11/05/07 Farm Bill hits the Senate floor

The Senate takes up the farm bill today and Senate Ag Committee member Mike Crapo says there are some provisions he doesn't like. He wants to improve conservation program funding and a new average crop revenue option. Overall, Crapo says the Senate bill has many benefits to Idaho producers. He likes the specialty crop program increases, a counter cyclical program for pulse crops, a pilot program for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, enhanced conservation programs, investment in energy programs, expanding the fresh fruit and vegetable program in our schools and some tax changes. There is certain to be a battle over an amendment to cap farm program payments at 250 thousand dollars. Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold says he'd like to strengthen that amendment. FEINGOLD "This just gets to be an absurdity. People with millions of dollars get this kind of benefit." Iowa's Chuck Grassley is behind that cap amendment but opposes Senator Richard Lugar's amendment to cut direct payments altogether and put more money into the food stamp program. GRASSLEY "I'm very much for direct payments because it fits in very well with our efforts to direct the safety net away from trade distorting subsidies." The Farm Bill debate could be long and loud and there will be differences that needed ironed out with the House passed version. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott