07/27/07 Durbin Brown farm bill plan

As the full House prepares to complete action of the 2007 Farm Bill two Senators have their own farm bill plan. Democrats Dick Durbin of Illinois and Sherrod Brown of Ohio have unveiled the Farm Safety Net Improvement Act of 2007 to overhaul farm bill commodity programs. The American Farmland Trust and the National Corn Growers Association both believe the Durbin/Brown bill improves on the House version. Ralph Grossi is President of American Farmland Trust. GROSSI "It integrates the commodity programs with crop insurance programs which creates some savings to both the taxpayer and to farmers. It also sets a process for setting prices for the revenue targets that are market based instead of set by Congress." Grossi says Congress only sets target prices every five years and they're politically negotiated. GROSSI "As we went across the country in 2005 and 2006 talking to farmers they said they wanted a better safety net than the current system." Grossi believes the changes suggested by Durbin and Brown should help to liberalize international trade and reduce incentives to produce on marginal land. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott