What is sustainable agriculture? - The dialogue begins with the Standards Committee

Ryan Kane here in the office just forwarded me this very important news release. Big questions remain about the inclusivness of the group, though a committee of 58 should bring a broad spectrum of views to the table. From the release:

(August 14, 2008) Emeryville, CA — The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process to develop a national standard for sustainable agriculture will take another important step forward this September as the newly formed Standards Committee meets to establish its work plan and form the Subcommittees that will negotiate the contents of the final standard.

The 58 individuals on the Standards Committee will take the reins of the standard-setting process at the first Standards Committee meeting, to be held in Madison, Wisconsin next month. The Standards Committee includes farmers, both large and small, representing conventional, organic and other alternative agriculture perspectives, as well as wholesalers and retailers. Also represented on the committee are major industry associations, as well as academic researchers, regulators, and environmental and labor representatives.

“This is an exciting moment, as it sets the stage for the first national discussion about sustainable agriculture, and the many important issues encompassed by this concept,” said Michael Arny, president of Leonardo Academy, the ANSI-accredited standards development organization charged with shepherding the process forward. “There are still ample opportunities for additional stakeholders to participate by applying to work on the various Subcommittees, and later during the public review and comment process. The ANSI process is an open process that welcomes everyone.”

Sustainability is widely understood to encompass environmental, social, and economic parameters, dating back to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. For agricultural products, safety and quality parameters are also a key part of the sustainability discussion. SCS-001, the draft standard that will serve as the starting point for discussions, also addresses the impacts of product packaging, the responsibilities of the supply chain, and agricultural practices that can minimize greenhouse gases.

“We would like to congratulate Leonardo Academy on the incredible job they’ve done in selecting a balanced, multi-stakeholder task group to serve on the Standards Committee,” said Linda Brown, executive vice president of Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). “The commitment of so many talented individuals to participate in a constructive, forward-looking sustainability dialogue bodes well for a process that will help guide sustainability practices for years to come. We look forward to taking our seat at this table among these exceptional individuals.”

According to Arny, the Leonardo Academy’s aims is to guide a process that supports continuous improvement over time in a measurable and transparent manner, with sufficient flexibility to take into account the changes that inevitably occur in ecosystems, and the production variables associated with different agricultural regions.

“This standard could serve many beneficial uses,” said Arny. “It could stimulate better understanding of sustainability dynamics, provide a roadmap for practical improvement, and establish a credible infrastructure and procedures for meaningful verification of claims.”

Remote access to meetings for participants at both the Standards Committee and Subcommittee levels will remove barriers to participation for members who are not able to travel to meetings. This will also help reduce the energy burden and lower the carbon footprint of the standard setting process itself.

“The challenges ahead are significant, including regional variables, important product sector distinctions, concerns that the interests of small and mid-scale farmers be protected, and awareness that standards must remain flexible enough to encourage continuing innovation,” Brown observed. “Likewise, there is a growing recognition that sustainability is itself a journey, one that ultimately involves relationships along the entire value chain, from grower to consumer. And there are still many unknowns, because our understanding of sustainability evolves along with our increasing knowledge about the risks to the environment. But it is these very challenges that provide the most compelling reasons for stakeholders to join in this national sustainability dialogue.”

Discussion Group considers the future of produce safety oversight

The Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group continues to add members, now topping 130. The numerical growth is gratifying, but more than that the group is gaining steam as an ongoing forum for important industry topics. Here is a recent thread about the future of produce safety oversight:


Valerie of the group asked if the FDA isn't distracted by the demands of their mission to oversee drugs and pharmaceuticals:

Valerie: I don't think they have enough resources to focus on alternative medications / dietary supplements as well as food because they really never needed to. Just my thoughts.


Pamela: Kind of like the department of homeland security being in charge of FEMA?
Little too much going on for one agency?


Manuel: I totally agree. When FDA went to Florida to present their work plan to the tomato growers, their focus was entirely from a research point of view. Whenever their were asked to bring their proposals down to a field operations level, they were completely lost. The have no experience in that field.
I am running a project in Mexico now, and called FDA to see if we could develop a pre-clearance program just like USDA has in many countries. As you might know, there have been rumors of FDA developing programs like such in the past. Long story short, no one even knew who to ask, or even if or when they might be able to start discussing the possibility of implementing a pre-clearance program.
USDA might not be a perfect agency (risking an understatement) but at least they do their job and the industry has a solid relationship with it.

In a later post, Steve writes:

Neither the FDA or the USDA have the manpower, energy or mandate to accomplish the job that needs to be done. Both organizations spend more time in bureaucratic bungalese than in actual plants doing the important work. Witness the recent recall of 5.3 million pounds of beef from Nebraska Beef for E. Coli; do we want the USDA doing these inspections? They have the same solutions the FDA has, if there is an issue, recall it all because comprehensive testing is not done and there are no traceback procedures in place.
Both organizations need to be essentially disbanded and reorganized into one inspection organization with responsibility for meat, produce, food processing and imports. There are plants that have USDA inspectors for one area, an FDA person with responsibility (during maybe two visits a year) for another area, maybe a state inspector a few times a year and customer mandated (due to no faith in government inspections) private inspections to try and make up for all the holes during their two or three visits a year.
No microbial testing, sporadic inspections, no traceback... sounds like the system works exactly as it was designed to; poorly.


Luis, a long time contributor to the board, concludes:

The single agency is the approach of the Safe Food Act introduced by Energy and Commerce. Calls for a single agency have been going on for decades and face both internal opposition from agencies and committees defending turf as well as external opposition by some industry groups. Change is very difficult. Disbandment and re-organization is not very likely, bar some catastrophe. The most one could expect is perhaps a bit of a re-organization, a bit more funding, a few more mandates (traceability etc.) and initiatives, lots of we are making progress publicity but nothing so substantial it breaks the inertia (ie. the delicate balance). May be something good could come out of all this.
Too much reading of US regulatory system failures, excess and decadence has me a bit pessimistic this 4th of July but plan to go out to watch the fireworks this evening a be reminded why this country unlike no other one on earth.
Cheers!


TK: You will come to appreciate the insights of individual members of the FPIDG and value the forum they provide. Join today and add to the discussion.....

Goodlatte: reduce ethanol mandate

The chinks in the ethanol armor are increasingly evident. From the office of Rep. Bob Goodlatte:


Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte and 50 of his Republican colleagues sent a letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking the Agency to reduce the amount of ethanol mandated by the 2009 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to help alleviate the pressure on rising corn prices. Corn prices have increased significantly over the last few years and coupled with increased energy prices, livestock producers throughout the country are struggling under the weight of increased input costs. As a result of the record corn prices, wheat, soybeans, rice, and other food commodities have also seen a dramatic price increase and continue to drive up food costs for American consumers.
There are a variety of factors contributing to high commodity prices including export restrictions, energy prices, and global demand. Recently, adverse weather conditions in the U.S. have further exacerbated shortages in and increased prices on the commodity market. Nearly one-third of the U.S. corn crop is projected to be used to meet the increased RFS of 9 billion gallons of ethanol in 2008.
Currently, the EPA is reviewing the waiver request sent by Governor Rick Perry of Texas seeking a 50% reduction in the RFS. States can request waivers for up to one year and may ask for the waiver to be renewed at the discretion of the Administrator.
“The recent flooding in the Midwest has created devastating crop losses and these record corn prices will continue to climb. There are many factors that have increased the price of corn, but the only factor that we can immediately control is the amount of the corn supply that must be dedicated to meet the RFS. Our livestock producers and the American consumer have been hit hard in the pocket books. I urge the Administration to reduce the government mandated RFS so we can lessen the economic harm facing millions of Americans,” said Ranking Member Goodlatte. “I support the development and use of alternative fuels; however, we cannot allow government mandates to pick winners and losers. A temporary waiver will offer immediate relief to those affected by the current shortage of the corn supply.”

High fuel costs? ZAP them away

Guest blogger Lance Jungmeyer here ...

In certain applications, this new electric truck from ZAP may prove beneficial to produce companies.

Not due on the market until this fall, it is reasonably priced at around $15,000. Run time and performance are not listed on the site. Its performance likely will be an improvement over ZAP's Xebra cars, which can go only 40 mph and last 25 miles on a charge.

I could see these trucks being used inside and outside packing facilities, as well as in fields. In urban areas, if the truck were adapted with a refrigerated cargo area, it would be ideal for deliveries to restaurants and small grocers.

In heavy delivery use, one of these vehicles could probably pay for itself within a couple years.

In Lenexa and in Rome - Biofuels

Agriculture Under Secretary Tom Dorr visited The Packer's offices yesterday, primarily speaking of biofuels and food security. I'll have more on that session with Dorr and Vance Publishing editors in my column and on the blog later, but suffice to say he put up a spirited defense of the ethanol industry and warned about short sighted policy moves that could derail America's efforts to find alternative fuels.

The issue of biofuels impact on food prices and availability is looming large at the UN Food Security Summit in Rome. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer held a Q and A and I pulled out a couple of questions during the exchange. For one thing, I was shocked to hear Schafer's prediction of a 40% rise in global food prices in the next year; I thought I had been hearing numbers in the single digits, at least in the U.S. From the press conference:

REPORTER: Is it that biofuels is just one of many contributing factors? Could you have any figures for that for them? How many percent is that, is it contributes to the --

SEC. SCHAFER: Yes. We at the United States Department of Agriculture have plotted the long-term trends of price, yield, availability and consumption; and as we've looked at those long-term trends we are anticipating this year an over 40 percent increase in food price inflation globally, 43 percent approximately. Of that, we can identify 2 to 3 percent of that price increase that is driven by biofuels. The majority of course is energy, and the second largest piece, or about equal piece, is the increase in consumption around the world which is using up the production stocks. So we see, the figures that we are looking at show about a 3 percent, or a little under, effort on biofuels to actually drive up the inflation rate of food.

