From Illinois Farm Week Now by Deana Stroisch
After years of debate and delay, the U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday approved a five-year farm bill. The vote was 266-151.
The bill’s passage was immediately applauded by agricultural groups across the country, including Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) and American Farm Bureau Federation.
The bill, formally called the Agricultural Act of 2014, sets agricultural policy for the next five years. It still requires approval by the Senate and President Barack Obama, and faces a lengthy implementation process.
IFB President Rich Guebert Jr. said the proposed farm bill strengthens the federal crop insurance program and maintains resources for cost-share, working land conservation programs.
“This legislation is not only fiscally responsible, but helps Illinois farmers put a much needed five-year plan in place to help manage their risk in an increasingly risky business,” Guebert said. “We applaud our representatives’ hard work in crafting and supporting this important legislation and urge our senators to follow suit.”
IFB issued a call to action this week encouraging members to call their elected officials in both chambers in support of the bill. A vote in the Senate is expected next week.
Related link: Legislative Action Center
Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield, supports the measure, but it’s unclear how Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Highland Park, will vote, said Mark Gebhards, IFB executive director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities.
The majority of Illinois’ Congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill. Opponents of the bill say the cuts to the food stamp program are too severe, given the economy.
Rep. Rodney Davis, a Taylorville Republican who served on the farm bill conference committee, said the bill provides “five years of certainty to rural America,” strengthens crop insurance and cuts $23 billion in spending.
“I was proud to support this bill because it gives us one of the single largest cuts in mandatory spending that we’ve seen in this Congress and because it is essential that we pass a new, responsible farm bill that cuts spending, protects the agriculture community and reforms federal government,” he said.
Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, and Bill Enyart, D-Belleville, both members of the House agriculture committee, also supported the bill.
“While not perfect, I’m encouraged that Democrats and Republicans finally came together … to pass a bipartisan farm bill that will protect our region’s economy, critical nutrition programs and create jobs,” Bustos said.
Enyart called the bill’s passage as a “good day for American agriculture.”
“It strengthens America’s standing as food supplier to the world,” he said. “It’s good for corn, it’s good for soybeans. It’s good for southern Illinois farmers.”
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