Farm bill passes Senate; President to sign on Friday

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate approved a five year farm bill Tuesday by a vote of 68-32, following earlier approval by the House last week when it passed there by a vote of 251-166.

President Obama will sign the farm bill Friday in Michigan, reports indicated.

The program costs about $100 billion per year, with much of the cost going to SNAP – formerly known as food stamps – a program that serves millions of Americans.  Direct payments to farmers were cut in the final version of the bill.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack was pleased with the bill’s passage:

“Today’s action will allow the proud men and women who feed millions around the world to invest confidently in the future. Our communities will have additional support to attract new economic opportunity and create jobs. During difficult times, children, working families, seniors and people with disabilities will have access to nutritious food. The potential of new products, treatments and discoveries will be strengthened through new agricultural research. Renewed conservation efforts will protect our fields, forests and waters creating new tourism options. This legislation is important to the entire nation.

Building on the historic economic gains in rural America over the past 5 years, this bill will accomplish those goals while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. While no legislation is perfect, this bill is a strong investment in American agriculture and supports the continued global leadership of our farmers and ranchers.”

President Obama said the farm bill isn’t perfect, but it is necessary:

Today, in a strong bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senate came together to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill – legislation that will build on the historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, create new jobs and opportunities, and protect the most vulnerable Americans. This bill provides certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers, and contains a variety of commonsense reforms that my Administration has consistently called for, including reforming and eliminating direct farm subsidies and providing assistance for farmers when they need it most. It will continue reducing our deficits without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families. And it will support conservation of valuable lands, spur the development of renewable energy, and incentivize healthier nutrition for all Americans. As with any compromise, the Farm Bill isn’t perfect – but on the whole, it will make a positive difference not only for the rural economies that grow America’s food, but for our nation.

According to Republicans, the farm bill: Repeals direct payments to farmers and limits producers to risk management tools that offer protection when they suffer significant losses; limits on payments are reduced, eligibility rules are tightened, and means tests are streamlined to make farm programs more accountable; strengthens crop insurance, a successful public/private partnership that ensures farmers invest in their own risk management; provides historic reforms to dairy policy by repealing outdated and ineffective dairy programs; offers producers a new, voluntary, margin protection program without imposing government-mandated supply controls and reauthorizes and strengthens livestock disaster assistance.

Regarding SNAP (food stamps), the farm bill prohibits the USDA from engaging in SNAP recruitment activities, and advertising SNAP on TV, radio, billboards & through foreign governments; ensures illegal immigrants, lottery winners, traditional college students, and the deceased do not receive benefits and ensures SNAP recipients are not receiving benefits in multiple states.