This week is crunch time for the new US Farm Bill, after a long struggle to reach a compromise between those groups which endorse lower US farm supports and subsidies and those who urge that current US farm supports continue.
The bill will go to the floor of the House and Senate on Wednesday this week and strong bipartisan support is expected, despite the President's threat to veto the bill. (See separate story).
Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chair of the Senate-House Conference Committee on the Farm Bill, says, "It's been a long and difficult road to this day.
"But I am happy to announce that the bill provides a strong safety net (for farmers), so it's good for our farmers and ranchers.
"Consumers will like it.
"It ensures a safe, dependable supply of high quality food.
"For low income Americans, it ensures nutrition needs are met.
"For school children, it increases their access to fresh fruits and vegetables."
House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., says 73.5pc of the funding in the new bill goes to these nutrition programs.
"Another 16.1pc goes for commodities, crop insurance and disaster relief - but that's a drop from the 28pc (for such support) in the 2002 Farm Bill.
"(Support for) conservation, specialty crops and cellulosic ethanol are included in the bill," he says.
"We've made a huge contribution to people who need help right now because of the food prices being what they are.
"There is a ton of money in here for food banks that need it and for improvements in the Food Stamp program.
"But we have also kept a safety net for the farmers.
Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga, the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, says that in 2002 (the current Farm Bill) there was a lot of criticism of the levels of (subsidy) spending.
"But we've developed a very market-oriented process so that our farmers and ranchers can achieve their income stream from the marketplace, rather than it coming from Washington.
"That's what they want and that's what we want."
According to Senator Saxby, to be eligible for farm support payments, two-thirds of a farmer's income must come from farming and must not exceed a level of $750,000 adjusted gross farm income.
Direct payment eligibility for non-farmers will be capped at an adjusted gross income of $500,000.
Senator Tom Harkin says, "Prior to this bill, the income cap on non-farm income was $2.5 million.
"We brought it down to $500,000.
"The President says we didn't get to $200,000, but we got closer to $200,000 than we were.
"And for on farm-income (previously) there was no cap, none, zero (for support payments).
"Now we're at $750,000."
Negotiators moved closer to the White House's proposal on limiting subsidies, but the question remains, 'is it enough to avoid a veto?'
Deputy Ag Secretary Chuck Conner says President Bush is likely to veto the bill, and White House spokesperson Dana Perino says that unless Congress gives more ground a veto will probably happen.
Senator Kent Conrad, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, however, emphasises the bill is fully paid for, with no tax increases associated with it.
"This bill was written with $58 billion less in resources than we had for the last bill," Mr Conrad says.
"That is a minor miracle.
"Those who say there is not reform here have not read this bill.
"There are dramatic changes in the income limits to qualify."
Details of the bill will be released Thursday.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter