AgNet Online

In these reports, comments from USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner (photo) from an exclusive interview with Southeast AgNet Friday after House and Senate both passed a farm bill compromise that the Bush Administration has all kinds of problems with. While Conner agrees there are some good things in the bill for specialty crops, including citrus, there are also some issues with the bill that could cause a major shoe drop later with respect to world trade partners who are expected to cry foul. Report (1:30 mp3) Report (1:30 mp3)

When it comes to implementing a new farm bill,  Tyron Spearman says there’s a lot to be done by the Farm Service Agency.  Report (1:05 mp3)

LAKELAND, Fla. (May 15, 2008) – Florida Citrus Mutual Executive VP/CEO Michael W. Sparks Thursday urged President Bush to sign the Farm Bill into law after both the U.S. House and Senate passed the measure by veto-proof majorities.
“President Bush should sign this bill which for the first time ever recognizes the importance of fruit and vegetables,” Sparks said. “This historic bill is good for Florida citrus growers.” (more…)

In these reports, straight talk from central Florida Congressman Adam Putnam about passage of the House/Senate Farm Bill compromise by huge bi-partisan margins on both sides of the Congressional aisle. With President Bush threatening a veto, Putnam poses a question and points out there are easily enough votes to override the veto in both House and Senate. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

(Gainesville, Fla.) – The 2008 farm bill passed yesterday by the House of Representatives promises to be more supportive of Florida agricultural producers than previous bills, according to Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick.
“This farm bill contains a safety net for commodities, increased funds for conservation programs and mandatory spending for specialty crops,” Hoblick said. “It is the best agriculture policy ever for Florida.” (more…)

The Senate passed the 2007 Farm Bill on Thursday by an even larger margin than the House - voting 81 to 15 in favor of the Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2008, despite the threat of a presidential veto.

Senate Ag Committee ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia says the bill is good for farmers, better for the hungry.

Report 1(1:00 mp3)

Senate Ag Committee chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa says the bill is a win-win for agriculture and the public and is especially good for specialty crop growers.

Report 2(1:00 mp3)

The House passed the 2007 Farm Bill on Wednesday by an apparently veto-proof vote of 318 to 106. The Senate is expected to pass the bill today.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer says the president will veto the bill even though he knows it will be hard for Congress to vote against it with so many “presents” in it for constituents everywhere.

Report 1(1:00 mp3)

Everyone seems to support the Farm Bill except the president, including a broad coalition of 557 organizations who sent a letter this week to Congress in support of the legislation.

Report 2(1:00 mp3)

Members of the U. S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Compromise Committee version of the Farm Bill late Wednesday afternoon. The Senate is expected to do the same shortly. It’s expected the President will follow through on his veto threat, even though he must know the margin of votes needed to override his veto exists. It is also expected WTO may have some issues with this Farm Bill version, too. Commentary in this report. Report (2:00 mp3)

Tyron Spearman looks at some of the information affecting peanut growers in the new farm bill. Report (1:15 mp3)

Dear Citrus Mutual Members and Friends:
It’s time to mobilize! The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today on the Farm Bill. For the first time this bill provides a significant investment in fruit and vegetables. The bill authorizes almost $1.5 billion in mandatory spending for programs that benefit fruit and vegetable growers. (more…)

Those in agriculture have been busy trying to get all the specifics of the new version of the farm bill to see how it affects them, and according to NCBA’s Colin Woodall, it’s a good bill for cattlemen.   Report (1:00 mp3)

Today Tyron Spearman tells us about one Congressman who has a lot of peanut acres in his district, and how he is proud of the new farm bill they’ve worked out.   Report (:45 mp3)

Richey Seaton with the Georgia Cotton Commission talks about the impending veto of the final 2007 Farm Bill and what cotton growers want.

Report(1:00 mp3)

The president has promised to veto the final 2007 Farm Bill so congressional leaders are working to get a strong vote in the House and Senate to override.

Report 1(1:00 mp3)

Report 2(1:00 mp3)

Nearly five months after the Senate passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, negotiators happily announced a compromise bill Thursday. Conference committee chairman Senator Tom Harkin called the bill a non-partisan effort and the question now is whether the president will sign it.

Report(1:00 mp3)

The bill includes provisions for specialty crop producers.

Report(1:00 mp3)

Read more here from Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia.

Congressional negotiators will announce a final farm bill conference agreement this afternoon and discuss the details of the final bill, which makes investments in conservation, energy, nutrition and rural development while continuing and strengthening farm income protection.

This announcement comes after little news this week, the White House continuing to threaten a veto, and negotiators indicating they might be willing to risk it.

Report(1:00 mp3)

There are discussions in Washington D.C. about a possible veto over-ride if the President does follow-through with a veto of the pending farm bill, plus Tyron Spearman also has information about some wanting a change made to the ethanol mandate.  Report 1 (:35 mp3)  Report 2 (:45 mp3)

Congressional negotiators continue to insist they will have a farm bill finished soon, but Alabama agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks is less confident.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Payment limits is one of the issues still being debated by farm bill negotiators and the cotton industry has been working with Congress to stay within budget guidelines.

Report(1:00 mp3)

As discussions continue in trying to put together a final farm bill, Tyron Spearman says there is still the possibility once its done and passed the President may still use his veto power with it. Report  (1:10 mp3)

Congress passed yet another extension of the current farm bill last week, but did make further progress on a new bill and now fully expect to get it finalized. The conference committee is expected to meet again this week possibly for a final vote on the bill after the budget scoring is complete.

Report(1:00 mp3)

As lawmakers in our nation’s capitol try to get closer to finalizing a new farm bill, Tyron Spearman reports another extension was passed for two weeks. Report  (1:20 mp3)

Prospects for a new farm bill with provisions for specialty crops are alive again as conference committee members believe they are close to a compromise bill that could be wrapped up by the end of the week. Committee Chairman Senator Tom Harkin updated farm broadcasters meeting in Washington on Wednesday.

Report(1:00 mp3)

Scathing comments made by President Bush Tuesday about a “massive, bloated farm bill” caused negotiators to call Ag Secretary Ed Schafer in for a talk to see what they can do to make sure the president signs the bill they hope to have finished by early next week now.

Report(1:00 mp3)

Today Tyron Spearman updates where things stand with peanut planting progress here in the Southeast and also says plans in Washington are to get a new fam bill completed soon. Report 1 (:20 mp3)    Report 2 (:35 mp3)

Farm bill conference committee members say they are now confident a new bill is finally within reach.

Report(1:00 mp3)

Tyron Spearman updates where things stand with financing a new farm bill that some feel is much closer to being a reality. Report (1:15 mp3)

Once again President Bush was forced into signing another one-week extension of the current Farm Bill to give Congress time to finish a new bill. This is the fifth extension since the farm bill originally expired last September.

Report(1:00 mp3)

Congress passed another one-week extension of the current farm bill Thursday so now the question is will President Bush sign it. He had asked the House and Senate to extend the law for at least a year if they were not close to finishing the new bill. But Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin said they are close to a deal but can not finish it by this Friday, so another extension is needed.

With certain ones in Washington scrambling to get a farm bill completed by Friday, Tyron Spearman reports that for now it’s been taken over by a higher committee. Report (1:00 mp3)