Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook
Radio
Number 105
Policy: Part 1 - Farm Bill Passes Senate By Historic Margin (3:36 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. Bobby Coats
Extension Economist
University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
Farm bill passes Senate by historic margin. I’m Bobby Coats Extension
Economist University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
On December 14, 2007 the U.S. Senate passed their 2007 farm bill, titled The Food
and Energy Security Act. The final vote count was 79-14. The farm bill was
passed by more votes than any other farm bill since 1973. The next phase in the
legislative process is for the differences between the Senate-passed farm bill
and the House-passed farm bill to be worked out in Conference Committee by a
committee of Senators and Representatives. Conference committee staff are at
work preparing for a early 2007 meeting where Senators and Representatives will
negotiate the differences between the Senate and House farm bills to produce a
final piece of legislation to be voted on by both chambers.
Senator Lincoln, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on
Production, Income Protection and Price Support said. “This bipartisan bill
includes the most significant reform in the history of any farm bill while
maintaining the strong safety net relied upon by all American producers. I am
proud of the investment this bill makes in our country’s nutrition,
conservation, rural development, and energy priorities. This farm bill is
a victory for the diversity of American agriculture, a victory for all farm
families who contribute to the safety and affordability of our food, and a
victory for all Americans who rely on that production.”
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Ranking Republican Member of the Senate
Agriculture Committee says, The farm bill includes the most significant reforms
to payment limitations in the history of American farm policy, as well as
increased funding for nutrition, energy and conservation programs.
Senator Chambliss said. “Passage of the farm bill is a real victory for American
agriculture. The legislation will strengthen the nation’s food security, protect
the livelihood of our farmers and ranchers, preserve our efforts to remain good
stewards of the environment, and enhance our nation’s energy security efforts.
I consider a safe, affordable and abundant food supply a critical national
security interest and this bill takes us in the right direction to ensure those
priorities.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry,
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) said, “After months of negotiations, we were able to
work within a very strict budget allocation to complete our work and pass a farm
bill that is good for agriculture, good for rural areas and good for the health
of Americans. This is a forward-looking farm bill with greatly strengthened
initiatives to support renewable energy, conservation, nutrition, rural
development and to promote better diets and health for all Americans. It
maintains a strong safety net for farm producers, and strengthens programs that
will help agricultural producers of all kinds across our nation.”
This has been Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
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