U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth

News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553
Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH SANDLIN REPORTS ON STATUS OF 2007 FARM BILL

Provides Update on Legislation in House Agriculture Committee

June 28, 2007, Washington, D.C. - On a conference call with reporters this morning, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin spoke about her work on the 2007 Farm Bill, which is progressing through the House Agriculture Committee. To date, the legislation has passed through each of the House Agriculture Subcommittees, and will next be considered before the full Committee. Rep. Herseth Sandlin outlined the initial draft of sections, or titles, including the Commodity, Conservation, Energy, Rural Development and Livestock Titles.

Regarding the Commodity Title, Rep. Herseth Sandlin said, “I expect the current Commodity Title of the bill to look similar to what we have today. In fact, the Subcommittee essentially voted to extend the 2002 Farm Bill’s Commodity Title through 2012. While I voted in favor of this extension, it wasn’t my first choice. I do anticipate further debate in the full Agriculture Committee next month on rebalancing target prices and loan rates, and further discussion on payment limitations. I support a realignment of the current loan rates and target prices provided in the 2002 bill for certain commodities, including wheat and soybeans.”

Rep. Herseth Sandlin noted that proposals to virtually eliminate all of the farm price support programs in the title, and to offer one-time lump sum payments to farmers who agree to permanently terminate their participation in federal farm programs were soundly defeated. Rep. Herseth Sandlin opposed both proposals.

Regarding the Conservation Title, Rep. Herseth Sandlin outlined her support for a number of important programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Security Program (CSP), the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and “Sodsaver” proposals. However, Rep. Herseth Sandlin cautioned that the Conservation Title is likely to be among the most contentious of the entire debate, not because there is any disagreement about its importance, but because there are limited funds available.

Other important titles include Energy and Rural Development. The Energy Title includes a Rep. Herseth Sandlin amendment to allow farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to apply for grants and loans to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The Rural Development Title includes a portion of Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s legislation to improve access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas as well as a number of provisions she supported to help beginning farmers and ranchers get started in agriculture.

The Livestock Title will also hold great importance to South Dakota, and it includes important provisions Rep. Herseth Sandlin supports to ensure that producers can effectively manage risk and access a fair marketplace. Rep. Herseth Sandlin said, “As the bill moves to full Committee, I am hopeful that debate will move forward on mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) and it will be focused on implementation rather than re-waging old battles.”

Rep. Herseth Sandlin is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and two Agriculture Subcommittees: Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research; and General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. The 2007 Farm Bill is expected to be considered before the full Agriculture Committee and the full House of Representatives prior to the August recess.

Summary: 2007 Farm Bill in the House of Representatives
June 28, 2007

Below is a summary of selected provisions included to date in the 2007 Farm Bill. These provisions reflect input from each Agriculture Subcommittee, but are subject to change as the bill receives further consideration in the full Agriculture Committee.

Commodity Title

Reauthorizes and retains the basic farm safety net by extending marketing assistance loans, direct payments and counter-cyclical payments.
Keeps intact the percentage of base acres for which farmers may receive payments.

Conservation Title

Extends important environmental and conservation programs.
Substantially increases funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives and Farmland Protection Programs.
Increased resources for Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP).
Reauthorizes the Conservation Security Program (CSP).
Expands the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) to include projects that simultaneously address rural community development opportunities and environmental enhancement.
Adds bison to the definition of livestock for the purposes of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (Herseth Sandlin amendment).

Energy Title

Creates a $2 billion federal loan guarantee program to incentivize the construction of biorefineries and biofuel production plants.
Reauthorizes and improves several important existing bioenergy programs.
Establishes a pilot program to demonstrate on-farm energy production systems to help farms become energy independent using existing technologies.
Modifies the Section 9006 program that allows farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to apply for grants and loans to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements in farms or businesses (Herseth Sandlin amendment).
Provides for feasibility studies for the construction of a dedicated ethanol pipeline and requires a report to Congress on the issue.
Creates an Energy Council in the Office of the Secretary at USDA to promote the Department’s role in renewable energy production.

Livestock Title

Repeals the prohibition on the use of a mandatory animal identification system to implement country-of-origin labeling.
Prevents a State or locality from prohibiting the interstate shipment of USDA-inspected and approved meat.
Prohibits livestock integrators from requiring contract livestock producers to consent to arbitration in contract disputes.
Makes the dairy forward contracting program permanent.
Extends the dairy export incentive program.
Streamlines the federal milk marketing order process.

Nutrition Title

Raises the allowable deductions to expand eligibility for the food stamp program and eliminate the limit on the deduction for child care expenses used when determining food stamp eligibility.
Reauthorizes the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (part of Herseth Sandlin nutrition bill).

Rural Development Title

Changes program eligibility requirements to improve access to broadband. telecommunications services in rural areas (Includes portions of Herseth Sandlin Rural Utility Service broadband bill).
Reauthorizes U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development programs that facilitate the financing of essential infrastructure, including public water and waste disposal systems.
Establishes grant and loan programs for rural healthcare facilities and entrepreneur and microenterprise assistance.
Amendments were passed regarding the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategy and technology transfer for rural areas.

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