Senate Passes $286 billion Farm Bill

Big Agriculture got an early holiday gift today when the Senate passed the $286 billion Farm Bill, renewing millions of dollars in commodity payments for farmers, including disaster assistance.

Many agriculture supporters, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, had been concerned by proposed amendments to the Senate bill that would slash commodity payments to corn and beef farmers.

Ongoing delays by Congress had concerned wheat farmers in particular. According to the National Association of Wheat Growers, many farmers had already planted their spring crops, and were considering taking out bank loans if the bill didn’t pass.

“The Farm Bill benefits all Americans with important programs for nutrition, conservation, energy security and support for rural communities,” said Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman. “In doing so, the bill supports the production of our nation’s food and fiber staples and it preserves a way of life that benefits all of American society.”

The bill was originally projected to be finished over the summer, when the House version passed. Recently, farm lobbyists were urging lawmakers to pass the bill before Christmas recess.

Lawmakers also included funding for the expansion of school nutrition programs, wetland conservation and energy security.

However, the bill is not a win for everyone. The White House has already threatened a veto, and has told lawmakers for months that the $286 billion legislation benefits only large-scale wealthy farmers.

A number of health and environmental groups, including Environmental Defense and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, urged lawmakers to support bill amendments that would cut down on subsidies for crops that produce high-calorie foods, such as bacon and high fructose corn syrup.

Instead, the money would be rerouted to fund the expansion of fruit and vegetable production and other environmental conservation programs.

“We are extremely disappointed that Senate leaders threw away this historic opportunity,” said Environmental Defense attorney Sara Hopper.

Hopper said Senate leadership made it almost impossible to pass any amendments by requiring 60 votes for passage rather than the usual majority.

Lawmakers may be able to squeak a few reform measures into the bill while it’s in conference, but few interest groups are optimistic that there will be major changes to the Senate version.

Kyle Ash, legislative coordinator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, speculates that if a veto is handed down, the 2001 bill could be extended until the next administration takes office.

“In the long run, waiting two years is better than waiting five,” he said.

-- Erika Lovley