Ag Groups Push For 2012 Farm Bill Passage

WASHINGTONAs the Sept. 30 deadline looms for current farm bill to expire, U.S. agricultural groups rallied today in the nations capital urging Congress to pass the 2012 Farm Bill that would bring sweeping reform to U.S. agricultural policy.

Organized by the Farm Bill Now Coalition, the event featured remarks from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), House Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) on the importance of passing a Farm Bill.

David Masser, president and COO of Keystone Potato Products, took the podium on behalf of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) to emphasize the importance of Farm Bill-funded research initiatives on specialty crops.

Research funded by the 2008 Farm Bill has helped producers fight pests and diseases that threaten to destroy crops and has helped improve their food-safety programs," he said. As a farmer, I would never plant in the spring and leave the crop to rot in the fall. With the programs developed in the 2008 Farm Bill just beginning to see results, it would be just as irresponsible to stop their momentum. Many programs, such as research, cannot be turned on and off like a light switch; these long-term projects must continue uninterrupted in order to fully bear fruit."

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance members, including National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Potato Council, United Fresh and Western Growers also were in attendance to show their support for a strong Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill Now rally is an important opportunity to unite the agriculture community and send a message that action is necessary," said Robert Guenther, SCFBA secretary and United Fresh senior vice president of public policy. Now is the time for growers, shippers, packers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and anyone else involved in the supply chain to call their senators and representatives and let them know that this bill is a priority."

In May, 83 members of Congress representing key specialty crop interests sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson urging them to defend specialty crop programs and to swiftly pass the 2012 Farm Bill.

In June, the Senate voted 64-35 to pass the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, a massive 5-year half-trillion dollar legislation expected to save $24.7 billion over the next 10 years by eliminating direct payments, consolidating programs to end duplication, and taking action against food assistance abuse.

In mid-July, the House Agriculture Committee voted 35-11 to advance its version of the 2012 Farm Billthe Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2012. The 5-year legislation bill would save taxpayers money, reduce the nations deficit, and repeal outdated policies, while reforming, streamlining and consolidating others. Specifically, the House version would reduce spending by $35 billion by cutting $23.6 billion in commodity spending and $16.5 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) among other actions.