ACTION ALERT:
Senate Acting on Farm Bill this Week

TELL SENATORS TO CAP COMMODITY PAYMENTS & SHIFT
SAVINGS TO BEGINNING FARMER, CONSERVATION &
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

12/11/07
After weeks of gridlock and procedural delays, the Senate Farm Bill is up on the floor and being debated. While a number of different amendments are being proposed, the most important one will be the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Reform Amendment.

The Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Reform Amendment, introduced by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), will cap commodity payments to producers at $250,000 per person and close other loopholes that allow corporate agriculture to exploit the commodity program. The savings of $1.1 billion generated by the amendment will be applied to critical beginning farmer, conservation, nutrition and rural development programs.

Background: One of LSP’s major priorities in the 2007 Farm Bill is to pass funding and policies that will help the next generation of farmers take advantage of opportunities in agriculture and overcome barriers to succeed. The primary effort to support beginning farmers is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which would provide resources to community-based beginning farmer training, education and mentoring efforts. The current Senate Farm Bill doesn’t include funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. If passed, the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Reform Amendment would dedicate dollars to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and other beginning farmer programs.

CALL YOUR MINNESOTA U.S. SENATORS TODAY!! Tell them to vote YES on the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Reform Amendment. Your Senators need to hear from you now!

• Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN): 202-224-3244
• Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): 202-224-5641

BASIC MESSAGE:

I want Sen. (Coleman/ Klobuchar) to support the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Reform Amendment on the Senate floor.  This amendment will secure funds for beginning farmer, conservation and rural development programs while also capping the wasteful, unneeded commodity payments to the largest mega-farms.  It’s a good amendment for Minnesota and the strongest reform being proposed. Can I count on my Senator to support the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Reform Amendment?

This is the last chance for Senators Klobuchar and Coleman to take action and vote to curb excessive commodity programs and support beginning farmers.  Call them today!!

When you call, tell whoever answers the telephone that you want to leave a message for the Senator.  Ask them to write down your message and make sure to say who you are and where you’re from.  If you have to, it’s okay to leave a message on a machine.

If you have any questions, contact LSP’s Policy Office at 612-722-6377.

-30-