REPORTER: Stephanie Holmes from BBC News Website. You said that you think the biofuels only accounts for 2 to 3 percent of the price increases, but there are lots of estimates from respected think tanks that say it might account for up to a third. Would the U.S. consider a moratorium on biofuels? And also, they are not considered incredibly efficient; corn-based ethanol is not considered efficient as a means of making energy.

SEC. SCHAFER: Well, you know, it's one of the great things about the gathering of many countries at a place like this is to be able to reconcile numbers, to look at differences of opinion, to be able to come to some conclusion about what real numbers are or are not. As we have looked at the numbers, I think it's very clear that biofuels produce about 3 percent or a little under of the global inflation rate of food.

And beyond that, they produce many, many positive aspects. By biofuels, we are reducing the use of the high cost of oil today. It's been estimated that we have, through biofuel production, reduced a million barrels a day of oil and oil record high prices. That makes a lot of difference to a lot of people. Environmentally, they are better. There are things in gasoline, in the aromatics and things, that aren't as good as biofuels; they are better issue. And whether the energy created is more or less, is again a subject of debate. Many studies show that it is not [less energy created], that it is an efficient producer of energy. That as we've increased the fermenting process and increased the yields per acre of corn for instance as a feedstock, we have seen the cost of that energy go down and the efficiency go up.

So I am hoping that we can get together on some of these vast differences of opinion and come to some conclusions as to what's real versus what's emotional or socially driven or governmental driven. But you know, let's look at the numbers and see what we have.

REPORTER: Can I ask you, what's the subsidy the U.S. provides for its corn biofuel each year?

SEC. SCHAFER: We have currently a subsidy of [51] cents per gallon. That is going down now to [45] cents per gallon.

REPORTER: But as a total on an annual basis, how many millions of dollars?

SEC. SCHAFER: Oh, I don't know that number.

REPORTER: ... is that right?

SEC. SCHAFER: I don't know the number. Does anybody? We can get the number. We'll get the number for you. Thank you.

She's asking the total.

Harkin: Don't weaken ethanol goals

Furor over food prices continues. From the office of Sen. Tom Harkin:

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should uphold the ethanol standards passed by the energy bill with an expansion of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Earlier today, 23 Senate Republicans urged the agency to halt ethanol production expansion.
“To single out increased biofuels production and use in the United States, European Union and other countries as the chief cause of higher world food prices is an over-simplification of the problem. Numerous factors are contributing to this increase in prices: a strong demand for food imports in Asian countries such as China and India, abetted by the weak U.S. dollar, high energy costs, and poor harvests over the last few years in key producing countries such as Australia and the European Union.
“There is no question that rising food prices are turning into a global concern, but the call for EPA to halt the growth in U.S. ethanol use and cut short the promise of biofuels for our nation’s energy security is without merit. Instead, we must get to the heart of the problem by evaluating the root cause of high food prices and expanding the use of alternative feedstocks in ethanol production, such as the investment in production of biofuels from cellulosic materials in the farm bill currently moving through Congress.”

Press conference - President Bush

It sure seems like President Bush either wants no part of a new farm bill or is eager to veto it. From the press conference of President Bush this morning:




Americans are concerned about rising food prices. Unfortunately, Congress is considering a massive, bloated farm bill that would do little to solve the problem. The bill Congress is now considering would fail to eliminate subsidy payments to multi-millionaire farmers. America's farm economy is thriving, the value of farmland is skyrocketing, and this is the right time to reform our nation's farm policies by reducing unnecessary subsidies. It's not the time to ask American families who are already paying more in the check-out line to pay more in subsidies for wealthy farmers. Congress can reform our farm programs, and should, by passing a fiscally responsible bill that treats our farmers fairly, and does not impose new burdens on American taxpayers.


Later....

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to ask you about an area --

THE PRESIDENT: You're welcome.

Q -- where food prices and energy come together; that's biofuels.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q The World Bank says about 85 percent of the increase in corn price since 2002 is due to biofuel -- increased demand for biofuels. And your Secretary of State said that -- indicated yesterday that she thought that might be part of the problem. Do you agree with that? And what can the United States do -- what more can the United States do to help make food more affordable around the world?

THE PRESIDENT: Actually, I have a little different take: I thought it was 85 percent of the world's food prices are caused by weather, increased demand and energy prices -- just the cost of growing product -- and that 15 percent has been caused by ethanol, the arrival of ethanol.

By the way, the high price of gasoline is going to spur more investment in ethanol as an alternative to gasoline. And the truth of the matter is it's in our national interests that our farmers grow energy, as opposed to us purchasing energy from parts of the world that are unstable or may not like us.

In terms of the international situation, we are deeply concerned about food prices here at home and we're deeply concerned about people who don't have food abroad. In other words, scarcity is of concern to us. Last year we were very generous in our food donations, and this year we'll be generous as well. As a matter of fact, we just released about $200 million out of the Emerson Trust as part of a ongoing effort to address scarcity.

