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Ag organizations offer opinions on Senate farm billBy Jennifer M. Latzke An announcement of Senate approval of a farm bill brought responses from the various farm and ranch organizations across the country. As with any bill, there are mixed reactions. Some groups cite parts of the Senate bill that must be ironed out in conference, but applaud the remainder. For the most part, the reaction across the board was a sense of relief that something is being accomplished before the holidays and before the spring planting season. American Farm Bureau Federation Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said in a statement that he was encouraged the Senate had taken a step toward a farm bill with time running out for farmers waiting to make planting decisions. "Farmers and ranchers are encouraged with the knowledge they are one step closer to being able to make important spring planting decisions," Stallman said. "This legislation contains important provisions for all sectors of agriculture, including expanded marketing programs to encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables, incentives for beginning farmers and ranchers and provisions to promote the production of home-grown renewable fuels," Stallman added. "The bill also meets the needs of more of America's farmers by providing new funding for specialty crop research, conservation and pest and disease programs." National Cattlemens Beef Association While some provisions in the Senate bill are positive for its members, such as a provision allowing for interstate shipment of state-inspected meat and a provision making modest improvements to the country-of-origin labeling law that is set to become mandatory in September 2008, the National Cattlemens Beef Association also warned the Senate package is far from perfect. Of notable concern to the group is a ban on packer ownership that would stop marketing alliances between cattlemen and packers. And, as the bill moves through conference, NCBA will urge the committee to strip the packer ban language. "NCBA policy supports a competitive, free-enterprise market," said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt in a statement. "It is unfortunate that the Senate chose to include legislative language that limits cattlemen's ability to market their cattle in ways that provide the best return on their investment. "This provision will hurt consumers, stifle the entrepreneurial spirit of cattle producers and put the government in charge of a rancher's business decisions," Truitt said. Additionally, NCBA takes issue with the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) cap and payment limitations for conservation that exist in the House version. As the farm bill goes to conference, NCBA urges the committee to exempt cost-share programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) from the AGI caps and payment limits. R-CALF USA On the other side of the beef coin R-CALF USA, in a statement to media, praised the Senate version for its inclusion of provisions it says improve the competitiveness of the U.S. livestock market. Those provisions include the ban on packer ownership of livestock; the establishment of an Office of Special Counsel for Agricultural Competition to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act, and a directive to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to define "undue preferences and advantage" within the PSA. "We fought for more improvements but they were met with such vehement opposition from the meat packing lobby, which included the American Meat Institute (AMI) and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), and were not able to be included," said R-CALF USA Vice President/Region II Director Randy Stevenson, who also chairs the group's marketing committee. According to R-CALF USA, an amendment from Sen. Jon Tester, D-MT and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-IA, would have closed a loophole in the PSA that "allows meat packers to circumvent the PSA's prohibition against price control and price manipulation if a meatpacker claims it had a 'business justification' for its actions." "We will continue working with Congress to close this loophole and we appreciate the Senators who tried to help us do this within the Farm Bill," Stevenson added. National Association of Wheat Growers John Thaemert, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said in a press statement, "Wheat growers have been waiting for this day for a long time. I was extremely happy to see the Senate reject a number of unfriendly amendments and finally pass a farm bill (Dec. 14) maintaining the direct payment and including supplemental assistance for producers facing disasters." Thaemert said he was glad the delays to the farm bill were over, especially since their crop was already in the ground. "The delays have forced growers and bankers across the country to establish plans for the coming year without a clear idea of cash flow, and have impacted the ability of USDA cooperators like U.S. Wheat Associates to market our products overseas," he said. National Corn Growers Association The National Corn Growers Association was particularly pleased at the adoption of the Average Crop Revenue (ACR) program in the commodity title. According to an NCGA statement this will incorporate a more market-oriented farm safety net program that meets the needs of producers in a new economy. ACR is scheduled to be available beginning 2010 and is designed to deliver more efficient support for producers who experience revenue shortfalls. "NCGA applauds the Senate for working in a bipartisan fashion to pass this legislation before the Christmas holiday," said NCGA President Ron Litterer. "Corn growers nationwide are pleased by the Senate's support for advancing an optional revenue-based safety net for farmers." National Cotton Council The National Cotton Council leadership in a statement applauded the passage in the Senate of the farm bill. Of concern to cotton producers were the potential provisions to limit payments to farmers. NCC Chairman John Pucheu called the legislation an effective, budget responsible safety net that includes improvements to enhance competitiveness, assist domestic manufacturers and allow commercially viable operations to participate. American Cotton Producers Chairman Jay Hardwick, in a statement from NCC, was appreciative to Senate leadership for rejecting an amendment that would implement a revenue insurance program that would not benefit Sunbelt diversified operations. "Growers and their bankers are grateful that Senators Chambliss' and Lincoln's efforts preserved responsible reform and improvements and resulted in the rejection of unworkable proposals that were clearly detrimental to Sunbelt growers," Hardwick said. American Sheep Industry Association The American Sheep Industry Association is pleased that the Senate included an increase in the wool loan rate to $1.20 in the commodity section, said ASI President Burdell Johnson in a statement. The re-authorization of the USDA rural development sheep center that expired last fall and the permanent disaster program for livestock were welcome sights as well. "Programs also include a provision allowing livestock grazing of invasive species on Conservation Reserve Program ground in the conservation title," Johnson said. Additionally, provisions for stronger mandatory country of origin labeling for lamb and the ability for interstate shipment of state-inspected lamb were applauded by ASI. No matter which side of the issues their organizations take, farm leaders have one thing in common. And, that is the hope that a new farm bill that meets the needs of their members is passed as soon as possible. Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807, or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. 12/24/07 Date: 12/20/07
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