PA Farm News
May 10, 2008
Pennsylvania Farmers Union: Farm Bill Conferees Reach Agreement
MILLVILLE -- Pennsylvania Farmers Union commended members of the U.S. House-Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee today, following an announcement that the key negotiators had reached a farm bill agreement that will benefit the Keystone State’s farmers, ranchers and consumers.
“Pennsylvania’s family farmers will benefit from the farm bill’s strong safety net and investments in conservation and specialty crop programs,” Pennsylvania Farmers Union President Larry Breech said. “Consumers across the state will benefit from the bill’s record increase in nutrition programs and the implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling.”
The farm bill will also create a permanent disaster assistance program, a top Farmers Union farm bill priority.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers and ranchers have felt the effects of weather conditions out of their control. This program will provide a much-needed helping hand during their time of need,” Breech said.
Breech added that the state’s dairy producers will benefit from a strengthened safety-net which takes into consideration a dairy farmer’s cost of production. “The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program will be restored to its original support level; expanded the amount of milk covered; and include a cost of production factor to account for the increased input costs from fuel, fertilizer and feed,” he said.
Other farm bill provisions include:
· Investments in renewable energy;
· Rural development programs; and
· Livestock Title, which includes non-binding arbitration, interstate shipment of state-inspected meat, contract reforms and improvement of Packers & Stockyards Act enforcement.
“While not a perfect bill, legislators confronted many challenges along the way, this is a good bipartisan compromise agreement,” Breech said. “I urge Pennsylvania’s Senators and Representatives to support the farm bill when it comes to the floor for a vote.”
MILLVILLE -- Pennsylvania Farmers Union commended members of the U.S. House-Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee today, following an announcement that the key negotiators had reached a farm bill agreement that will benefit the Keystone State’s farmers, ranchers and consumers.
“Pennsylvania’s family farmers will benefit from the farm bill’s strong safety net and investments in conservation and specialty crop programs,” Pennsylvania Farmers Union President Larry Breech said. “Consumers across the state will benefit from the bill’s record increase in nutrition programs and the implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling.”
The farm bill will also create a permanent disaster assistance program, a top Farmers Union farm bill priority.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers and ranchers have felt the effects of weather conditions out of their control. This program will provide a much-needed helping hand during their time of need,” Breech said.
Breech added that the state’s dairy producers will benefit from a strengthened safety-net which takes into consideration a dairy farmer’s cost of production. “The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program will be restored to its original support level; expanded the amount of milk covered; and include a cost of production factor to account for the increased input costs from fuel, fertilizer and feed,” he said.
Other farm bill provisions include:
· Investments in renewable energy;
· Rural development programs; and
· Livestock Title, which includes non-binding arbitration, interstate shipment of state-inspected meat, contract reforms and improvement of Packers & Stockyards Act enforcement.
“While not a perfect bill, legislators confronted many challenges along the way, this is a good bipartisan compromise agreement,” Breech said. “I urge Pennsylvania’s Senators and Representatives to support the farm bill when it comes to the floor for a vote.”
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