FEINGOLD
HELPS DAIRY, SMALL FARMS
IN FINAL FARM BILL
Feingold pleased with some provisions, but disappointed by lack
of significant reform
May 15, 2008
Washington, D.C. –
Following Senate passage of the Farm Bill Conference Report today, U.S.
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), who supported the bill, praised the inclusion
of several provisions he has been pushing to help Wisconsin farmers.
Among the Feingold-supported provisions included in the final bill are
an improved safety net for Wisconsin’s family dairy farmers, a
tax provision to ensure farmers remain eligible for Social Security
benefits, mandatory country of origin labeling for ginseng and other
commodities to help consumers choose Wisconsin and U.S. goods, new opportunities
for rural America, and safeguards against energy market manipulation
that contributes to increased costs. The final Farm Bill also makes
significant improvements to food stamp and food assistance programs
that will help many Americans. An immediate infusion of $50 million
for food banks is especially important given rising food prices and
recent economic struggles. Feingold expressed disappointment that some
common-sense reforms in the Senate bill to provide protections for livestock
producers were weakened and that the final bill did not go further in
targeting commodity support for small farms away from industrial-scale
production.
“From the beginning
of the Farm Bill process, my top priorities were protecting small and
mid-size farms and creating opportunities for rural Americans,”
Feingold said. “I am pleased the final Farm Bill includes a number
of provisions, including some I authored, to accomplish those goals.
While I am disappointed that the bill does not do more to reform farm
subsidies, livestock programs, and the direct payment system, it does
take good steps toward helping dairy farmers and rural communities.
This bill will also significantly improve food stamp and food assistance
programs for many Americans who are facing high food prices. I will
vote for the bill, but I will continue working to bring about long-overdue
reforms.”
Feingold’s accomplishments
in the final Farm Bill:
Protecting Wisconsin’s
Small Dairy Farmers
- MILC – Feingold
worked with his colleagues to successfully restore the MILC program’s
reimbursement rate to 45 percent, targeted toward small and medium
farmers. The final bill also includes a feed cost adjuster to ensure
a robust safety net for farmers given the increased cost of production.
- Better USDA oversight
– Feingold authored a requirement that dairy price reporters
be regularly audited, and successfully included report language to
improve USDA oversight of dairy markets in response to a GAO report
he requested suggesting that cash cheese trading is still prone to
manipulation.
- Leveling the playing field
for dairy imports—Feingold has long supported having dairy importers
pay into the dairy promotion check-off instead of free-loading on
the contributions of hard-working American dairy producers. The final
bill includes a provision to allow for an assessment on imports.
Fairness for Wisconsin
Farmers and Consumers
- Farmer Tax Fairness –
The final Farm Bill includes a similar measure to one Feingold authored
that updates the tax code to ensure family farmers and the self-employed
remain eligible for Social Security and disability benefits.
- Gas Prices & Energy
Trading – A provision Feingold has co-sponsored will provide
oversight of energy markets by closing the “Enron loophole”
that has allowed oil and gas traders to make electronic energy trades
without federal oversight. This lack of oversight has led to market
manipulation, speculation, and gas price distortion.
- Office of Small Farms
and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers – Building on his proposal
for a Small Farm Advocate in 1998, Feingold secured a measure to improve
the authority and activities of this office as a division of the new
Office of Advocacy and Outreach, following the recommendation of the
GAO for improved coordination.
- Standing up for Wisconsin’s
local livestock farmers and meat processors – Feingold supported
an effort by Senator Herb Kohl to help local producers who use smaller
state-inspected meat processors to make their products available in
other states.
Preserving Wisconsin’s
Premium Ginseng
- Ginseng Labeling –
Feingold has worked since 2000 to protect Wisconsin’s premium
ginseng by requiring labeling of the source country. The final Farm
Bill supports efforts by Feingold, Senator Kohl, and Representative
Obey by including a measure that will require a country-of-origin
label on ginseng to help ensure consumers who pay for Wisconsin-grown
ginseng are getting the premium ginseng they expect.
Creating Opportunities
for Rural America
- Rural Broadband –
The Farm Bill clarifies the definition of “rural” to help
ensure that rural broadband programs and funds are targeted to truly
rural communities, and that taxpayer money is not subsidizing the
Internet for suburban development.
- Local Foods – The
bill builds on Feingold’s proposal in his Rural Opportunities
Act to clarify that local procurement will allow local preference
in food purchase. The bill will also provide funding for local food
programs Feingold has made a priority.
- Organic Agriculture –
The final bill contains a critical investment in the rapidly growing
area of organic agriculture, where Wisconsin is a leader. These provisions
mirror proposals from Feingold’s Rural Opportunities Act.
- Bioenergy – Feingold
has championed efforts to provide local ownership opportunities in
bioenergy projects. Feingold amended the Senate Farm Bill to require
the federal government’s continued partnership with regional
consortia of public institutions that support local ownership in the
bioeconomy. Feingold successfully included report language supporting
these consortia. The Farm Bill also includes language based on a Coleman-Feingold
bill that gives priority to grants and loan guarantees for biorefineries
with significant local ownership.
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