To the brink

Congress and White House are going to the brink in farm bill negotiations, and the White House over the weekend presented Congressional leaders with a list of ten demands they require of the bill is funded $10 billion over the baseline. From coverage by Sally Schuff of Feedstuffs, noted this morning by Luis in the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group:

Key among the 10 demands is one that would end farm program eligibility for participants who pay income tax on an adjusted gross income (AGI) of more than $500,000 annually.

TK: Sally Schuff also notes the 3-page White House letter demand the elimination of new subsidy programs and elimination of the prohibition of the planting of fruits and vegetables on farm program base acres. She also notes that "a number of miscellaneous provisions were also opposed by the Administration." Let's hope that number doesn't include the fruit and vegetable program for schools, which has raised some objections from the White House in earlier position papers. Peterson indicated to Schuff that Congress would consider the White House demand but wouldn't allow terms to be dictated. I'll see if Kate Cyrul at Harkin's office or Robert Guenther at United has a copy of the White House letter we can post to discussion group.