One thing I think that would be -- I know would be very creative policy is if we -- is if we would buy food from local farmers as a way to help deal with scarcity, but also as a way to put in place an infrastructure so that nations can be self-sustaining and self-supporting. It's a proposal I put forth that Congress hasn't responded to yet, and I sincerely hope they do.

Veggie Bus tour spreading the gospel of sustainability

The gospel of sustainability is taking to the road - not in a chartreuse VW bus, but pretty close...Check out this press release about the "Veggie Bus" tour:

In an eco-configured 1984 Van Hool Tour Coach fueled by recycled vegetable oil, an eclectic and inspired crew is traveling around the United States to educate consumers about conscious living. These "green missionaries" represent the Conscious Goods Alliance (CGA), a group of committed businesses who believe in promoting conscious lifestyles, products and brands, as well as consumers' ability to vote with their dollars.

Started by Stephen Brooks and Zak Zaidman, founders of Kopali Organics, the CGA is now in its third year, touring with 15 conscious companies. "The CGA bus tour generates an incredible amount of buzz around its sponsors and their products, as well as introducing people to alternative energy, sustainable materials and conscious commerce," said Stefan Schachter, co-founder of EcoTeas, one of the tour sponsors.

TK: Look for the bus at your local Whole Foods and Wild Oats. here is more schedule info at http://consciousgoodsalliance.com/

"You can't go wrong with fruits and vegetables"

Sunny D, Little Debbie snacks and $1 double cheeseburgers from McDonald's are not the only ways to eat cheap. Here is a good piece from The South County Journal , in which dietitian Katie Eliot comes to the defense of fresh - and frozen - fruits and veggies. From the story:

Food costs have gone up, but it doesn't mean people have to eat junk.

"I think there's a huge misconception people can't eat healthy on a tight budget," said Katie Eliot, a registered dietitian and instructor in the department of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University.

Eliot provides some helpful hints on healthy foods when it comes to purchases. "You can't go wrong with fruits and vegetables," she said.If people are looking to cut costs consider buying fruit and vegetables that are in season or will be shortly, including strawberries, melons and asparagus.

If fresh produce prices are too high for your budget think about using canned or frozen fruits and vegetables. They are produced year-round so costs can be lower for these items.

"Frozen is just as nutritious as fresh," Eliot said. "Sometimes frozen is more healthy."

With fresh vegetables they can be exposed to oxygen every time the refrigerator is opened, which destroys the nutrients.

If using canned items Eliot offers a word of caution. Canned goods are often higher in sodium so she recommends people rinse the fruit or vegetables to reduce the sodium content.

"One place people go wrong is buying convenience items," she said. "All that energy input you end up paying for."

Whether it be cut up vegetables or ready-to-cook pastas in the microwave, costumers will pay for ease. Instead Eliot suggests doing some preparation work on the weekend. Take time to cut up vegetables and put them in the freezer.

"If you take time to make dinners and freeze individual meals you have something such as a frozen dinner, which reduces packaging and saves money."

A few other ways to reduce the total bill is to drink water from the tap and eliminate soda and bottled water. Also, consider using an alternative source of protein one day a week, such as beans.

"Planning ahead is your ace in the hole in terms of time and money," Eliot said. "When making out a menu for the week base them on store specials and coupon offers."

Food to fuel : Enough is enough!

Here is a news release from the GMA and the industry's old friend Cal Dooley. He takes on the government's food to fuel policy. From the GMA:

On Monday, World Bank President Robert Zoellick emphasized the connection between rising global food prices, social unrest and poverty, and the use of biofuels:
“Rising food prices, which have caused social unrest in several countries, are not a temporary phenomenon, but are likely to persist for several years, World Bank President Robert Zoellick says. Strong demand, change in diet and the use of biofuels as an alternative source of energy have reduced world food stocks to a level bordering on an emergency, he says.” (Associated Press, Apr. 7, 2008)

Cal Dooley, CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, today issued a statement on the relationship between food-to-fuel mandates and the growing global food crisis:
“People in America and around the world are feeling the intense pressure of spiralling food prices from misguided Congressional mandates that force over ¼ of America’s corn supply to be used for fuel rather than food. These “food-to-fuel” mandates have caused a massive increase in the price of corn and other food staples, with ripple effects that are now being seen across the globe.

“World Bank President Zoellick is correct that this is a major challenge. Our policy makers must recognize the urgency of this issue and act quickly to help resolve it. Among the most immediate and effective steps would be a reexamination of the U.S. Government's food-to-fuel policies that have driven up prices and pressure on vulnerable people everywhere.”
-- Cal Dooley

Plowing over agriculture - Florida firestorm

Here is coverage about the controversy in Florida about a possible cash grab from IFAS that would hurt the interests of Florida farmers. From the Feb.17 coverage:

Increasing age of farmers tempts many to grab off developer's bucks.
By JACK STRIPLING NYT Regional Newspapers
Rumors of agriculture's demise may have been greatly exaggerated, but there's cause for concern about the industry's overall bill of health, according to experts.A firestorm erupted earlier this month when Bernie Machen, president of the University of Florida, was quoted as saying agriculture was a "dying industry" unworthy of state investments. Machen has denied making the remarks, which were published Feb. 5 in a monthly agriculture newspaper. Even so, the ensuing controversy raises real questions about whether agriculture will play as pivotal a role in the 21st century as it has in the past.

