Senate Farm Bill Deal Leaves Beginning Farmers Out

Montevideo Farmer Participates in Washington Fly-in

CONTACT: Audrey Arner, LSP farmer, 320-269-8971
Adam Warthesen, LSP Policy Staff, 612-722-6377

10/18/07
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Minnesota farmers expressed disappointment today in a Senate Farm Bill deal that lacks vital support for beginning farmers and ranchers. The proposed Farm Bill, which was announced Oct. 17 by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senate Budget Committee Chair Kent Conrad (D-ND), allocates nearly $300 billion over five years to commodity subsidies, conservation programs and nutrition. But it fails to prioritize critical resources for beginning farmers and ranchers. 

“We’re disappointed that this draft bill, agreed to by leadership, fails to provide smart, cost-effective support and incentives for America’s next generation of family farmers,” said Audrey Arner, a Land Stewardship Project member who farms near Montevideo, Minn. Arner returned Wednesday from a Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment Washington, D.C., fly-in which the Land Stewardship Project helped lead. “We are hoping some newer leaders on the Senate Agriculture Committee will step up to restore the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program funding to the bill.”

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which would support community-based beginning farmer training and education programs, was one of the main talking points during the Washington fly-in.  In addition to conducting meetings with members of Congress and their staff about beginning farmer policy, fly-in participants advocated for working lands conservation programs such as the Conservation Security Program, which received additional funding in the Harkin/Conrad proposal.

Senator Harkin had previously included the main components of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act in his draft bill, according to reports. But the key beginning farmer and rancher provisions were removed during negotiations with Senator Conrad on Tuesday night. 

“Clearly there is opportunity in agriculture today—in organics, new energy crops and in growing for local and regional food systems,” said Arner. “This opportunity to help get new farmers started should not be ignored by the Senate. We need the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program with $15 million in dedicated funding amended into the Senate bill in committee.”

The U.S. House of Representatives included strong beginning farmer policy and funding in the House version of the Farm Bill, passed in July. The measure, co-sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) and Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN), also received strong support from House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN).

The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to meet Tuesday, Oct. 23, to hear the Harkin/Conrad proposal, and possibly to amend it, before sending it to the full Senate for a vote.

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