Senate Agriculture Committee Sends 2007 Farm Bill to the Floor

On October 25, 2007, the Senate Agriculture Committee Chaired by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) reported out The Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. This bipartisan bill comes together after months of negotiations over reforms to the farm safety net created by the 2002 Farm Bill. Under strict budgetary constraints imposed by the “pay-as-you-go” budget rules, the committee was able to include new investments in conservation, nutrition, specialty crops (fruit and vegetable) and energy production. Controversial amendments over the Average Crop Revenue program, as well as, trade distorting adjustments, food stamps and nutrition received much debate in the committee. No amendments were offered to the $1.1 billion Energy Title of the bill during markup.

The bill includes several extensions to the 2002 Farm Bill Energy Title and many new energy and energy efficiency programs as well as essential feedstock development/diversification and infrastructure, harvesting and transportation programs. Programs include loan guarantees for biorefineries, biomass crop transition program, a regional biomass crop experiments (for feedstock), woody-biomass energy research and demonstration, and other biomass and renewable energy-related programs.

The Senate bill is scheduled to go to floor before the end of October. Many amendments were withdrawn in committee but will be offered on the Senate floor, including an amendment by Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called the Farm, Ranch, Equity, Stewardship and Health (FRESH) Act. In July the House of Representatives passed, with a of vote 231-191,The Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419). The House and Senate will then conference their two bills later this year.