Later....

A 2008 UF study placed the agriculture industry's total economic impact at $59 billion in Florida, when one includes the money spent by manufacturers that support the industry through equipment and supplies.The study itself indicates IFAS' continual efforts to prove its worth in the state.The institute, which has roots going back to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, was designed to conduct research that would help improve agriculture across the state. With extension offices now spread across all 67 Florida counties, IFAS has an annual budget of $300.4 million and employs more than 2,300 people who are supported by state money and grants.(IFAS includes the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, the world's largest research facility devoted to citrus.)
Despite its long history and sprawling presence in the state, IFAS is undervalued, according to some faculty in the institute. And while Machen contends he didn't forecast the doom of agriculture in a public statement, there are a number of faculty who now say they see Machen as out of touch with the land-grant mission that created UF and IFAS.Actually, Machen has publicly backed major initiatives that rely on the institute's expertise. He was a major supporter of building a new center to fight infectious diseases that plague plants as well as humans. The institute also has a real presence in the university's alternative energy research, which Machen has called a key priority.But when it comes to the inventions UF is pushing into the marketplace, UF has focused mostly of late on biomedical research and technology."Is ag bio, other than energy, right now a very big part of the investment portfolio? No, it's really not," said David Day, director of technology licensing at UF.
The technology research that's helping UF to secure big grants and contracts is also in part what's helping to propel the university upward in national rankings.Machen has made moving UF into the top 10 public universities the over-arching goal of his presidency, and the trustees who approve his bonuses largely grade Machen on his ability to improve numbers that matter to U.S. News & World Report.While reaching for the top 10 may sound good to trustees, the intense focus on rankings is exactly what has some IFAS faculty on edge. A faculty member, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, called Machen's focus troubling."What we read in the paper is that Machen wants to move UF into the top 10 Ivy League type of situation, and one doesn't get into the Ivy League by increasing yields of wheat per acre or solving citrus greening," the faculty member said. "(But) what is the use of being in the Ivy League if the ivy has some disease that pathology can't cure because it's been liquidated?"Faculty may be increasingly less inclined to publicly criticize Machen, and IFAS leaders aren't talking either.Jimmy Cheek, the senior vice president of IFAS, and his second-in-command, Joe Joyce, both refused to comment for this story.

TK: "What use is the Ivy League if the ivy has some disease that reserachers can't cure because they have been liquidated?" A well turned phrase, and clearly some university administrators need to educated again about the importance of agriculture in Florida.

Bringing home the orange juice

There is much good for Florida in the latest spending bill, says Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla. From the office of Adam Putnam:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida agriculture will benefit from new legislation passed this week, said Congressman Adam H. Putnam (R-Fla.), who worked to include the provisions.

“This session of Congress was very hectic at the end, and it was very touch and go for awhile, but it turned out to be a pretty good year for Florida agricultural research”, said Putnam. The benefits are in two bills Congress passed this week, the omnibus spending bill and energy legislation. The spending bill includes the following provisions:

Citrus Health Response Plan: The $35 million program will provide means for enhanced, control, detection, and survey, in addition to identifying minimum production standards to enhance the industry’s ability to produce fruit suitable for trade, protect the integrity of the citrus nursery certification program, and provide a mechanism by which citrus pests and diseases do not spread to other citrus-producing States.

Citrus Canker/Greening Research: $1.3 million will go toward the critical continuation and expansion of vital Citrus Canker and Greening research by the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences (IFAS), through the Cooperative State Research Extension and Education Service (CSREES), to improve technologies for treatment and detection, methods of movement and containment, and means to control and eliminate these devastating diseases.

Citrus Waste Utilization: A research program to develop bioenergy from renewable sources such as citrus waste received $393,000.

Florida Renewable Energy Program: the University of Florida’s Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuel received $750,000 to advance the development of new alternative energy technologies.

In addition, the energy bill, which was signed into law earlier this week, includes a Renewable Fuel Standard that requires the annual use of a certain volume of renewables in transportation fuel. By 2022, 16 billion gallons would come from cellulosic biofuels, including those made from Florida-based feed-stock.

Friday business for the Senate

Looks like the manager's amendment is first up....Update from the office of Sen. Tom Harkin:

Friday, December 14, 2007

The Senate will convene at 10am.

· No morning business.

· The Senate immediately will resume consideration of the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419).

· Cloture has been invoked on the Harkin-Chambliss-Baucus-Grassley amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3500)

· The following amendments are pending to H.R. 2419:

· Harkin-Chambliss-Baucus-Grassley amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3500)

o Cornyn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to prevent duplicative payments for agricultural disaster assistance already covered by the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund (#3687)

o Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss #3500 to ensure the priority of the farm bill remains farmers by eliminating wasteful Department of Agriculture spending on casinos, golf courses, junkets, cheese centers, and aging barns (#3807, as modified)

o Salazar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for the production of all cellulosic biofuels (#3616)

o McConnell amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to promote the nutritional health of school children, with an offset (#3821)

o Roberts amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify a provision relating to regulations (#3549)

o Domenici amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources (#3614)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross income, and for other purposes (#3674)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide nearly $1,000,000,000 in critical home heating assistance to low-income families and senior citizens for the 2007-2008 winter season, and reduce the Federal deficit by eliminating wasteful farm subsidies (#3822)

§ Sanders second-degree amendment to Gregg amendment #3822, to provide for payments under subsections (a) through (e) of section 2604 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, and restore supplemental agricultural disaster assistance from the Agriculture Disaster Relief Trust Fund (#3826)

o Grassley-Kohl amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide for the review of agricultural mergers and acquisition by the Department of Justice, and for other purposes (#3823)

o Stevens amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to make commercial fishermen eligible for certain operating loans (#3569)

o Bond amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend title 7, United States Code, to include provisions relating to rulemaking (#3771)

o Harkin-Murkowski amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold in schools (#3639)

· Upon disposition of H.R. 2419, the Senate will proceed to consideration of the FHA Modernization Act of 2007 (S. 2338).

· The only amendments in order to the bill are the following:

o Dodd-Shelby amendment relating to a moratorium

o Coburn amendment relating to reverse mortgages

· There will be up to 60 minutes, equally divided, for debate on the Coburn amendment, and 30 minutes, equally divided, for general debate on the bill.

· Upon the use or yielding back of this time, the Senate will proceed to disposition of all amendments and passage of S. 2338, as amended if amended.

During Thursday’s Session

Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419)

The motion to invoke cloture on the Harkin-Chambliss-Baucus-Grassley amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3500) was agreed to by a roll call vote of 78-12.

Dorgan-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strengthen payment limitations and direct the savings to increase funding for certain programs (#3695, as modified), was withdrawn by unanimous consent after it failed to achieve 60 votes, as required by unanimous consent, following a roll call vote of 56-43.

Klobuchar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve the adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit (#3810), was withdrawn by unanimous consent after it failed to achieve 60 votes, as required by unanimous consent, following a roll call vote of 48-47.

Tester-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify the provisions relating to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act (#3666), was withdrawn by unanimous consent after it failed to achieve 60 votes, as required by unanimous consent, following a roll call vote of 40-55.

Brown-Sununu amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to increase funding for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance (#3819), was withdrawn by unanimous consent after it failed to achieve 60 votes, as required by unanimous consent, following a roll call vote of 32-63.

Craig amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to prohibit the involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes (#3640), was withdrawn by unanimous consent after it failed to achieve 60 votes, as required by unanimous consent, following a roll call vote of 37-58.

Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to limit the distribution to deceased individuals, and estates of those individuals, of certain agricultural payments (#3530, as modified), was agreed to by unanimous consent.

Harkin-Chambliss amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to promote legal certainty, enhance competition, and reduce systemic risk in markets for futures and over-the-counter derivatives, and for other purposes (#3851), was agreed to by voice vote.

Schumer amendment to the Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve crop insurance and use resulting savings to increase funding for certain conservation programs (#3720) was withdrawn by unanimous consent.

Harkin-Kennedy-Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, relative to public safety officers (#3830) was withdrawn by unanimous consent.

· Harkin second-degree amendment to Harkin-Kennedy-Gregg amendment #3830, relative to public safety officers (#3844), fell when the Harkin-Kennedy-Gregg amendment (#3830) was withdrawn.

· Wyden amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify a provision relating to bioenergy crop transition assistance (#3736) was withdrawn by unanimous consent.

Senate Thursday lineup

Dorgan Grassley up first but needs a 60 vote supermajority; Harkin's school nutrition standards bill also up for debate later. From the office of Sen. Tom Harkin:

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Senate will convene at 8:30am.

· No morning business.

· The Senate immediately will resume consideration of the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419), for debate only, with the time until 9:15am equally divided.

· At 9:15am, the Senate will proceed to a roll-call vote in relation to the Dorgan-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strengthen payment limitations and direct the savings to increase funding for certain programs (#3695, as modified).

§ By unanimous consent, the Dorgan-Grassley amendment #3695, as modified, is subject to a 60-vote threshold. If it achieves 60 votes, then it will be agreed to; if it fails to achieve 60 votes, then it will be withdrawn.

· Upon disposition of the Dorgan-Grassley amendment #3695, as modified, the Senate will proceed to two minutes of debate prior to a roll-call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendments to the Senate amendments to the text of the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 (H.R. 6), with an amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3841).

