$288 Billion Farm Bill to be Finalized
by U.S. Senate Next Week

Battle Expected Over Amendment That Caps Commodity Payments &
Reinvests in Beginning Farmers, Rural Communities & Conservation

CONTACTS: Fred Dauer, Morgan, Minn., 507-829-6881;
Paul Sobocinski, Wabasso, Minn., 507-342-2323;
LSP Policy Office, 612-722-6377

11/2/07
The full U.S. Senate will debate agriculture policy next week, ultimately passing a five-year Farm Bill that sets forth the Senate’s plan for distributing $288 billion in farm, nutrition and conservation programs. Once the Senate passes its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, House and Senate conferees will hammer out a final bill that will be sent on to the President.

The key debate on the Senate floor is expected to be over the Dorgan-Grassley amendment, which applies caps to commodity program subsidies and closes loopholes that allow some investors and farm operators to collect seven-figure government checks each year.

The amendment sets a hard, enforceable cap of $250,000 per year for payments received by an individual, and redirects the more than $1 billion saved to three critical areas: conservation, nutrition and rural development.

“I want Senator Norm Coleman and Senator Amy Klobuchar to take a hard look at our farm program,” said Fred Dauer, a Morgan, Minn., farmer.  “It is wasteful to keep sending all this money to the biggest operators. Farm programs should assist the majority of our farms— small and medium-sized farms that support our local communities and schools.”

The savings from the Dorgan-Grassley payment limit amendment are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office at $1.1 billion over the next 10 years. Savings generated in the amendment will be directed to other conservation and rural development initiatives such as the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, the Grassland Reserve Program and others.

The issue of wasteful spending came to a head this year during the Farm Bill debate in the Senate. The push for financial reform gained momentum as farmers, conservationists and some elected officials pointed to more effective approaches to the farm program.

“For me and a lot of other farmers, I can see that there is opportunity in agriculture today, with growth in organics, biofuels and other areas,” said Paul Sobocinski, a Wabasso, Minn., farmer and Land Stewardship Project member.  “With a lot of hard work, there is opportunity.  But we can’t support beginning farmers and others and help them take advantage of those opportunities if we don’t do anything about the waste of public funds at the top end of the commodity system.  We need a cap, and we need to redirect the money that is saved in ways that benefit the public and the land.”

The Farm Bill debate could take place as early as Tuesday, Nov. 6, although observers think Wednesday or Thursday is more likely.

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