The Farm Bill Isn't Just About Farms

May 23, 2008 - Everybody calls the Farm Bill, the Farm Bill, and farmers seem to take the brunt of criticism about its cost which is extremely unfair because it is about much more than farms.

The Farm Bill actually directs far more money to feeding the poor than it does to helping farmers. The Congressional Budget Office says some $209 billion goes for food stamps and other nutrition programs compared with $35 billion for agricultural commodity programs.

It is also about producing renewable energy through ethanol and other biofuels to help us break away from high priced foreign oil. That’s why its official title is the Food, Conservation and Energy Act.

It is because the Farm Bill is so necessary and so far reaching that it passed Congress with overwhelming support and why the President’s veto was over ridden on a vote of 82 to 13 in the Senate and 316 to 108 in the House.

Some Criticism Is Justified
I didn't feel it was tough enough on limiting payments to wealthier farmers. I wanted to see tighter caps on direct payments. Instead of $40,000 I preferred $20,000. While the administration continues to use the higher payments as their excuse to veto the bill, it is important to point out how little they contributed to the debate.

The biggest obstacle to stronger reforms can be found in the President's own party, yet he didn't twist arms or expend any real effort to move them from their strong opposition.

Reforms Are Included
The Farm Bill contains some very real reforms. For example, it ensures that farm payments go to farmers and ranchers rather than paper corporations which have been used to avoid the payment limits to individuals.

It also includes a provision that I wrote with Senator Salazar that stops all payments on former farmland that has been turned into commercial or residential property. These so-called "Cowboy Starter Kits" are an example of the Administration failing to do its job and Congress having to fix a problem by closing a loophole that shouldn't exist.

Essential For Farmers
The Farm Bill has many essential programs such as the safety net that supports farmers in cases of disaster or economic downturn, conservation programs for environmental stewardship, nutrition programs for low-income people and school children and programs for rural economic development.

It also includes many programs and projects that are of special benefit to Nebraska such as the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and water use research in the High Plains Aquifer Region.

Good For Rural America
If the Farm Bill hadn't passed, rural America would likely have lost billions in baseline funding that would be gone forever due to increasing pressures on the federal budget.

As farmers are planting the most expensive crop in history, now is not the time for Washington to turn its back on rural America. While this bill falls short of the reforms that are needed, the cost of doing nothing to Nebraska and rural America would be too great to endure.

###



	Column	May 23, 2008
The Farm Bill Isn't Just About Farms May 23, 2008 - Everybody calls the Farm Bill, the Farm Bill, and farmers seem to take the brunt of criticism about its cost which is extremely unfair because it is about much more than farms. The Farm Bill actually directs far more money to feeding the poor than it does to helping farmers. The Congressional Budget Office says some $209 billion goes for food stamps and other nutrition programs compared with $35 billion for agricultural commodity programs. It is also about producing renewable energy through ethanol and other biofuels to help us break away from high priced foreign oil. That’s why its official title is the Food, Conservation and Energy Act. It is because the Farm Bill is so necessary and so far reaching that it passed Congress with overwhelming support and why the President’s veto was over ridden on a vote of 82 to 13 in the Senate and 316 to 108 in the House. Some Criticism Is Justified I didn't feel it was tough enough on limiting payments to wealthier farmers. I wanted to see tighter caps on direct payments. Instead of $40,000 I preferred $20,000. While the administration continues to use the higher payments as their excuse to veto the bill, it is important to point out how little they contributed to the debate. The biggest obstacle to stronger reforms can be found in the President's own party, yet he didn't twist arms or expend any real effort to move them from their strong opposition. Reforms Are Included The Farm Bill contains some very real reforms. For example, it ensures that farm payments go to farmers and ranchers rather than paper corporations which have been used to avoid the payment limits to individuals. It also includes a provision that I wrote with Senator Salazar that stops all payments on former farmland that has been turned into commercial or residential property. These so-called "Cowboy Starter Kits" are an example of the Administration failing to do its job and Congress having to fix a problem by closing a loophole that shouldn't exist. Essential For Farmers The Farm Bill has many essential programs such as the safety net that supports farmers in cases of disaster or economic downturn, conservation programs for environmental stewardship, nutrition programs for low-income people and school children and programs for rural economic development. It also includes many programs and projects that are of special benefit to Nebraska such as the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and water use research in the High Plains Aquifer Region. Good For Rural America If the Farm Bill hadn't passed, rural America would likely have lost billions in baseline funding that would be gone forever due to increasing pressures on the federal budget. As farmers are planting the most expensive crop in history, now is not the time for Washington to turn its back on rural America. While this bill falls short of the reforms that are needed, the cost of doing nothing to Nebraska and rural America would be too great to endure. ###