07/23/07 Farm Bill headed to House floor

Farm and Ranch July 23, 2007 A 2007 Farm Bill unanimously adopted by the House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to move to the House floor for debate later this week with a vote expected before the August recess. House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson says the legislation is a good bill. Peterson: "It signals a new direction and it makes significant changes and reforms, but it also maintains the safety net that is so critical to maintain independent family farmer agriculture in the United States." The bill adds to programs in nutrition, renewable energy, and conservation as well as provides new funds for fruits and vegetables. The Committee also approved language that will finally allow full implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling for red meat in September of 2008. The measure greatly eases U.S. cattlemen's concerns that proving origin of their cattle would require burdensome record-keeping. Another important issue in the committee passed farm bill is the one-million dollar adjusted gross income cap on individuals eligible to receive farm subsidies. The provision also prevents individuals from collecting payments under multiple business entities. Chairman Peterson says Senate Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin was surprised by the what the House committee had been able to do. Peterson: "Obviously this will put a lot of pressure on him and on the Senate to move sooner rather than later." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.