Farm Bill Digest #3, Posted June 5, 2007
The Farm Bill Digest is a weekly news digest that tracks the National Campaign’s 2008 Farm Bill Priorities.
Because the House subcommittee on Specialty Crops will this week begin to markup the organic title and other titles of interest to organic producers we’re including the organic alert list in the mailing of this Digest. If you would like to continue to receive the Farm Bill Digest follow this link and sign up
In this issue of the Digest:
House Agriculture Subcommittee Markup Continues
Rural Development
Markup begins this week on the Rural Development Title in House Agriculture Subcommittee – Calls and support are needed for the Value Added Producer Grant Program, the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas Program, and the Rural Entrepreneurship and Micro-Enterprise Program
Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee Markup
Important programs affecting organic agriculture and fruit and vegetable marketing will be considered in subcommittee this week. Calls and support are needed for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program and the Farmers Market Promotion Program.
Payment Limitation Reform
Senators Grassely (R-IA) and Dorgan (D-ND) have introduced a bill to tighten the farm subsidy payment limitation.
FARM BILL DIGEST # 3
House Agriculture Subcommittee Markup Continues
Rural Development
The House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson (D-MN) is
expected to release the Rural Development section of his farm bill
proposal this week. The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty
Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture will meet on
Wednesday, June 6th to markup the Chairman’s bill. CALLS ARE
NEEDED TODAY from AL, CO, GA, NE, NC, ND and TX to urge subcommittee
members to support the Value Added Producer program, the Appropriate
Technology Transfer For Rural Areas program and the Rural
Entrepreneurship and Micro Enterprise Program. Subcommittee members and
their phone numbers are below.
Value Added Producer Program
The Value Added Producer Grant program provides grants to farmers for planning or capital needs to establish on farm enterprises that add value and income to their farming operations. VAPG grants are also available for on-farm renewable energy production projects. Several marker bills have been introduced that would reauthorize, increase funding and add new granting categories to the VAPG program.
Subcomittee members should be urged to:
- Increase funding for VAPG from $40 million to $60 million annually.
- Establish a priority for projects that improve the profitability of small and mid-sized farms and improve land stewardship.
- Set aside 10% of grant funds for projects that support local food systems development in specially targeted underserved states and populations.
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Program
The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) program provides a wealth of technical information and resources for farmers practicing or transitioning to sustainable and organic farming practices. http://www.attra.org/ ATTRA has served farmers, ranchers, researchers and extension since 1987 across the U.S. Farmers can count on ATTRA for practical help with livestock production, marketing, business and risk management, energy conservation, pest management, horticulture, and organic farming
Subcommittee members should be urged to reauthorize and provide adequate funding for this excellent program.
Rural Entrepreneurship and Micro-Enterprise Program
Small non-farm enterprises in predominately rural areas are an important engine for rural job formation. Yet these micro-enterprises employing five or fewer employees lack access to commercial credit and technical assistance. Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Ken Salazar (D-CO) have introduced the Rural Entrepreneur and Micro-Enterprise Assistance Act of 2007 that would establish a program to fund organizations that provide micro enterprise lending, technical assistance and rural capacity building to economically disadvantaged small businesses. Subcommittee members should be urged to introduce or support an amendment to the Chairman’s Farm Bill mark that would create such a program.
House Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture:
Democrats
| Member | Phone | Fax |
| Mike McIntyre, (NC-7) – Chair | 202-225-2731 | 202-225-5773 |
| Jim Marshall, (GA-8) | 202-225-6531 | 202-225-3013 |
| Henry Cuellar, (TX-28) | 202-225-1640 | 202-225-1641 |
| John Salazar, (CO-3) | 202-225-4761 | 202-226-9669 |
| John Barrow, (GA-12) | 202-225-2823 | 202-225-3377 |
| Earl Pomeroy, (ND-at large) | 202-225-2611 | 202-226-0893 |
Republicans
| Member | Phone | Fax |
| Marilyn Musgrave, (CO–4) Ranking Member | 202-225-4676 | 202-225-5870 |
| Terry Everett, (AL-2) | 202-225-2901 | 202-225-8913 |
| Adrian Smith, (NE-3) | 202-225-6435 | 202-225-0207 |
| Jeff Fortenberry, (NE-1) | 202-225-4806 | 202-225-5686 |
| Robin Hayes, (NC-8) | 202-225-3715 | 202-225-4036 |
Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee Markup
The House Agriculture Chairman Colin Peterson is expected to release his proposal for sections for the Farm Bill that relate to organic agriculture, fruit and vegetable marketing and production this week. The Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture is expected to meet on Thursday June 7th to markup the Chairman’s Farm Bill proposal. CALLS ARE NEEDED BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY from CA, NC, TN, FL, GA, NY and TX to urge subcommittee members to support the Farmers Market Promotion Program and the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Subcommittee members and their phone and fax numbers are listed below.
Farmers Market Promotion Program
The Farmers Market Promotion Program provides competitive grants to develop direct farmer-to-consumer marketing opportunities. It supports the creation of farmers markets, community supported agriculture networks and internet marketing initiatives. Subcommittee members should be urged to reauthorize the FMPP and provide at least $25 million annually to fund the program.
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program was authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill to provide modest cost share assistance for organic certification. Costs of certification have risen substantially since organic standards went federal under the National Organic Program. The program received just $5 million in mandatory funding under the 2002 Farm Bill. Subcommittee members should be urged to reauthorize the program and provide at least $25 million in mandatory funding over the life of the 2008 Farm Bill to meet the growing and unmet demand from Organic producers.
House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
Democrats
| Member | Phone | Fax |
| Dennis Cardoza, (CA -18) Chair | 202-225-6131 | 202-225-0819 |
| Bob Etheridge, (NC-2) | 202-225-4531 | 202-225-5662 |
| Lincoln Davis, (TN-4) | 202-225-6831 | 202-226-5172 |
| Tim Mahoney, (FL-16) | 202-225-5792 | 202-225-3132 |
| John Barrow, (GA-12) | 202-225-2823 | 202-225-3377 |
| Kirsten Gillibrand, (NY-20) | 202-225-5614 | 202-225-1168 |
Republicans
| Member | Phone | Fax |
| Randy Neugebauer, (TX –19) Ranking Member | 202-225-4005 | 202-225-9615 |
| John R. “Randy” Kuhl, (NY-29) | 202-225-3161 | 202-226-6599 |
| Virginia Foxx, (NC-5) | 202-225-2071 | 202-225-2995 |
| Kevin McCarthy, (CA-22) | 202-225-2915 | 202-225-2908 |
| K. Michael Conaway, (TX-11) | 202-225-3605 | 202-225-1783 |
Payment Limitation Reform
Senators Grassely (R-IA) and Dorgan (D-ND) have introduced a bill to tighten the farm subsidy payment limitation. The Rural America Preservation Act of 2007 would place an effective cap of $40,000 on direct payments, $60,000 on countercyclical payments and $150,000 on loan deficiency payments. Current caps on direct payments and countercyclical payments are $80,000 and $130,000 respectively and there is not current effective cap on loan deficiency payments.
Under the Bill, Megafarms would no longer be able to skirt the cap by forming up to three separate farming entities to receive payments. The limits are to be applied per person and all payments received through entities will be traced back to the individual and counted against the limit. Payments are to be attributed to the person exercising primary control over the operation.
The Bill would also do a better job of targeting payments to working farmers by providing additional definition to the “actively engaged in farming” requirement. The current rules require that producers be actively engaged in farming without defining “active management.” The Bill would require that the producer be personally involved on regular, substantial and continuous basis by providing direct supervision of farming activities AND labor and on-site services to the farming operation.
© 2007-2008 National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture.