SD Corn

After nearly a year of dormancy, debate on the next farm bill is alive and well once again in the halls of Congress. The Senate Ag Committee took action Tuesday morning and passed its version of the farm bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, moving it onto the Senate floor.

 The CBO score shows that the Senate bill would reduce federal spending by more than $24 billion over the next ten years. You can view a summary of the bill at: http://www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farm-bill

“There is still plenty of work left, but yesterday’s action on the farm bill is a significant step in the right direction as it continues to support crucial programs like crop insurance and risk management for farmers, while also making responsible cuts to federal spending with the elimination of direct payments,” said South Dakota Corn Executive Director Lisa Richardson. “With only a short-term extension in place, we hope this positive momentum will carry forward and bring our farmers the certainty they need with a long-term, common-sense farm bill.”

Action on the farm bill began today in the House Ag Committee. The House draft, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 is expected to reduce spending by approximately $40 billion over the next 10 years. For more on the House version, visit: http://agriculture.house.gov/press-release/lucas-peterson-release-house-farm-bill-saves-nearly-40-billion

United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stopped in Sioux Falls today to highlight child nutrition and healthy eating efforts being led by the agency at Hy-Vee on Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls.

Sec. Vilsack also took a number of questions touching on other ag-related topics including the farm bill.

“We’ve got to have a new 5-year farm bill,” said Vilsack. “Farmers need certainty, we have a good thing going here.”

The secretary also discussed the positive role that crop insurance plays in America,  “Last year we had a tough year. If we had not had that safety net in crop insurance, this country would’ve been in much worse shape than it is today.”

Vilsack also mentioned the agency’s continued commitment to agricultural research. “If we’re going to continue to feed our own people and help to feed the growing world population, we’re going to have to continue to have investments in agricultural research, which has flatlined for the last decade or so.”

Sec. Vilsack also noted how the productivity of American agriculture continues to climb while the percentage of what consumers spend on food continues to decline. “That’s why we need farm bill legislation…and we’re going to work hard to make this happen.”

As America just missed falling off the “fiscal cliff” with a last hour deal, Congress continued in its recent track record of kicking the can down road with an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill. While an extension is better than nothing, by failing to pass a new Farm Bill uncertainty remains high for the future of our nation’s food policy.

“We’re extremely disappointed with the lack of action taken by Congress over the past several months to pass a new and comprehensive farm bill,” said Mark Gross, president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association. “Our farmers are faced with tough, long-term decisions on a regular basis and they need certainty in terms of policy when making those decisions.”

That disappointment was heightened after the Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill back in June, but it did not make it to the House floor for a vote. The Senate version of the Farm Bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, made $24 billion in cuts over 10 years by eliminating direct payments and making small cuts to nutrition and conservation programs. With the extension of the current farm bill, those cuts won’t provide the much-needed relief to the national debt and failed to strengthen risk management options.

“While the Senate bill wasn’t perfect, it was a positive step forward and was backed by a majority of groups representing America’s family farmers,” added Gross. “Moving forward, we will continue to work with Congress in hope that they can put their differences aside and pass a Farm Bill benefitting those who grow the food and those who eat it.”

Corn Comments Podcast with Jim Woster.

This week, Mr. Jim Woster wishes everyone a Happy 4th of July and talks about where the money in the Farm Bill really goes.

The South Dakota Corn Growers Association applauds the bipartisan efforts of the United States Senate on the passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, aka the 2012 Farm Bill.

SDCGA urges quick action to be taken by the House of Representatives moving forward with the necessity of completing a Farm Bill Now.

“The South Dakota Corn Growers appreciate the leadership and cooperative work done by the Senate to pass the 2012 Farm Bill in a timely manner,” SDCGA President, Mark Gross, a farmer and rancher from Bridgewater, SD.

“The 2012 Farm Bill reduces total spending by $23 Billion over the next 10 years, helping to relieve our nation’s deficit. Agriculture is able to withstand these drastic cuts because of new markets, like ethanol, that have expanded over the past the decade benefitting not only agriculture, but also taxpayers.”

Moving forward, SDCGA will continue to advocate for an affordable crop insurance program as well as a farm program that would provide risk management tools to growers when they are facing a loss beyond their control.

“We’ll continue in our grassroots efforts to push for a new, common sense, reformed 2012 Farm Bill before Congress recesses in August, ensuring our farmers have the certainty they need moving forward.”