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FBF's Stallman: Farmers have already given on farm billWith the nation's farm bill successfully passing in both houses of Congress and awaiting action by a congressional conference committee, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman told reporters Jan. 15 that the nation's farmers and ranchers have already compromised on this vital legislation, and "are not really interested in going any further." Stallman's comments came during the opening news conference of AFBF's 89th annual convention. He said the House and Senate farm bills awaiting consolidation "represent significant reform." "We hope the conference committee reports out a farm bill we can accept," Stallman said. "I hope the administration will sign the bill and we can move forward with implementation." The administration, Stallman said, "has issued guidelines about what would constitute an acceptable bill the president could sign. Some of those guidelines include changing the funding structure of the legislation. Stallman called the administration's talk of a veto "disappointing." "I have talked to a lot of farmers and I can tell you they don't really care whether something is a budget gimmick, or closing a loophole, or providing a tax credit," Stallman said. "They don't really care about all the back and forth from Democrats and Republicans on those issues. What our members care about is: Are we going to have a farm bill and when are we going to know what the rules are so we can plan our planting operation?" With spring planting for summer crops just weeks away in some portions of the South, Stallman said farmers need to have answers soon. He said Farm Bureau members have continued to voice strong support for a farm bill that includes a "three-legged" economic safety net for farmers in the form of direct payments, countercyclical support and marketing loans. "The House and Senate farm bills both meet Farm Bureau's need to continue that safety net," Stallman said. "It will take a compromise from all parties to get it done, but we feel we have compromised a great deal from our organization's original proposal." 2/4/08 Date: 1/30/08 Advertisement
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