Senators just finished patting each other on the back for their “tremendous” work in getting both an energy bill and a farm bill passed within 24 hours. The Senate version of the 2007 Farm Bill made amazing progress overnight after Senators decided it was taking too long to go through even the pared-down list of amendments they had agreed to …
Senate Stops Energy Bill
The energy bill was on a roll after passing the House Thursday, but a failed vote to end debate in the Senate puts the bill back in limbo. In urging Senators to block a vote on the bill, Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, argued: “This is not a …
Farm Bill Update
At last week’s National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, NCGA President Ron Litterer did a number of interviews including one with me about the farm bill. In the picture Ron’s being interviewed by one of the many farm broadcasters that came by the NCGA booth. I asked Ron where things stand from a corn grower perspective. It was really dark …
Farm Bill Reaction
Despite initial diplomatic words of praise, Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner does not seem to be very pleased overall with the Farm Bill out of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week. “I have to note the provisions that raise loan rates and target prices for half a dozen crops,” Conner said in a telephone press conference on Thursday afternoon. “This …
Dueling Senate Farm Bills
The Senate Agriculture Committee finally completed work on its version of the 2007 Farm Bill about midday on Thursday. The bill was reported out of committee on a voice vote, despite the fact that one of the committee members intends to introduce his own version of a farm bill on the Senate floor. Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) criticized the House …
Call from the Combine
The National Corn Growers Association is urging its members nationwide to call their Senators on Thursday October 18 and talk to them about what they would like to see in the 2007 Farm Bill. “Right now the committee is scheduled to markup the farm bill Oct. 23,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “This is the time to let our senators …
Still No Farm Bill
Senate Agriculture Committee action on the 2007 Farm Bill was delayed again this week, with Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin citing “scheduling difficulties” as the reason for further postponing mark-up. The ag committee was waiting on the Senate Finance Committee to markup the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest and Horticulture Act of 2007 which will extend some tax incentives for renewable energy; …
Wouldn’t We All Like a New Farm Bill?
As was pretty much expected the Senate didn’t get a farm bill passed before the 2002 Farm Bill expired yesterday. They’ve got some more work to do apparently. Go to the Senate Ag Committee homepage and there’s not a word about it. Of course their “Today in Agriculture” section is showing as its latest item one that’s dated July 2. …