Farm Bill Extension & Bank of America

Farm Bill Extension & Bank of America plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The House is discussing extending the 2008 farm bill. The House released language for a one-year extension of the current farm bill - including supplemental ag disaster assistance - on Friday afternoon - but it is unclear if this is seeking an actual extension or providing an avenue for a Senate-House farm bill conference. If it is approved - it will be conferenced with the Senate-passed farm bill in September. American Farm Bureau, National Corn Growers, the American Soybean Association and a host of conservation groups oppose a kick-the-can-down-the-road bill. Farm Bureau’s Deputy Director Dale Moore says passage does not seem a slam dunk, done deal - as many lawmakers are contacting farm groups back home. As for the Farm Bureau.

MOORE: We are opposed to this one year extension. it does not appear to be part of a larger strategy to get us to conference between the two versions that the House and Senate ag committees have put together and obviously the one has passed the Senate floor and this particular strategy does not seem to be something that the Senate is willing to work with.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance has decided to end its relationship with Bank of America after 25 years because of the bank’s public support of the Humane Society of the United States. The Alliance says it cannot continue a business relationship with companies that are contributing financially to extreme animal rights organizations that seek to eliminate the animal agriculture industry. The Alliance reached out to the bank last month in hopes it would discontinue its HSUS affinity card program.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

There are a lot of jobs out there that come with risks, some more than others. Many young farmers just starting out this year may be asking themselves what they’ve gotten themselves into, what with the worst drought in decades scorching a major portion of the country. But as most seasoned farmers with years of experience fighting droughts, floods, disease, and pests would tell them, when you go into farming, you know there will be years like this. Still it can be quite difficult to remain optimistic during such times. Farming is after all a risky and uncertain business even at the best of times. It is also a lifestyle worth preserving and defending. Mother Nature is going to win every once in a while, that’s just a fact of life. Farmers young and old know that. They also know that farming, despite all its trials, can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying jobs in the world. Non-farmers cite numerous reasons why not to be a farmer, “you can’t make any money farming, you have to have expensive equipment, the markets determine how much you make, and you work 24/7”. Truth is, they’re at least partially right. But farmers don’t farm because it pays well and it has a benefit package, they farm because they love it.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.