Reid Requests Conference with Senate and House on Agriculture Bills

On October 1, Richard Cox reported on The Hill Blog that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) requested a conference committee between representatives from the House and Senate to resolve their differences over the Farm Bill.

Reid named seven Democrats and five Republicans to the conference, all who serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.  The conferees are Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), John Boozman  (R-Ark.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).  House conferees have not yet been decided upon; however, under congressional protocol, Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, would preside over the negotiations.

The existing Farm Bill expired on Tuesday, as lawmakers had not reached an agreement on a new bill.  The Senate passed a bipartisan farm bill earlier in the year which would reduce spending by $24 billion, mostly through restructuring farm subsidies into a crop insurance program.  The House passed a similar bill; however, it reduced food assistance by nearly $40 billion and separated food assistance programs from the agriculture policy.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow’s statements on the conference can be found on the Agriculture Committee website.  Richard Cox’s original report can be found on The Hill Blog.  For more information on the Farm Bill, see the Farm Bill section of the Senate Agriculture Committee website and the House Agriculture Committee website, as well as our past blog posts from June 7,  June 11, June 20, and July 12.

Written by Alyssa Looney – Research Assistant

The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

@PSUAgLawCenter

October 1, 2013

OECD Releases Annual Report, Warns Against Government Support of Agriculture

On September 18, 2013, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released its annual report which showed international increased government support for agriculture. OECD states in its press release that this increase in support is a shift from a long-term downward trend that reached historic lows in 2011. The OECD Trade and Agriculture Director Ken Ash suggests that government support of agriculture needs to be reformed. He states that a shift away from “wasteful policies of the past towards measures that improve competitiveness” is required for “[m]eeting the needs of a growing and richer world population.” The report shows that emerging economies where support is rising tend to resort mainly to border protection and market price support, both of which tax consumers. OECD states that support for technology and innovation would show higher social returns in the long run.

The report examined 47 countries that account for nearly 80% of global farm output. Countries that offer farmers the highest levels of support recorded increases, including Japan, Korea, Norway, and Switzerland. Countries that typically show low farmer support, such as the United States, Israel, and Mexico, recorded decreases.

For the full report, please see the OECD’s Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation webpage.

 

Written by Sarah L. Doyle - Research Assistant

The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

@PSUAgLawCenter

September 23, 2013

EU Reaches an Agreement on Farm Subsidies

On June 26, 2013, European Union member states reached an agreement with the European Parliament on the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The new CAP contains several key provisions. First, the new policy aims to “green” Europe’s farms and make farms more sustainable by requiring farmers adhere to certain environmental practices to be eligible to receive a basic payment. A farmer will be required to respect certain types of environmental criteria and producers will have to maintain permanent grassland, promote biodiversity, and protect “ecological focus areas.” Second, CAP member states will be allowed to allocate a portion of their direct payment budget to coupled subsidies. Third, the new policy will not provide subsidies to airports, railway services, water works, real estate services, and permanent sports and recreational grounds. Lastly, production quotas for sugar will be phased out by 2017. The new policy must be and approved by Council and once finalized will be implemented in 2014.

For more information on the agreement please see the European Parliament’s Press Release.

Written By Clara E. Conklin - Research Assistant

The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

June 27, 2013

House Fails to Pass Farm Bill

On June 20, 2013 the United States House of Representatives voted down their version of the five-year farm bill (H.R. 1947). In the end the vote was 195-234, with 62 Republicans and 172 Democrats joining to defeat the bill. The bill was defeated in large part because many Democrats have opposed the more than $20 billion the House bill proposed to cut from the SNAP program. In addition, some Republicans have opposed the House bill saying more cuts to SNAP need to be made.  The Senate passed their version of the farm bill last week. The 1949 farm bill is set to go back into effect if Congress fails to pass a new farm bill before the 2008 farm bill expires on September 30, 2008.

For more information on the 2013 farm bill, please visit the Current Issues section of the Agricultural Law Center’s website.  

 

Written By Clara E. Conklin – Research Assistant

The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

June 20, 2013

Senate Passes Farm Bill

On June 10, 2013, the Senate passed its version of the farm bill, 66 to 27. The final breakdown of the bill includes cuts to the supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP), direct payments to farmers, and conservation programs, while shifting additional funding to crop insurance and promotion of U.S. crops overseas. The bill totals at approximately $955 billion in spending over the next ten years. The next step is for the House to pass its own version of the farm bill, and then for the two bills to be reconciled.

For the full text of the Senate farm bill, please click here.

Written By Sarah Doyle – Research Assistant

Penn State Law – Agricultural Law Center

June 11, 2013

Senate Votes to End Farm Bill Debate

On June 6, 2013, the Senate voted 75-22 to end the farm bill debate. The Senate version of the farm bill, most recently titled Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, includes cutting from farm spending by repealing direct payments, among other cuts, and reducing spending on the supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP). The next step in the process will be for the Senate to vote for final passage. According to thehill.com, the House vote on its version of the farm bill will likely come later in June.

Written By Sarah Doyle - Research Assistant

Penn State Law - Agricultural Law Center

June 7, 2013