February 11, 2008

ISSUE 1205

SENATE FARM BILL CONFERENCE MEMBERS NAMED, PROCESS MOVING FORWARD

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Ag Committee Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) announced Feb. 4 the senators who will serve on the conference committee to craft the new farm bill. Harkin will chair the committee.

Democrats conferees are Max Baucus (Mont.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.). Republicans, including Chambliss, are Richard Lugar (Ind.), Charles Grassley (Iowa), Thad Cohcran (Miss.) and Pat Roberts (Kan.).

Members of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance learned Feb. 7 that USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner had confirmed that a potential deal had been struck by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and the Bush administration on a bill that the administration could support. It does not, however, have Senate support. In response, Sen. Baucus has prepared a compromise bill and is seeking support from other Senate conferees. The House will likely appoint conferees Feb. 12.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which FFVA President Mike Stuart co-chairs, is now focusing on sending a strong message to the conferees and House and Senate leadership on the need to include specialty crop priorities listed in the House and Senate bills in the final legislation coming out of the Conference Committee.