| The Iowa Corn Growers Association's (ICGA) Web site has a wealth of
information available to you on the proposed new federal Farm Bill that is
being debated in Congress in Washington, D.C. If you'd like to look at the
actual bill language that the House and Senate have proposed, or are just
trying to find out where everyone stands, this is a good place to start.
Visit the site at iowacorn.org.
Tade Sullivan, director of public affairs for ICGA, keeps the Web site
updated. Here's his latest scoop on the situation.
Last week (Dec. 3 to 7, 2001) the U.S. Senate began formal floor debate
on the measure. The Senate began consideration of the farm bill on
Wednesday, Dec. 5. The commodity title of the bill sets the new corn loan
rate at $2.08, and the target price for the counter-cyclical portion of
the bill at $2.35.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said: "We'll try to finish
Senate work on the Farm Bill this year, but a conference bill may not get
to President before year-end. Daschle and House Agriculture Committee
Chair Larry Combest traded barbs over a statement that Daschle made
regarding the farm bill.
When asked by a reporter if he was concerned that he might not get the
Farm Bill to the President this year, Daschle replied that, "...we've
got a very narrow window, which is one of the main reasons why we're
trying to complete our work, at least in the Senate, on the bill before we
leave..."
House Chairman Combest interpreted that statement to mean that Daschle
had no intentions to conference this year on the bill, and issued a press
release entitled "Senate walks away from Farm Bill". Senator
Daschle's statement can be read here.
Congressman Combest's press release can be read here.
House action on Trade Promotion Authority
The U.S. House of Representatives passed Trade Promotion Authority by
the narrowest of margins: 215-214. This bill is one of ICGA's top
legislative priorities for 2001. Representative Leonard Boswell was the
lone member of the Iowa Congressional delegation to vote against the
measure, citing concerns with provisions for labor.
Word is that the Senate will mark up a version of the bill in Finance
Committee as early as next week, but not to expect floor consideration
this year. TPA will likely be taken up with energy and other priorities
shortly after the Senate reconvenes after the first of the year.
From the ICGA/ISA Policy Conference
Jim Little, administrator of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in
Washington, D.C., came to Iowa Dec. 5, 2001, to speak to the annual policy
conference put on by ICGA and the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). Little
talked about implementing the Farm Bill.
Little, a Bush Administration appointee, offered to farm groups like
ICGA an opportunity to provide input on implementing the 2002 farm bill
once signed by the President. Little suggested that Secretary Ann Veneman
has talked about holding listening sessions to gather input on the bill
prior to implementation.
FSA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture could face major
difficulties implementing the program without that kind of input if a
measure currently is allowed to stand in the Senate version of the
proposed new Farm Bill. The language specifies that the USDA Secretary
must begin accepting contracts for the new program no later than 45 days
after the President makes the measure law, and prohibits the secretary
from taking applications after 180 days after the Chief Executive pens the
measure. |