By Joshua Vice
United States Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, along with North Dakota Agricultural Commissioner Roger Johnson, were all present at a 2007 Farm Bill meeting held in Mayville on Saturday, December 8.
The senators and Johnson briefed citizens on the current status of the 2007 Farm Bill, and Conrad detailed his successful efforts to overcome a month-long deadlock that had stalled debate on the bill.
For just over a month, Republican senators had been adding amendments to the farm bill in order to stall debate.  Over the past month, 280 amendments were added to the original bill. 
A new agreement in the Senate that developed late last week now calls for the bill to only have twenty amendments offered by each party, which will restart discussion and drafting of the final version.
The 280 amendments that had previously been attached to the bill were largely unrelated to agriculture.
“It was good to be able to come to this meeting and have some really good news about the farm bill,” said Senator Conrad.
“This is a good farm bill.  Thankfully, we are able to work through partisan differences and now we can move forward on this critically important legislation,” stated Senator Conrad.  “This farm bill is too important for North Dakota and our nation to leave hanging any longer,” he added.
Dorgan is offering up an amendment that would establish a $250,000 per farm payment limit and would help clarify who will be entitled to these direct payments.  Dorgan stated that this amendment would cut down on the loopholes that exist in the current provision.
“I anticipated a tough fight on this farm bill.  We are dealing with an administration and some members of Congress who have been unfriendly to rural America and farm country,” Senator Conrad commented.
The Bush Administration did, in fact, offer a farm bill proposal that would cost $287.2 billion.  The Senate version would cost $285.8 billion.  Conrad noted that the Bush Administration had criticized the Senate farm bill for being too costly, but found that interesting considering  the administration’s farm bill would cost over $1 billion more.
“If they say that our bill costs too much, then what does that say about their farm bill?” said Senator Conrad.
The 2007 Farm Bill has also received criticism for its spending on commodity programs.  In the previous farm bill, the commodity programs comprised only three-quarters of one percent of the total federal outlays.  In the new farm bill, that number is down to one quarter of one percent.
Criticisms aside, both Dorgan and Conrad stated that the passing of the 2007 Farm Bill was incredibly important to this region.
“This is a very important moment for our region.  Nothing is more important to this region’s economy than a good farm bill,” said Senator Dorgan.
Dorgan stated that the 2007 Farm Bill provides a better safety net for farmers and that it comes with a permanent disaster title with $5 billion earmarked for that purpose.
“We are very pleased to be getting back to work on the farm bill.  It will provide a better future for more diverse farmers,” added Senator Dorgan.
What is also important to note about the 2007 Farm Bill is that the majority of its funding is allocated to nutritional programs with that portion of the bill making up 61% of the total funding. Examples of such programs include Women-Infants-Children (WIC) and the school lunch programs.
Another aspect of major importance to the Red River Valley is the 2007 Farm Bill’s very strong provisions for sugar. The bill also includes language for a Sugar to Ethanol program along with other renewable fuel programs.
“The facts show that North Dakota has the second-highest diesel fuel prices in the nation.  This year, North Dakota had long lines for diesel fuel as refineries were hit with shortages.  We provide twice as much fuel as we use and should consider building a refinery in North Dakota,” suggested Senator Conrad.
Dorgan stated that he had a hearing with the Department of Energy about the timing of shutdown and maintenance of pipelines and refineries and how that affected the seasonal supply of fuel in the Upper Midwest.
The discussion and drafting of the 2007 Farm Bill is still in the works and it will take some time to complete.  Senator Conrad estimated that the final resolution may not be completed until early next year.
“This farm bill does not have everything that everyone would like, but it is much stronger than the previous version,” stated Senator Conrad.  “Are there defects in the farm bill? Yes.  But we need to talk about what it has achieved,” Senator Conrad added.
“You need to be very proud of what you have done for the world,” Senator Conrad said about North Dakota agriculture.
Senator Dorgan said that North Dakota leads the way in agriculture and that the state’s leadership provides a model for the world to emulate.
The 2007 Farm Bill is an extensive resolution that provides government funding to all areas of the USDA.  It not only provides a safety net for family farmers, but also ensures that agriculture in the United States stays viable and strong for the future.