American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says his group is encouraged the Senate Ag Committee has approved its bipartisan farm bill and sent it to the full Senate for consideration. While he states the bill is not perfect – Stallman says it is a suitable policy vehicle with a solid framework on which to make further improvements. He says the legislation includes crucial risk management tools for farmers and does so in a fiscally responsible manner. Stallman also notes the firm foundation provided for continued cooperative, incentive-based conservation efforts.

Speaking of conservation – National Association of Conservation Districts President Gene Schmidt says Thursday’s vote demonstrates a strong commitment to the protection of our natural resource base for the future. He says the group is pleased with a strong Conservation Title that streamlines and consolidates programs for increased efficiency and ease-of-use for producers – while maintaining critical funding for Technical Assistance.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says the bill’s investment in rural America will create jobs and opportunities for farmers to continue providing energy and conservation benefits to all Americans. He applauds passage of an amendment to restore mandatory funding for energy programs and increased funding for the Conservation Reserve Program. NFU also welcomes the adjustments made to the new Agriculture Risk Coverage program and the temporary extension of the Supplemental Revenue Assistance and Milk Income Loss Contract programs.

Schmidt says NACD encourages the full Senate to act quickly to vote in favor of the bill. Stallman says Farm Bureau will continue to seek improvements in several areas as the bill moves forward – particularly in how to provide more equity among commodities and ways to better address catastrophic losses. NFU’s Johnson says his group also has remaining concerns and will work to continue improving the legislation. NFU is concerned the legislation doesn’t do enough to protect farmers and ranchers against long-term price collapses. The group says a program like the Market-Driven Inventory System would help and should be implemented in the final bill.

In order to avoid further disruption to an emerging American industry that’s creating jobs and diversifying the nation’s energy supplies – the National Biodiesel Board is calling on Congress to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive. NBB Vice President Anne Steckel – in written testimony submitted to a House Ways and Means Subcommittee – emphasized that the biodiesel industry achieved record production of nearly 1.1-billion gallons last year before the per-gallon tax incentive expired on December 31st. To prevent a drop in production and potential layoffs – she urged lawmakers to pass an extension of the incentive as quickly as possible.

According to Steckel – new energy industries need support in the early stages. She says every energy sector up to now has had that support – and if the U.S. wants to diversify its energy supplies and gain the resulting benefits in terms of jobs, energy security and the environment – investments need to continue.

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that USDA is accepting grant applications to assist small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers and cooperatives in rural areas. He says the funding represents the department’s continuing investment in provided the assistance small business owners need to improve their operations and create economic opportunity for their communities.

Approximately three-million dollars in grants are available through the USDA Rural Development Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program in fiscal year 2012. The grants can be used for product improvements, business plan development or economic development activities. Applications are due July 24th. All of the application materials are available at www dot rurdev dot usda dot gov (www.rurdev.usda.gov) and USDA Rural Development State Offices.

The Senate Ag Committee has voted to approve the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 authored by Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts. It will now go to the full Senate for consideration. The bill eliminates direct payments and emphasizes the need to strengthen risk management tools for farmers – saving billions of dollars. By eliminating unnecessary subsidies, consolidating programs and cracking down on food assistance abuse – the measure will reduce the deficit by 23-billion dollars.
Ahead of the Committee vote – Stabenow said she and Roberts had reformed, streamlined and consolidated to get perhaps the most significant reforms in agricultural policy of any farm bill in recent memory. Among other things – she touted strengthened crop insurance, a risk management tool to supplement crop insurance, the tightest payment limits ever, the end of direct payments ag research investments, a renewed commitment to specialty crops and organic farms and a streamlined Rural Development Title. She called the bill is a jobs bill – and expressed her commitment to getting the bill done this year.

Ranking Member Pat Roberts said he was proud of the measure. Calling it a reform bill – Roberts stressed that no other committee in Congress has voluntarily undertaken programmatic and funding reforms at this level in this budget climate. According to Roberts – the bill cuts deficit spending but still strengthens and preserves the programs that are important to agriculture and rural America.

A copy of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 – including the amendments that were accepted by the Committee – is available at www dot ag dot senate dot gov slash issues slash farm dash bill (www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farm-bill). A section-by-section summary of the bill is also available.

***Here is the short summary of the bill as provided by the office of Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow:

The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 reforms farm policy, consolidates and streamlines programs, and will reduce the deficit by $23 billion. This bill saves taxpayers money while strengthening initiatives that help farmers, ranchers and small business owners create American jobs. The bill:

Eliminates Direct Payments while Strengthening Risk Management
Farmers face unique risks unlike other businesses. Weather and market conditions outside a producer’s control can have devastating effects. A risk management system that helps producers stay in business through a few bad seasons ensures that Americans always have access to a safe and plentiful food supply. The proposal:

•           Eliminates direct payments. Farmers will no longer be paid for crops they are not growing, will not be paid for acres that are not actually planted, and will not receive support absent a drop in price or yields.

•           Consolidates two remaining farm programs into one, and will give farmers the ability to tailor risk management coverage—meaning better protection against real risks beyond a farmer’s control.

•           Strengthens crop insurance and expands access so farmers are not wiped out by a few days of bad weather.

Consolidates and Streamlines Programs
By eliminating duplicative programs, funds are concentrated in the areas in which they will have the greatest impact, making them work better for producers.

•           By ending duplication and consolidating programs, the bill eliminates dozens of programs under the Agriculture Committee’s jurisdiction.

•           For example, the bill consolidates 23 existing conservation programs into 13 programs, while maintaining the existing tools farmers and landowners need to protect and conserve land, water and wildlife.

Improves Program Integrity and Accountability
At a time when many out-of-work Americans are in need for the first time in their lives, it is critical that every taxpayer dollar be spent responsibly and serves those truly struggling. By closing loopholes, tightening standards, and requiring greater transparency, the proposal increases efficiency and improves effectiveness.

•         Increases accountability in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by:

•         Stopping lottery winners from continuing to receive assistance.

•         Ending misuse by college students.

•         Cracking down on retailers and recipients engaged in benefit trafficking.

•         Increasing requirements to prevent liquor and tobacco stores from becoming retailers.

•         Eliminating gaps in standards that result in overpayment of benefits.

•         The proposal maintains benefits for families in need.

Grows America’s Agricultural Economy
The proposal increases efficiency and accountability, saving tens of billions of dollars overall, while strengthening agricultural jobs initiatives by:

•           Expanding export opportunities and helping farmers develop new markets for their goods.

•           Investing in research to help commercialize new agricultural innovations.

•           Growing bio-based manufacturing (businesses producing goods in America from raw agricultural products grown in America) by allowing bio-manufacturers to participate in existing U.S. Department of Agriculture loan programs, expanding the BioPreferred labeling initiative, and strengthening a procurement preference so the U.S. government will select bio-based products when purchasing needed goods.

•           Spurring advancements in bio-energy production, supporting advanced biomass energy production such as cellulosic ethanol and pellets from woody biomass for power.

•           Helping family farmers sell locally by increasing support for farmers’ markets and spurring the creation of food hubs to connect farmers to schools and other community-based consumers.

•           Extending rural development initiatives to help rural communities upgrade infrastructure and create an environment for small businesses to grow

Courtesy: NAFB News

The Pork Checkoff’s 2012 Pork Management Conference will be held in Savannah, Georgia June 19th through 22nd. Those involved in the swine production can expand their knowledge of the industry, engage in financial sophistication and learn about the latest industry trends at this conference – Your Pork Industry Investment. Mary Langhorst – Chair of the Checkoff’s Producer and State Services Committee – says the conference will provide the most up-to-date production and financial information to assist pork producers on their farms.

Two concurrent sessions are planned for Thursday – as well as general sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Topics include tax updates, gestation stall versus pen housing, accounting, nutrition economics and more. The registration fee will increase after May 25th – plus there’s a big discount for the first 10 producers who have not attended in the past two years courtesy of AgStar Financial Services. Those interested in attending should visit pork dot org (www.pork.org) soon for the registration form. A detailed list of events is also available online.

The Department of Labor received thousands of comments raising concern about the proposed rule regarding youth in agriculture – and the decision to withdraw that rule receives applause from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, House Ag Chair Frank Lucas, Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Grassley and Johanns say the Obama Administration and the Labor Department came to their senses in rethinking regulations they say would have been devastating to farm families across the country. NCBA President J.D. Alexander agrees – saying the rule would have prevented the next generation of farmers and ranchers from acquiring skills and passion for a noble profession and restricted urban kids from acquiring a solid work ethic and enthusiasm for agriculture. Alexander says the withdrawal is a victory for farm and ranch families throughout the country. AFBF appreciates the announcement – which President Bob Stallman says shows the strength of American agriculture and grassroots action. The National Farmers Union did support elements of the rule – but says education is a positive approach to this issue.