Senate Passes Farm Bill

The U.S. Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill on Friday by a 79-14 vote on Friday. The measure includes farm income protection, makes investments for the future in energy, conservation, nutrition and rural development initiatives and stays within strict budget limits. President Bush has indicated that he will veto the bill.

President Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin (IA-D) said: “This is a strong, bipartisan bill – evident by the fact that it passed Committee after only one day of deliberation with no negative votes voiced against it and passed the Senate today by an overwhelming majority. After months of negotiations, we were able to work within a very strict budget allocation to complete our work and pass a farm bill that is good for agriculture, good for rural areas and good for the health of Americans” said Chairman Harkin. “This is a forward-looking farm bill with greatly strengthened initiatives to support renewable energy, conservation, nutrition, rural development and to promote better diets and health for all Americans. It maintains a strong safety net for farm producers, and strengthens programs that will help agricultural producers of all kinds across our nation.”

The bill includes provisions for a new Producer Income Protection title that gives producers the option to choose to participate in a state-level revenue protection system. The Average Crop Revenue program offers producers options for managing risk on their farms in today’s uncertain, rapidly changing farm environment. Specialty crop producers will receive greater financial assistance under the bill.

A conference committee comprised of member of the House and Senate will now work out differences between the chambers’ versions of the farm bill. It is expected that the conference committee will meet after the beginning of the New Year. The Associated Press has published a comparison the House and Senate bills. (Read)

Harkin Says Senate Could Pass Farm Bill Next Week

Reuters reports that Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) indicated in a telephone interview today that: "the Senate would pass the farm bill no later than next week." Harkin also said that he hopes to build a veto-proof majority for the bill.

The wire service also reports that the Senate rejected the "Fresh Act" which would have replaced U.S. farm subsidies with government-paid insurance policies. The rejected legislation would have eliminated the $5.2 billion paid annually in direct payments and replaced them with insurance policies to protect growers from a steep drops in revenue or yields.

Senate Begins Farm Bill Debate

The Senate began debating amendments to its version of a farm bill Friday after reaching a bi-partisan agreement that would limit each 20 amendments. More than 200 amendments to the bill had been previously offered.

Agriculture Online reports that it is unlikely that voting on amendments likely won't start until Tuesday and debate could last through most of next week.

House Passes Broad Energy Bill, But Senate Fails to Consider Measure

Yesterday the House passed an extensive energy bill that raises fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years, requires the use of renewable fuels for electricity generation, and provides support for small businesses looking to create the innovations that will serve as the basis for our energy future. However, today the Senate failed to muster enough votes to close debate on the bill as it was passed by the House.

The Washington Post reports that the House legislation would: "raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity." The measure would require auto manufacturers' vehicle fleets to average 35 miles per gallon by 202o. Also by 2020, the nation's utilities would have to derive 15 percent of the electricity they generate from renewable energy sources, including solar, wind power, and biomass.

Additionally, the House measure includes key measures from H.R. 2389, The Small Energy Efficient Business Act (SEEBA), introduced by Congressman Heath Shuler (NC-11). The included provisions provide loans, education and investment to small businesses to help them reduce their consumption of power through the use of more efficient technology and direct capital investment to producers of renewable fuels, spurring expansion, job creation and new ideas throughout the sector.

It is expected that the Senate will reconsider the bill on Tuesday. The new version of the bill that will likely omit the requirement for electric utilities to use renewable energy.