Agricultural groups hailed passage of the compromise farm bill by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and look forward to swift action in the Senate.
National Corn Growers Association President Martin Barbre of Illinois observed the floor vote from the House gallery while visiting the Capitol. “This legislation provides an adequate and flexible farm safety net, as well as a strong federal crop insurance program,” said Barbre. “More importantly, farmers need the certainty of a new five-year law, and we are happy to see this legislation includes many reforms we’ve supported and stressed over the years, reforms that make sense both for farmers and taxpayers.”
American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman says the bill includes many Farm Bureau-supported provisions, including risk management for fruit and vegetable farmers and support for livestock farmers during disasters. “It is imperative that all of agriculture unify behind this farm bill, for the good of the whole of American agriculture, consumers, our hard-working farm and ranch families and the rural communities they support,” he said, referring to livestock interests opposed to the bill.
The House vote was 251-166 and many voted for the bill even though it did not contain everything they wanted, like Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN). “The report before us today represents a compromise – I know this is rare in Washington but that’s what’s needed to actually get something done around this place,” said Peterson on the floor, noting he was not completely pleased with the dairy title or the commodity title. Rep. Collin Peterson during Farm Bill debate
Most of the 166 members who voted against the did so because of cuts to the nutrition program, which were far less severe than the original House bill, but some like Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) also had a few farm program concerns, particularly crop insurance and cotton. “We’ve got a domestic cotton program that’s gotten us into trouble with Brazil,” said Kind. “This bill does not fix that cotton problem and now it’s up to Brazil whether they want to level economic sanctions against us.” Rep. Ron Kind during Farm Bill debate