FARM BILL STILL ELUSIVE

March 3 , 2008

ISSUE 1208

FARM BILL STILL ELUSIVE

As of Rap-Up deadline, the fate of a new farm bill was still uncertain. On Feb. 26, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asked congressional negotiators to find a way to offset about $10 billion in extra spending. But even if lawmakers — particularly the leaders of the Senate Finance and the House Ways and Means committees — were able to come to an agreement, efforts may still result in a presidential veto.

Members of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance have been told that that Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) is working to build support for cutting direct payments and using the savings to fund increased nutrition funding, which could prove beneficial to producers of specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables.

ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP

(Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT COULD END MOST SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS

FARM BILL STILL ELUSIVE

DOL PUBLISHES NEW H-2A WAGE RATE

STUDY SAYS AG AND RELATED INDUSTRIES PLAY VITAL ROLE IN STATE’S ECONOMY

CITRUS HALL OF FAME OF FLORIDA CELEBRATION IS MARCH 7

SOUTH FLORIDA GROWER WATER WORKSHOPS COMING UP

CITRUS GREENING SUMMIT SCHEDULED