USDA/Bush Administration Blasts Farm Bill - Threatens Veto
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)
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.
We got the news release posted below from the Washington D C office of central Florida Congressman Adam Putnam moments after the U. S. House voted overwhelmingly to support the Compromise Committee version of the Farm Bill. Putnam was a member of the Conference Committee.
In this report, Florida Citrus Mutual Spokesman Andrew Meadows discusses the monies allocated by this year’s state legislature, in a very tight budget year, toward citrus research specifically. And stay tuned, we’ll have a few more segments with Meadows in the days ahead about other actions by this year’s legislature that have impacts in the citrus community.
“Today, the United States House and Senate announced the completion of a farm bill that unfortunately fails to include much needed reform and increases spending by nearly $20 billion. At a time of record farm income, Congress decided to further increase farm subsidy rates, qualify more people for taxpayer support, and move programs toward more government control. We should not remove farm commodities from market forces and make them dependent upon government support programs. 
Under the new state budget passed by the Florida Legislature, the University of Florida’s budget plan for FY 2008-09 includes a 6 percent reduction in state funds for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), consistent with reductions for other parts of the university.
Congressional negotiators continue to insist they will have a farm bill finished soon, but Alabama agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks is less confident. 
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation and AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. have partnered to provide carbon credits services to farmers, ranchers and private forest owners. Those interested in learning more can attend one of three meetings being held this month in north Florida.
One big issue this year for the Florida Legislature was of course the budget as many faced cuts across the state. But Sam Ard with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association says the cuts for IFAS were not as drastic as first thought. 
I’ve continued to add segments to this series, so I’m updating this post to be sure our citrus visitors hear what is now this full eight-part series with Dr Robert Davis. Among the scientists gathered in Ft Pierce recently to discuss greening and canker research, Davis is a scientist with USDA at the Beltsville MD lab and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. These reports features his comments about the greening challenge from various angles as he shares his thoughts about the value of the efforts being made by the industry to solve the greening problem.
Many people are familiar with Dee River Ranch in Aliceville, Alabama and were proud to hear Annie & Mike Dee were the recipients of the 2008 NRCS Excellence in Conservation Award. Mike talks about their operation and we also hear from Dr. Billy Powell with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, just one of those happy to see Dee River Ranch receive this award. 
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson talks about Eastern Equine Encephalitis. 
With one week to go in the Florida legislative session, Sam Ard with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association looks at the budget process and where it currently stands. 