· The following amendments are pending to H.R. 2419:

· Harkin-Chambliss-Baucus-Grassley amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3500)

o Dorgan-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strengthen payment limitations and direct the savings to increase funding for certain programs. (#3695, as modified)

o Brown-Sununu amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to increase funding for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance (#3819)

o Klobuchar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to improve the adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit (#3810)

o Cornyn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to prevent duplicative payments for agricultural disaster assistance already covered by the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund (#3687)

o Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss #3500 to ensure the priority of the farm bill remains farmers by eliminating wasteful Department of Agriculture spending on casinos, golf courses, junkets, cheese centers, and aging barns (#3807)

o Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to limit the distribution to deceased individuals, and estates of those individuals, of certain agricultural payments (#3530)

o Salazar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for the production of all cellulosic biofuels (#3616)

o McConnell amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to promote the nutritional health of school children, with an offset (#3821)

o Craig amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to prohibit the involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes (#3640)

o Roberts amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify a provision relating to regulations (#3549)

o Domenici amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources (#3614)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross income, and for other purposes (#3674)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide nearly $1,000,000,000 in critical home heating assistance to low-income families and senior citizens for the 2007-2008 winter season, and reduce the Federal deficit by eliminating wasteful farm subsidies (#3822)

§ Sanders second-degree amendment to Gregg amendment #3822, to provide for payments under subsections (a) through (e) of section 2604 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, and restore supplemental agricultural disaster assistance from the Agriculture Disaster Relief Trust Fund (#3826)

o Grassley-Kohl amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide for the review of agricultural mergers and acquisition by the Department of Justice, and for other purposes (#3823)

o Stevens amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to make commercial fishermen eligible for certain operating loans (#3569)

o Bond amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend title 7, United States Code, to include provisions relating to rulemaking (#3771)

o Tester-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify the provisions relating to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act. (#3666)

o Schumer amendment to the Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve crop insurance and use resulting savings to increase funding for certain conservation programs (#3720)

o Wyden amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify a provision relating to bioenergy crop transition assistance (#3736)

o Harkin-Kennedy-Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, relative to public safety officers (#3830)

§ Harkin second-degree amendment to Harkin-Kennedy-Gregg amendment #3830, relative to public safety officers (#3844)

o Harkin-Murkowski amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold in schools (#3639)

· Furthermore, the following amendments will be debated for the following time limits:

o Klobuchar amendment #3810: approximately 50 minutes, with 20 minutes under the control of Senator Klobuchar and 30 minutes in opposition

o Brown-Sununu amendment #3819: 60 minutes, equally divided

o Tester-Grassley amendment #3666: 60 minutes, equally divided

· Furthermore, the Klobuchar amendment #3810 is subject to a 60-vote threshold. If this amendment achieves 60 votes, then it will be agreed to; if it fails to achieve 60 votes, then it will be withdrawn.

During Tuesday’s Session

Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419)

Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strike the section requiring the establishment of a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (#3671) was not agreed to by a roll-call vote of 37-58.

Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strike a provision relating to market loss assistance for asparagus producers (#3672) was not agreed to by a roll-call vote of 39-56.

Alexander amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to increase funding for the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, with an offset (#3551) was not agreed to by a roll-call vote of 19-75.

Alexander amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to limit the tax credit for small wind energy property expenditures to property placed in service in connection with a farm or rural small business (#3553) was not agreed to by a roll-call vote of 14-79.

Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve women's access to heath care services in rural areas and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (#3673) was withdrawn by unanimous consent after it failed to achieve 60 votes, as required by unanimous consent, following a roll call vote of 41-53.

· Gregg second-degree amendment to Gregg amendment #3673, to change the enactment date (#3825) was withdrawn by unanimous consent.

Sessions amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a pilot program under which agricultural producers may establish and contribute to tax-exempt farm savings accounts in lieu of obtaining federally subsidized crop insurance or noninsured crop assistance, to provide for contributions to such accounts by the Secretary of Agriculture, to specify the situations in which amounts may be paid to producers from such accounts, and to limit the total amount of such distributions to a producer during a taxable year, and for other purposes (#3596) was not agreed to by a roll-call vote of 35-58.

McConnell amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the tax treatment of horses, and for other purposes (#3803) was agreed to by unanimous consent.

Durbin amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide a termination date for the conduct of certain inspections and the issuance of certain regulations (#3539, as amended) was agreed to by unanimous consent.

Kennedy-Durbin second-degree amendment to Durbin amendment #3539, of a perfecting nature (#3845) was agreed to by unanimous consent.

Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to modify a provision relating to the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (#3632) was withdrawn by unanimous consent.

Cloture/Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 (H.R. 6)

· Senator Reid moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the text of H.R. 6, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3841).

· Also pending: Reid second-degree amendment to Reid amendment #3841, to change the enactment date (#3842).

· Senator Reid filed cloture on this motion to concur. By unanimous consent, this cloture petition is considered as having been filed Tuesday, December 11.

