Minnesota Farmers Union applauds Senate passage of Farm Bill
Minnesota Farmers Union applauds Senate passage of Farm Bill
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) applauds the U.S. Senate for today passing the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (known as the farm bill) by a vote of 64-35; in addition, MFU thanks Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken for voting in favor of the bill. “MFU is pleased that the Senate was able to work in a bi-partisan manner to pass this piece of legislation that is important to farmers, rural Minnesota and consumers everywhere “said Doug Peterson, President of MFU. “In addition this legislation ensures that farmers have a strong safety net, makes reasonable cuts to agriculture, protects conservation and provides help to beginning farmers” added Peterson.
Highlights of the legislation include:
• Direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE)
program are repealed.
• Total savings achieved by the overall spending in the farm bill total approximately $23 billion.
• Crop insurance is, in general, strengthened from the 2008 Farm Bill. It also includes some limitations and links participation to conservation practices.
• Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program, Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP) and
Dairy Export Incentives Program (DEIP) are all repealed/allowed to expire and replaced by the Dairy Production Margin Protection Program (DPMPP), which is a margin insurance type program.
• Extends Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Includes programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers
MFU will continue working with members of the U.S. House of Representatives as they begin mark-up of their version of the farm bill in July to get a farm bill passed, and then working with both chambers of Congress through a conference committee to complete a bill by the time the current farm bill expires on Sept. 30.
For more information, call the MFU office, 651.639.1223.
Minnesota Farmers Union (www.mfu.org), standing for agriculture and fighting for farmers.