06/20/07 House subcommittee votes to extend current commodity programs

Farm and Ranch June 20, 2007 The U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the commodity title of 2002 Farm Bill, renewing it in a 2007 Farm Bill. The action came after the subcommittee rejected several alternatives. Defeated were the USDA's proposed Farm Bill, a proposal for an agricultural subsidy buyout, and Wisconsin Representative Ron Kind's plan which would gut program crop subsidies and emphasize conservation. Kansas Republican Jerry Moran's comments were typical of subcommittee members. Moran: "I think we are the position in which, because of the budget circumstance we find ourselves in, that extension of the current Farm Bill is the best outcome for the farmers and ranchers and consumers in this country. I clearly believe the current Farm Bill is good farm policy. I voted for it. I supported it." After the committee voted to extend the 2002 Farm Bill, USDA official Chuck Connors reiterated some of the Administration's criticism of the existing law. Connors: "That is simply a fact of current law. It provides the least help when the farmer needs it the most. And you know this is a problem. I appreciated the bipartisan comments earlier of willing to work with us. Know that this needs work." The 2007 Farm Bill remains a work in progress. The full House Ag Committee is to hold its mark up next week. House floor action has now been moved to the last full week of July.. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.