NSAC Comments on Senate Farm Bill Markup and Passage

NSAC Comments on Senate Farm Bill Markup and Passage Washington, DC – The Senate Agriculture Committee voted a new farm bill out of committee today by a vote of 16-5. The committee bill saves $23 billion over the next ten years according to budget estimates. The committee bill includes historic reforms to commodity subsidies. In addition to replacing automatic direct payments with a shallow loss revenue-based payment, the bill limits payments to not more than one farm manager per farm operation. Under current law, mega farms collect multiple payments worth millions of dollars through passive investors and landowners who are counted as farm managers. “We applaud the Senate Agriculture Committee for including common sense rules to commodity payments and ending years of abuse by closing program loopholes,” said Ferd Hoefner, Policy Director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. “Thanks to Senator Grassley’s (R-IA) tireless leadership, the Committee was able to make sure that hardworking farmers – not mega farms and absentee investors – are the key beneficiaries of farm programs.” The Committee also enacted a nationwide “Sodsaver” provision to protect native grass and prairie lands. The provision reduces crop insurance premium subsidies and tightens program rules in a manner that will reduce the taxpayer-funded incentive to destroy important grassland resources. “By agreeing to a nationwide ‘Sodsaver’ provision championed by Senators Thune (R-SD), Brown (D-OH), and Johanns (R-NE), the Senate Agriculture Committee made sure that taxpayer dollars are not subsidizing the destruction of native grass and prairie lands,” said Hoefner. “These lands are diminishing at a rapid rate and protecting them provides ranching opportunities and economic, environmental, and recreational benefits to rural communities.” While the Committee made progress on these commodity and crop insurance issues, there are several outstanding gaps in the proposed changes to the farm safety net. “By failing to place limitations on crop insurance subsidies and to re-attach soil erosion and wetland conservation requirements to crop insurance programs, the Committee has failed to do the full reform that is needed. We intend to continue to press these issues as the bill moves forward,” continued Hoefner. The Committee also made progress on critical programs that underpin economic growth. “The leadership of Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) and Senators Brown (D-OH), Leahy (D-VT), Harkin (D-IA), and Casey (D-PA) ensured that programs that spur economic growth in rural communities built on gains from the 2008 Farm Bill,” noted Hoefner. “The Committee reauthorized critical local food and organic programs, such as the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program, and National Organic Certification Cost Share." Despite progress, there were glaring shortfalls and omissions in the Committee’s draft. “Sens. Harkin (D-IA), Johanns (R-NE), Casey (D-PA), and Nelson (D-NE) championed various beginning farmer provisions, but the bill lacks a cohesive strategy to assist the next generation of American farmers,” said Hoefner. “Most noticeably, the Committee failed to provide adequate funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, thus limiting critical resources that new farmers need to succeed.” The Committee did not fund the rural development title or key programs targeted at socially disadvantaged producers, nor did it make needed improvements in farm to school programs. “We regret the Committee’s decision to drop current farm bill funding for minority farmers in the new bill, and will work to see that funding restored,” said Hoefner. “We also echo Sen. Brown’s (D-OH) concluding statements: without a strong investment in rural development programs we will miss the opportunity to truly make this bill a jobs bill,” said Hoefner. “Overall, the bill released out of Committee is an improvement over last year’s draft bill,” said Hoefner, “but there is a still a ways to go to produce a bill that expands opportunities for family farmers to produce good food, sustain the environment, and contribute to vibrant communities. We look forward to working with the Committee and the full Senate to ensure further progress toward that end.” The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.

Peterson Statement: Senate Agriculture Committee Approves 2012 Farm Bill

Peterson Statement: Senate Agriculture Committee Approves 2012 Farm Bill WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today made the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry approved the 2012 Farm Bill, “The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.” “This brings us one step closer to having a farm bill in place before the current bill expires in September. Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts have found a bipartisan way to move forward and the full Senate should now take action. Given today’s action, the House Agriculture Committee should move quickly to mark-up a farm bill. “The strong, bipartisan tone set by the Senate mark-up makes me more confident that we can get past some of the recent partisanship and get a farm bill done this year. We know there will be differences between the House and Senate bills but I am confident that, if permitted, we can work through these differences in conference committee.”

