Senate passes 2014 farm bill by a 68-32 vote
Senate passes 2014 farm bill by a 68-32 vote
WASHINGTON — By a 68-32 vote, the Senate approved the conference report on the 2014 farm bill today, pushing aside the last hurdle before the five-year bill reaches the desk of President Obama.
The landmark bill, three years in the making, reduces the deficit by $23 billion and represents the most significant reform of American agriculture policy in decades. The U.S. House passed the conference report on Jan. 29 by a 251-166 vote. “Many people said this would never happen in this environment, but Congress has come together to pass a major bipartisan jobs bill,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “The bill supports the transition Americans are already making to a healthier, more locally based food system.”
Lawmakers joined produce groups and a wide range of stakeholders in praising Senate action on the farm bill.
“While no legislation is ever perfect, this farm bill will benefit California by making investments in specialty crops, conservation and research that are critical for our state’s farmers and rural communities,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which represents 120 specialty crop organizations, congratulated the Senate for a strong bi-partisan vote.
“The farm bill conference report includes an overall increase in investment of 55 percent over 2008 farm bill funding levels in critical specialty crop initiatives and programs, including the State Block Grant Program, Specialty Research Initiative, a new fruit and vegetable incentive grant program for SNAP recipients, the pest and disease prevention program along with maintaining funding in the Market Access Program and the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program,” the alliance said in a statement today.
“In short, this legislation represents the most significant government investment ever into the competitiveness of specialty crop producers and industry members,” the alliance said.
Organic producers said the bill contains provisions they’ve been advocating for years, such as allowing organic companies to access agriculture research and promotion programs available to conventional farmers, and increasing funding for the National Organic Program.
“We are pleased that the organic industry received strong support in the farm bill that cleared the Senate today,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and executive director of the Organic Trade Association.
