill programs. During the session on May 1, conferees took the following action:
* Approved the Research Title VII including provisions on: 1) funding allocations for specialty crop research of $23 million; 2) funding allocations for organic crops; 3) a study on cloned animals; and 4) education research.
* Approved the Specialty Crop Title X, including $499 million in mandatory spending for the specialty crop block grant program and $33 million for the Farmers' Market Promotion Program for a total of $986 million in spending for the title.
* Approved the Crop Insurance Title XI including 34 provisions agreed to by negotiators. Conferees had lengthy debate and approved a Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) amendment that would: 1) move up insurance billing dates; and 2) reduce federal premium subsidies for area policies by 4 percentage points beginning in 2012. Conferees defeated an Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) substitute amendment that would allow a combination of policies by a vote of 10 to 7.
* Approved the Conservation Title II, including: 1) provisions dealing with the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Conferees remained deadlocked and postponed action on an Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.) amendment on the source water protection program.
* Approved the Livestock Title X. After lengthy debate, defeated a Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) amendment to prohibit packer ownership of livestock and agreed to the House position.
* Approved the Nutrition Title IV including provisions agreed to by negotiators on minimum benefit levels for food stamps; indexing food stamp eligibility to inflation; increased funding for emergency food assistance/food banks; increased funding for the fruit and vegetable snack program. Conferees approved a Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) amendment for a grain/cereal pilot program for schools with $4 million in funding from Section 32 funds.
* Approved Commodity Title I including 60 items dealing with target prices, loan rates, counter-cyclical payments, and treatment of base acres. Conferees defeated a Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) amendment to restore $313 million in budget reductions for direct payments by a vote of 7 to 9. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)