10/24/07 Farm bill markup; emergency CRP grazing

The US Senate Agriculture Committee will consider and report out the farm bill today. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says a lot of the farm bill work has been completed in the Finance Committee. CRAPO "We have reached agreement in concept between the Democrats and the Republican leadership on the measures to move forward in the farm bill and it's expected or it's hoped that it will not be a contentious markup." Crapo believes that controversial issues will be held back and dealt with at a later time, most likely when the farm bill comes to the full Senate for a vote. The House has already completed its version of the Farm Bill and there are differences that have to be worked out with the Senate before any legislation can go to the President for his signature. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended to November 10th the opportunity for ranchers in drought and wildfire impacted Idaho counties to graze livestock on lands controlled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Counties eligible for the extended emergency grazing are: Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Camas, Caribou, Cassia, Franklin, Fremont, Oneida, Power, and Washington. Ranchers in these counties still need approval from the local Farm Service Agency. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott