Farm Bill awaits its day in the Senate

UPDATE:  FIVE-YEAR FARM BILL: Voting 55 for and 42 against, the Senate  on Nov. 16 failed to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill (HR 2419)  to revamp and renew federal farm programs. Republicans blocked  the bill in a dispute over the number and content of amendments  the Democratic ajority would allow, which Democrats called a veiled attempt to kill the bill in its present form. Costing $288 billion over five years, the bill would extend the current system of payments and subsidies for growers of major crops such as cotton, corn, rice, wheat and soybeans; renew nutrition programs such as Food Stamps; promote land conservation and rural development, and
provide special funding for fruit and vegetable growers.

A yes vote was to advance the farm bill. Sens. Baucus and Tester both voted yes. 

Another bill the Senate is poised to consider when it resumes is the 2007 Farm Bill reauthorization.  The bill passed the House earlier this year.  As we reported this summer in Congressional Watch, Representative Dennis Rehberg did vote for the Farm Bill, although he did so "reluctantly", according to an AP story in the Billings Gazette (July 28th, 2007)

Earlier this fall, Senator Baucus, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced a provision to the Farm Bill to provide significant tax relief to Montana’s farmers and ranchers and financial incentives for land conservation, and renewable energy production utilizing biofuel crops.

In addition, a new, promising crop is under consideration by the Senate, as it decides whether or not to include additional funding for its production in the bill.  As reported in a recent Associated Press article by Mary Clare Jalonick, “Camelina”, long considered a weed, is gaining attention in Montana as a potential source of biodiesel and a provision in the bill could jump-start its production. Camelina is a hardy plant that can survive dry weather in states like Montana and North Dakota, and is seen by some as a way to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

According to the article, Senator Jon Tester added $1 million to the Senate farm bill to help farmers alleviate some of the risks of growing camelina and Senator Max Baucus has added a provision to extend renewable energy tax credits specifically for camelina, along with other language that would include the crop in other farm programs.

Baucus, Tester and Governor Brian Schweitzer announced in November that two out-of-state companies will launch a joint venture to use camelina to produce up to 100 million gallons of biodiesel a year by 2010. 

The companies said they would offer contracts to farmers that will be competitive with other crops, starting with 30 to 50 farmers next year.  This potential biofuel crop is still new and not everyone is convinced it will deliver as a biodiesel source.  However, it is important that Senator Baucus and Senator Tester are taking seriously the need to research and support emerging crops in the Farm Bill that could provide the nation with homegrown, cleaner, renewable energy.

For more information, visit:

Northern Plains Resource Council: www.northernplains.org

Western Organization of Resource Councils:   www.worc.org