Farm bill runup

The battle for U.S. farm policy is on. Here is a release from Sen. Tom Harkin's office:

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), the Chairman and Ranking Member respectively of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, will join with members of the Committee to unveil the Chairman’s Mark of the 2007 farm bill, TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. EDT in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building. The 2007 farm bill that will continue a strong safety net for farmers and make investments for the future in nutrition, conservation, renewable energy rural development, and promoting healthy diets.

An open business meeting of the Committee to consider and report out the 2007 farm bill is scheduled for Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. EDT in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Here is the link to the farm bill titles at the Senate Agriculture Committee.

An alternate future for farm policy is being advocated by a coalition of environmental and reform minded senators.

Media Advisory for Tuesday, October 23, 3:15pm
Groups to Praise Introduction of Farm Bill Reform Legislation
on Eve on Senate Agriculture Committee Markup

What: Teleconference by groups interested in reforming U.S. farm policy to praise a bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators for introducing legislation to reform farm policy on the eve the Senate Agriculture Committee markup of the 2007 farm bill. The reform legislation, The Farm Ranch Equity Stewardship and Health (FRESH) Act of 2007, is authored by Senate Agriculture Committee Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and cosponsored by Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The FRESH Act would bring about much needed reform to commodity programs and crop insurance that will serve more farmers more fairly, provide an effective safety net for small and large farms, and promote healthier diets for Americans. The FRESH Act would target government assistance to help farmers when farm revenue declines, and would not provide subsidies to farms when they don’t need help.
Who: Tim Male, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense
Jim Lyons, VP for Policy and Communications, Oxfam America
Scott Faber, VP for Federal Affairs Affairs, Grocery Manufacturers of America/Food Products Association
Neal Barnard, MD, President, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
John Frydenlund, Director, Center for International Food and Agriculture Policy, Citizens Against Government Waste
Gina Villani, MD, MPH, Vice President, Health & Quality of Life, National Urban League
Kristina Rasmussen, Director of Government Affairs, National Taxpayers Union
Ms. Ryan Alexander, President, Taxpayers for Common Sense
Sandra Schubert, JD, MA, Director of Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group
When: Tuesday, October 23, 3:15pm
Why: The FRESH Act would provide an innovative, cost-saving farm safety net while overhauling crop subsidy programs, which currently help only one-third of American farmers. It would provide $6 billion more than the current farm bill in funding for farm conservation programs that help farmers improve water quality, air quality, and wildlife habitat and protect working farm and ranchland from sprawl. These reforms also would align our agricultural programs with our international obligations at the World Trade Organization. The FRESH Act would encourage a healthy food supply and would provide greater funding for nutrition programs.