FRAC: Farm Bill Proposal Would Cut $4 Billion from SNAP, Resulting in Lost Meals for Struggling Americans

FRAC: Farm Bill Proposal Would Cut $4 Billion from SNAP, Resulting in Lost Meals for Struggling Americans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Etienne Melcher, 202.986.2200 x3012 Washington, D.C. – April 26 – The Farm Bill proposal passed today by the Senate Agriculture Committee includes a $4.49 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting states’ ability to operate “Heat and Eat” policies. “With millions of people struggling to pay for food, housing, health, and energy costs in this tough economy, the nation’s safety net must be strengthened -- not cut. Today’s vote means less food in the refrigerator for struggling families,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “Attempts to dismiss such cuts as ‘accounting’ fixes obscures the fact that it is a cut in benefits with real impact on people and their ability to purchase food.” Weill also noted recent polling data, which found widespread support for SNAP. Seventy-seven percent of voters said that cutting SNAP would be the wrong way to reduce government spending. “Americans recognize that SNAP works. Congress must stop these attempts to shred our safety net, and instead tackle hunger with the zeal that the situation – and that the public – demand,” said Weill. Many low-income Americans face an impossible choice between paying for food or paying for energy, but “Heat and Eat” coordinates SNAP and the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help them afford both. Currently, the District of Columbia and 14 states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin) implement “Heat and Eat” policies, with California soon to join them. These states’ LIHEAP agencies provide small cash LIHEAP benefits directly to SNAP households. This targeted LIHEAP benefit helps meet LIHEAP’s requirement for outreach, simplifies the SNAP shelter deduction calculation, and, by increasing SNAP benefits to more realistic levels, alleviates some of the untenable “heat or eat” choices that households face. Limiting SNAP “Heat and Eat” could trigger sizable reductions in monthly SNAP benefits for many households – an estimated $90 loss in benefits for households. “Cutting SNAP this way means lost meals for hungry Americans,” concluded Weill. “This cut is at odds with every bipartisan deficit proposal discussed over the past year, including the Budget Control Act which protected SNAP from cuts. Bipartisan groups such as Simpson-Bowles, Domenici-Rivlin, and the Gang of Six have recognized that it is a fundamental mistake to cut SNAP.”

Chairwoman Stabenow Opening Statement at Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Mark-Up

Chairwoman Stabenow Opening Statement at Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Mark-Up WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today delivered the following statement at the opening of the Committee’s meeting to consider and mark-up the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012. “This Committee is unique. Our hearing room doesn’t have a raised dais; instead we sit together around a table, not unlike the tables that America’s farmers sit around after a long day’s work. The work we do around this table is hard. Farm Bills are never easy. And a Farm Bill like this is especially hard when we’re making serious and needed reforms while also cutting the deficit by $23 billion. “We examined every program in the Farm Bill, and we reformed, streamlined, and consolidated to get perhaps the most significant reforms in agricultural policy of any Farm Bill in recent memory. “We’ve listened to farmers, strengthened crop insurance, and made that the centerpiece of risk management. “We have a risk management tool that supplements crop insurance that will work for farmers and save money. “Some of our members wanted an individual system; some wanted a county system – so we are giving farmers flexibility to decide what’s the best for their farm and the risks they face. “We have the tightest payment limits ever, and I want to thank Senator Grassley for his tireless work on this issue. “We now have one, simplified limit on income: $750,000. “We will give farmers the assistance they need when there are losses and it will be based on what they actually plant. “The era of direct payments is over. “We are striking a balance among the different regions and commodities. “We will now have a permanent baseline for livestock disaster assistance, and I want to thank Senator Baucus for his hard work and advocacy on this issue. “In short, we put together a bipartisan Farm Bill that’s focused on farmers and that gives them simplicity, flexibility, and real accountability. “We are continuing the incredible work that gets done every day because of the Conservation title. We are reducing complexity and refocusing programs to better support farmers and landowners who protect our land, water, and wildlife. We are increasing flexibility and transparency to make sure every dollar does the most good. “We are continuing our nation’s commitment to those most in need. Everywhere I go in Michigan, I hear from people who never in their lives imagined they would need food assistance. We need every dollar going to those who need it, not to waste, fraud, and abuse. “We are expanding export opportunities, investing in critical agricultural research, and supporting innovative bio-energy and bio-based manufacturing companies who are creating jobs all across the country. “We recognize the diversity of American agriculture, with a renewed commitment to specialty crops and organic farms as well as support for farmers’ markets and food hubs. “We streamlined the Rural Development title. We ended 16 authorizations that either have never gotten funding or were duplicative of other efforts, so that we could extend and simplify rural development loans that have proven effective for rural job-creators and local infrastructure projects. “This Farm Bill is a jobs bill, and you can see that in every title and on every page. America is the world leader in agricultural exports, and that success is not only critically important for our economy and the 16 million people whose jobs rely on agriculture, but also for our national security. That’s why we are so committed to get this done this year, and this markup is the first step in that process. “I want to thank all of our wonderful staff for their excellent work. And I want to thank the Department of Agriculture for all of their hard work and help as we’ve gone through this process. “I also want to thank every member of this committee, who have brought good ideas to the table, and worked hard in good faith to get us to today’s mark-up. “And I want to especially thank my great partner, Senator Roberts, for all of the long hours and hard work we have done together to write a farm bill that make sense for our farmers and ranchers, rural communities and American taxpayers and consumers. This has been a long and winding road, and I appreciate our partnership. “With that, I recognize Senator Roberts.”