One down

The first ambitious farm bill reform amendment in the Senate has fallen. From the office or Sen. Richard Lugar:

Senate votes against Lugar's FRESH farm bill reform alternative

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar today debated a fiscally responsible, reform farm bill alternative on the Senate floor. Lugar was joined by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and a group of eight bipartisan colleagues. The Farm, Ranch, Equity, Stewardship and Health (FRESH) Act amendment failed to pass by a vote of 37 to 58.

In his floor speech, Lugar stated, “Agriculture policy is too important for rural America and the economic and budgetary health of our country to continue the current misguided path. Our amendment provides a much more equitable approach, produces higher net farm income for farmers, increases farm exports, avoids stimulating over-production, and gives more emphasis to environmental, nutritional, energy security and research concerns. More importantly, this proposal will protect the family farmer through a strong safety-net and encourage rural development in a fiscally responsible and trade compliant manner.”

· Read Lugar’s floor speech at: http://lugar.senate.gov/farmbill/fresh_floor.cfm

· Listen to Lugar’s floor speech at: http://lugar.senate.gov/farmbill/

· Broadcast quality audio (a 24 megabyte file) is available at: http://lugar.senate.gov/farmbill/media/farm_bill_floor_speech_high.mp3

The FRESH Act would have saved billions in farm payments, while broadening the agricultural safety net. The savings would be invested in other vital programs with $4 billion left over to reduce the deficit.

More specifically, the FRESH Act would have instituted an equitable safety net for ALL farmers, brought America’s agriculture policy into trade compliance, fully funded the nutrition title without budget gimmicks, increased specialty crop funding by an additional $770 million, increased conservation spending by an additional $1.2 billion, provided an additional $1 billion to expand research into new bio-fuels and deployment of rural renewable energy projects and provided $75 million for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Senate agenda - farm bill debate

From the office of Sen. Tom Harkin

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

• The Senate will convene at 10am.

· Morning business for an hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The first 30 minutes will be under Republican control; the next 30 minutes will be under Democratic control.

· Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419).

· There will be up to three hours of debate, equally divided, on the Lugar-Lautenberg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, relative to traditional payments and loans (#3711).

· The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm for the Weekly Caucus Lunches.

· Upon the use or yielding back of the debate time on the Lugar-Lautenberg amendment #3711, the Senate will proceed to a roll-call vote in relation to the amendment.

· The following amendments are pending to H.R. 2419:

· Harkin-Chambliss-Baucus-Grassley amendment in the nature of a substitute (#3500)

o Dorgan-Grassley amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to strengthen payment limitations and direct the savings to increase funding for certain programs. (#3695)

o Brown-Sununu amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to increase funding for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance (#3819)

o Klobuchar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to improve the adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit (#3810)

o Lugar-Lautenberg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 relative to traditional payments and loans (#3711)

o Cornyn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to prevent duplicative payments for agricultural disaster assistance already covered by the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund (#3687)

o Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss #3500 to ensure the priority of the farm bill remains farmers by eliminating wasteful Department of Agriculture spending on casinos, golf courses, junkets, cheese centers, and aging barns (#3807)

o Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to limit the distribution to deceased individuals, and estates of those individuals, of certain agricultural payments (#3530)

o Coburn amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to modify a provision relating to the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (#3632)

o Salazar amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for the production of all cellulosic biofuels (#3616)

o McConnell amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500 to promote the nutritional health of school children, with an offset (#3821)

o Craig amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to prohibit the involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes (#3640)

o Roberts amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to modify a provision relating to regulations (#3549)

o Domenici amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources (#3614)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross income, and for other purposes (#3674)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to improve women's access to heath care services in rural areas and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (#3673)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strike the section requiring the establishment of a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (#3671)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to strike a provision relating to market loss assistance for asparagus producers (#3672)

o Gregg amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide nearly $1,000,000,000 in critical home heating assistance to low-income families and senior citizens for the 2007-2008 winter season, and reduce the Federal deficit by eliminating wasteful farm subsidies (#3822)

o Grassley-Kohl amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide for the review of agricultural mergers and acquisition by the Department of Justice, and for other purposes (#3823)

o Sessions amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a pilot program under which agricultural producers may establish and contribute to tax-exempt farm savings accounts in lieu of obtaining federally subsidized crop insurance or noninsured crop assistance, to provide for contributions to such accounts by the Secretary of Agriculture, to specify the situations in which amounts may be paid to producers from such accounts, and to limit the total amount of such distributions to a producer during a taxable year, and for other purposes (#3596)

o Stevens amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to make commercial fishermen eligible for certain operating loans (#3569)

o Alexander amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to increase funding for the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, with an offset (#3551)

o Alexander amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to limit the tax credit for small wind energy property expenditures to property placed in service in connection with a farm or rural small business (#3553)

o Burr amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to amend title 7, United States Code, to include provisions relating to rulemaking (#3771)

o Durbin amendment to Harkin-Chambliss substitute #3500, to provide a termination date for the conduct of certain inspections and the issuance of certain regulations (#3539)