Farm bill extension deadline prompts warnings
September 26, 2013 | 04:54 PM
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
With the looming farm bill expiration likely to affect agricultural trade promotion programs, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., today released a report on the importance of agriculture exports state-by-state, while the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition noted that the trade programs would be the first to be affected assuming Congress does not extend the farm bill after September 30.
“American agriculture is feeding and fueling the world while supporting good jobs here at home,” Klobuchar said. “Agricultural exports have been one of the biggest bright spots in our economy these last few years, and our farmers in Minnesota and across the country deserve the certainty of a long-term farm bill so they can continue to succeed.”
The statement was issued by the Joint Economic Committee, which she co-chairs. She also sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., praised the report, saying, “This is one of the many reasons why we must get a comprehensive, five-year farm bill done now.”
“Agriculture supports 16 million American jobs, and the Senate’s bipartisan farm bill will create jobs, reform agriculture policy and reduce the deficit by tens of billions of dollars,” Stabenow said. “House Republican leaders must now make good on their word, finally appoint conferees and work with us in a bipartisan way to get this done. We are only days away from the expiration of the farm bill, so it’s critical that we move ahead immediately.”
The trade programs that will cease on October 1 include export credit guarantees, export market promotion (including the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program), and dairy and specialty crop export programs, NSAC noted in a September 20 post.
NSAC also noted that the Conservation Reserve Program would not be allowed to accept any new enrollments and that the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program would also shut down.
