|
Farm Bill has solid help for Montana farmers |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
|
Page 1 of 2 By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
Newspapers from Conrad, The Independent-Observer, Baker, Dillon, Miles City, and Hamilton were part of a conference call with Senator Max Baucus on Thursday to discuss the new Farm Bill.
While this is a national bill, the legislation, much if crafted by the Senator, has, as he said, “Solid help for Montana farmers.”
Baucus said, “This is good for Montana, we did quite well. I’m comfortable with a tight bill given the tight constraints of Congress right now.”
As the Senate Agriculture Committee spent several hours debating a new Farm Bill today, Montana’s Senator Max Baucus praised the committee for including a solid safety net for wheat and barley producers, stopping Farm Service Agency office closures, boosting alternative energy, and finally implementing Country-of-Origin Labeling on meat products.
Baucus, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, helped write the new five-year bill, which will serve as a blueprint for agriculture programs across the country. Baucus said the legislation is expected to pass the committee late today or Thursday and then will be taken up by the full Senate next week.
For more than a year, Baucus traveled around the state holding “listening sessions” in small Montana communities, including Conrad, which packed Norley Hall.
And, as the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation on the Ag-Committee, the senator also held two official hearings of that committee in Great Falls to get input from Montana’s producers.
“This bill has been anything but easy to negotiate. But we kept our eye on the ball and we didn’t give up. We all worked together in a non-partisan effort,” Baucus said. “Montana farmers and ranchers will come out very well in this bill. They should be pleased.”
Baucus helped insert several provisions in the bill for Montana, including a payment boost for wheat and barley; programs to help producers develop alternative energy, and a Sept. 30, 2008 implementation date for the long-awaited Country-of-Origin Law.
Baucus was also successful today in attaching an amendment with Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) to halt Farm Service Agency office closures that are more than 20 miles apart for the life of the Farm Bill.
Asked if the Farm Bill would be on the president’s veto list, the Senator commented, “This is not an appropriation list, no, it’s not on the president’s veto list.”
|
