12/13/07 Governors want a farm bill

Farm and Ranch December 13, 2007 Governors representing 19 states including Washington and Oregon have written their congressional leaders to encourage them to compromise on a new farm policy before the end of the year. The letter stated that this legislation is important to our agricultural producers, our rural businesses, our communities and our states. Now that the Senate is moving forward on the farm bill debate House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson says the farm bill could be on the President's desk by the end of next month. Peterson: "The end of January would probably be the most optimistic but I think we could get that done." For that to happen Peterson says the Senate must pass the farm bill before Congress adjourns for the holidays. Then he says the staff from the House and Senate Ag Committees can begin working on ironing out the differences. Once a conference report is passed Peterson believes a deal can be reached with President Bush to avoid a veto. He says a veto would hurt Republicans more than Democrats. Peterson: "I think it is going to be very hard for Republican members to explain back in their districts that the president is vetoing a bill that they helped put together." Chairman Peterson has also announced a plan to preserve the budget for the farm bill until new legislation is enacted. That language would be included in legislation Congress is expected to pass before the end of this year. The plan however would not extend 2002 commodity support programs to the 2008 crop year. Meanwhile in the Senate yesterday debate continued to amendments to the farm bill. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.