House leadership has pulled the measure that would have extended the 2008 Farm Bill for a year and provided disaster aid. A separate disaster aid package will reportedly be considered on Thursday. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson expects conservation programs will be cut in order to fund disaster aid for livestock producers hurt by the drought. According to the Hagstrom Report – a House Republican aide said the hope is to bring the disaster aid bill up on the suspension calendar. That would mean debate would be limited, no amendments would be allowed and a two-thirds vote would be needed for passage.

Peterson’s not a big fan of using conservation program cuts as an offset for the disaster aid package. He says the Republican leadership wants to use the cuts in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program made in the fiscal year 2013 Ag Appropriations bill. Since that measure hasn’t come to the floor – House leaders can use those same cuts. Peterson believes the leadership wants to cut 350-million from EQIP and 300-million from CSP. Included in the legislation – according to Peterson – is aid for livestock producers that would cost about 400-million – with 250-million devoted to deficit reduction. Peterson says conservation groups are not happy about the offset.

While Peterson has urged House Ag Chair Frank Lucas to include a fruit and vegetable disaster aid program – the proposal as it stood Tuesday evening was limited to livestock. But regardless of the package – Peterson doesn’t believe the Senate will have time to act – so he doesn’t expect it will become law before the August recess. But Senate Majority Leader has called on the House to do something about drought relief and send it to his chamber. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sayd it would be a good idea to get drought assistance through the Congress and to the President this week given the severity of conditions across the central part of the country.

Peterson was not surprised that the combined farm bill extension and disaster aid bill will not be considered. Several farm groups
had voiced opposition to the extension. Come September – Peterson says House members will be under pressure to pass a new five-year farm bill. He believes there are enough votes to pass the farm bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee. Lucas stated Tuesday that his priority is to get a five-year farm bill on the books and put those policies in place. But he said the most pressing business before Congress is to provide disaster assistance to those producers impacted by the drought conditions who are currently exposed. He encouraged his colleagues to support the disaster assistance package that he expects will be considered Thursday. Lucas added that the challenges U.S. farmers and ranchers are currently facing only underscores how important it is to complete a five-year farm bill this year.