05/16/08 Finally, Congress passes the Farm Bill

The US Senate like the House has given approval to the new Farm Bill with both votes well above the two thirds majority needed to override a promised Presidential veto. Idaho Senator Larry Craig, like the other three members of the Idaho Congressional delegation voted for the compromise package. CRAIG "Mr. President, you and your people have been at the table working on this program with us for well over a year. Its time you recognized the value of this program and support us in that effort." There are 15 titles in the Farm Bill covering 673 pages of agricultural policy. The tax title in the bill includes language from Senator Mike Crapo's Endangered Species Recovery Act that gives tax deductions for implementing site specific management measures under the Endangered Species Act. Idaho specialty crop producers like potato growers will have two billion dollars in investment for the first time. Legislation continues or expands support for Idaho commodities like dairy, barley, wheat, sugar, pulse crops and wool and is intended to put more fruits and vegetables into school cafeterias. Four billion in new spending will go into conservation programs and there's disaster assistance for producers hit by drought, fire or flood. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott