10/03/07 Crapo opposes Harkin's direct payment cuts

Some in the Senate want to mark up the Farm Bill before the Columbus Day break but nothing is happening. Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin hasn't set a date for that even though he says he wants a markup by next week. Harkin is also proposing big cuts in direct payments to producers. His plan to slash 4.5 billion in direct payments has drawn fire from Senator Mike Crapo and four other Ag Committee members. CRAPO "Those direct payments are one of the most successful parts of the Farm Bill that we currently have and they are one of the main provisions in the bill that really work for our agricultural producers at times when they need that safety net." Crapo believes there's enough opposition to Harkin's proposal that it won't get Senate approval. South Dakota Senator John Thune says that's why North Dakota's Kent Conrad and Georgia's Saxby Chambliss are working on alternative versions of the farm bill. THUNE "We're really waiting to see how many of the things we want to see included in the bill are actually in the chairman's mark and that will pretty much I think dictate whether or not we offer amendments, whether we offer an entire substitute." Harkin wants to take the direct payment money and pump it into nutrition programs and the Conservation Security Program which he originated. If the Senate Ag Committee can approval a bill before the end of this month it would go to the full Senate where Nevada's Harry Reid promises to give it plenty of floor time. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott