The good news is that Congress is making progress to pass this long-overdue bill, with the Senate passing a bill last week and a version now making its way through House. But what is in store for the Farm Bill in the coming months? How might this rocky start impact the final bill?

Watch the webinar, What to Expect When You are Expecting a Farm Bill to learn more.

This week, the United States Senate passed the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. The bipartisan vote was 66-27, with 18 Republicans joining the Democrats in the majority.  American Farmland Trust praised the Senate for passing the bill which includes reattaching conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance.

House Farm Bill Consideration

Attention now focuses on the House of Representatives, which will begin floor consideration of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 next week. American Farmland Trust joined with a group of over 190 organizations calling for the House to pass a comprehensive 5-year farm bill.

Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, made news by announcing he would vote for the farm bill to be able to “make sure the good work of the Agriculture Committee gets to a conference.” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said today he “looks forward to a full debate on the floor.” The Majority Leader has included the farm bill on the legislative calendar for next week, with floor consideration beginning on Tuesday, June 18.

Exactly how the bill will be considered on House floor for debate and the number of amendments that might be considered is still unknown. The House Rules Committee is expected to meet early next week to determine how the House will proceed with debate on the bill. The committee has set a 2PM amendment deadline for Monday, June 17.

You Can Help!

American Farmland Trust continues to work to ensure the Thompson-Fortenberry conservation compliance amendment is successful on the House floor. We are walking the halls of Congress to get support for the bill, but we need your help! Visit the American Farmland Trust Action Center today to contact your representative.

Free Farm Bill Webinar

And if you need more information on the latest farm bill activity, be sure to register for our free webinar What to Expect When You are Expecting a Farm Bill to be held this Monday, June 17 at 1 PM ET.

June 11, 2013

{Sent to each member of the House individually}

Dear:

The undersigned organizations applaud the House Committee on Agriculture for expeditiously moving forward on a five year farm bill.

The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947) achieves spending cuts that reduce the Federal budget deficit, saving taxpayers $40 billion, including $6 billion through sequestration. It also repeals or consolidates more than 100 programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including Direct Payments to crop producers. Without passage of FARRM, no budget savings will be achieved beyond sequestration.

The farm bill promotes an economically healthy U.S. agriculture sector. Its policies serve a variety of purposes including: meeting the food, fuel and fiber needs of consumers worldwide; providing a farm and natural resource safety net; improving our balance of trade through trade promotion programs; promoting rural development; and creating needed jobs here at home.

We stand united in our strong support for a new five-year bill and commend the House Committee on Agriculture for advancing a bill for timely action by the full House. Failure to pass a five-year farm bill before the end of September would mean continued uncertainty for farmers, ranchers and their rural communities; it would also mean that American taxpayer would see none of the budget savings achieved.

We look forward to working with you towards our common goal of passing a five year farm bill.

Sincerely,

AgCountry Farm Credit Services

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank

AgPreference

Ag Processing, Inc.

AgriBank

Agribusiness Council of Indiana

Agricultural Council of California

AgStar Financial Services

AgTEXAS Farm Credit

Alabama Farmers’ Cooperative, Inc.

Amcot

American AgCredit

American Association of Crop Insurers

American Bankers Association

American Beekeeping Federation

American Crystal Sugar Company

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Farmland Trust

American Feed Industry Association

American Frozen Food Institute

American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition

American Meat Institute

American Seed Trade Association

American Sheep Industry Association

American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers

American Soybean Association

American Sugar Alliance

American Sugar Cane League

American Sugarbeet Growers Association

American Veterinary Medical Association

Apricot Producers of California

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Badgerland Financial, ACA

Biotechnology Industry Organization

Blue Diamond Growers

Calcot Ltd.

California Association of Winegrape Growers

California Canning Peach Association

California Date Commission

California Fig Advisory Board

California Strawberry Commission

California Walnut Commission

Canned Food Alliance

Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative

Ceres Solutions LLP

CHS Inc.

Co-Alliance LLP

CoBank

Cooperative Network

Colorado Corn Growers Association

Colorado Sorghum Producers

Corn Producers Association of Texas

Cotton Growers Warehouse Association

Cotton Warehouse Association of America

CountryMark

Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau

Crop Insurance Professionals Association

CropLife America

Dairy Farmers of America

Dairy Producers of New Mexico

Dairy Producers of Utah

Dairylea Cooperative Inc.

Ducks Unlimited

Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association

Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Farm Credit Council

Farm Credit East

Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma

Farm Credit of Maine

Farm Credit of Ness City

Farm Credit of New Mexico

Farm Credit of Southern Colorado

Farm Credit West

Farm Credit Western Arkansas

Farm Credit Services of America

Farm Credit Services of Illinois

Farmer Mac

FCS Financial

Florida Crystals Corporation

Florida Sugar Cane League

Fruit Growers Supply Company

GreenStone Farm Credit Services

GROWMARK, Inc.

Hawaii Sugar Farmers

Idaho Dairymen’s Association

Independent Community Bankers of America

Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America

Irrigation Association

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association

Kansas Cooperative Council

Kansas Grain & Feed Association

Land Improvement Contractors of America

Land O’ Lakes, Inc.

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc.

MBG Marketing

Michigan Agri-Business Council

Michigan Bean Shippers

Michigan Milk Producers Association

Michigan Processing Apple Growers

Milk Producers Council of California

National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of RC&D Councils

National Association of State Conservation Agencies

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Barley Growers Association

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

National Chicken Council

National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research

National Conservation District Employees Association

National Corn Growers Association

National Cotton Council

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Farmers Union

National Grape Cooperative Association Inc.

National Milk Producers Federation

National Pork Producers Council

National Renderers Association

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

National Sorghum Producers

National Sunflower Association

National Turkey Federation

National Wild Turkey Federation

Nebraska Cooperative Council

Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board

Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association

New Mexico Sorghum Association

New Mexico Peanut Growers Association

North American Blueberry Council

Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship

Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold, Inc.

Northwest Farm Credit Services

NORPAC Foods, Inc.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.

Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association

Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council

Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association

Oklahoma Peanut Commission

Oklahoma Seed Trade Association

Oklahoma Sorghum Association

Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association

Olive Growers Council of California

Oregon Association of Nurseries

Pacific Coast Producers

Panhandle Peanut Growers Association

Partners for Sustainable Pollination

Pheasants Forever

Plains Cotton Cooperative Association

Pollinator Partnership

Public Lands Council

Quail Forever

Riceland Foods, Inc.

Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers

Select Milk Producers, Inc.

South Dakota Association of Cooperatives

South Dakota Wheat Growers

South East Dairy Farmers Association

Southern Cotton Growers

Southern Peanut Farmers Federation

Southern States Cooperative, Inc.

Southwest Council of Agribusiness

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

Staplcotn

State Agriculture and Rural Leaders

Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida

Sunkist Growers, Inc.

Sun-Maid Growers of California

Sunsweet Growers, Inc.

Tennessee Farmers Cooperative

Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council

Texas Cattle Feeders Association

Texas Grain Sorghum Association

Texas Wheat Producers Association

The Fertilizer Institute

The Nature Conservancy

United Dairymen of Arizona

United FCS

United Producers, Inc.

US Canola Association

US Cattlemen’s Association

US Dry Bean Council

US Rice Producers Association

U.S. Beet Sugar Association

U.S. Sugar Corporation

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council

USA Rice Federation

Valley Fig Growers

Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives

Washington State Dairy Federation

Welch Foods Inc., A Cooperative

West Central Cooperative

Western AgCredit

Western Peanut Growers Association

Yankee Farm Credit

Yosemite Farm Credit

Final Senate Farm Bill Vote on Monday

The 2013 Farm Bill cleared yet another major hurdle on Thursday with the U.S. Senate voting 75-22 to invoke cloture, a procedure that limits debate and firmly establishes a timeline for a final vote.

Immediately after the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that on Monday, June 10 one amendment #998 by Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to establish a gigabit internet pilot program in rural areas, would be considered before a vote on final passage. American Farmland Trust and over 120 other agriculture, conservation and nutrition groups led a push to urge the Senate to approve the cloture vote.

Conservation Compliance Amendment in House

Final passage of the farm bill in the Senate will shift attention to the House of Representatives, where floor consideration is expected to begin the week of June 17. In preparation for the House floor debate, Representatives Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., this week introduced H.R. 2260, The Crop Insurance Accountability Act of 2013. Virtually identical to a measure included in the Senate farm bill, H.R. 2260 would re-link conservation compliance requirements with crop insurance premium assistance. American Farmland Trust praised the bill, calling it both good for farmers and good for the environment.

We need your help. Visit the American Farmland Trust Action Center today and urge your representative to support the Thompson/Fortenberry bill!

Over the 25-year history of conservation compliance, 295 million tons of soil have been saved per year—billions of tons of soil that has been held in place and kept from entering our rivers, lakes and streams. (For those in Washington, D.C., that’s enough to cover the entire area of the National Mall with 1,100 feet of soil every year!) Further, an estimated 1.5 million to 3.3 million acres of vulnerable wetlands have not been drained as a result of conservation compliance. Support of the Thompson/Fortenberry bill will ensure these important farmland conservation benefits continue into the future.

Free Farm Bill Webinar June 17

Ahead of House floor consideration of the farm bill, American Farmland Trust will be hosting a free webinar on June 17 from 1-2 PM titled, What To Expect When You Are Expecting A Farm Bill, to provide an update on where things stand, major provisions of both the House and Senate versions of the bill, and our priorities going forward. In case you haven’t been following farm bill activity over the last few weeks, the Congressional Research Service has been busy preparing a report reviewing the House and Senate versions of the farm bill and comparing them to current law.

House Agriculture Appropriations Update

On the spending side, the House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee this week marked up legislation to provide fiscal year 2014 (FY14) funding for USDA programs. Under the subcommittee draft, the NRCS Conservation Operations account would receive $810 million in FY14, an increase of over $40 million what the agency received for fiscal year 2013. However the subcommittee also cut over $500 million from mandatory farm bill conservation programs. Specific farm bill conservation program funding levels and related cuts in the draft include $150 million (-$50 million) for the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), $1.35 billion (-$400 million) for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), $45 million (-$40 million) for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and $2.5 million (-$12.5 million) for the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program. American Farmland Trust and a coalition of conservation groups earlier this week urged the subcommittee to reject cuts to conservation programs.

Major USDA Climate Announcement

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack gave a speech this week outlining significant steps the administration is taking to increase collaboration with farmers, ranchers, researchers and industry to develop the next generation of solutions to help agriculture mitigate and adapt to climate challenges. American Farmland Trust attended the Secretary’s speech at the National Press Club where he highlighted several new measures that USDA will take to help farmers create new climate solutions including:

• The formation of new Regional Climate Hubs to serve as a source of regional data and information for hazard and adaptation planning in the agriculture and forest sectors;
• A new NRCS “Carbon Management and Evaluation Tool,” also known as COMET-FARM, which is a free online tool that will help farmers calculate how conservation actions and land management decisions impact energy use and carbon emissions and carbon sequestration;
• An online release of data collected under the Rapid Carbon Assessment, which began in 2010 to develop statistically reliable quantitative estimates of amounts and distribution of carbon stocks for U.S. soils;
• Uniform, science-based Cover Crop Guidelines developed by stakeholders, partner universities, and the crop insurance industry to figure out how to make cover crop guidelines straightforward and sensible using a new model based on local climate data, tillage management and soil information to account for daily crop growth and use of soil moisture.

The full transcript of Secretary Vilsack’s speech is available online.

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 2013 –American Farmland Trust (AFT) President Jon Scholl praised the introduction of H.R. 2260, The Crop Insurance Accountability Act of 2013, by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.).

“AFT is pleased that Congressmen Thompson and Fortenberry are leading the effort to re-link conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance. Conservation compliance is a common-sense, reasonable policy that is good for the environment and good for farmers,” said Scholl.

The Senate version of the farm bill includes language that re-links conservation compliance with crop insurance premium assistance. Scholl said re-linking conservation compliance to crop insurance protects against soil erosion, preserves important wetlands and protects taxpayers’ investments in sound agricultural and conservation policy. Conservation compliance was de-coupled from crop insurance in 1996 and linked to the newly created direct payment program implemented that year.

“As the House of Representatives begins their work on the farm bill in the coming weeks, we look forward to working with them on this measure,” Scholl added.

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About American Farmland Trust

American Farmland Trust is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land. Since its founding in 1980 by a group of farmers and citizens concerned about the rapid loss of farmland to development, AFT has helped save millions of acres of farmland from development and led the way for the adoption of conservation practices on millions more.

AFT’s national office is located in Washington, DC. Phone: 202-331-7300. For more information, visit www.farmland.org.

Amendments that AFT is supporting include amendment #1093 by Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., William Cowan, D-Mass., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, which would provide payment limit equity between organic and conventional producers in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), amendment #1049 by Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., which would revise EQIP provisions to improve water conservation and irrigation efficiency, amendment #986 by Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, which would help beginning farmers and ranchers better access capital through microloans, and amendment #1055 by Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., which would increase funding for the  Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.

Stay tuned for other amendments that may come forward as the Senate continues floor consideration.

Leadership in the House of Representatives has indicated floor consideration of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 will begin on June 17. AFT and the coalition of agriculture and conservation groups are actively pursuing introduction of a conservation compliance bill to be introduced in the House in early June.

This week, USDA announced that several conservation programs will have enrollment in 2013, including the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Grassland Reserve Program. The availability of funding for these programs was uncertain with impact of the sequestration and expiration of some farm bill program leaving specific funding amounts in question.

As of May 23, the Senate had voted on nine amendments. Of particular interest to AFT was the vote on the amendment by Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Senator Tom Coburn, R-Okla., which applies a limit for crop insurance premium assistance for persons or entities with adjusted gross income greater than $750,000. AFT opposed the Durbin-Coburn amendment in support of the conservation compliance agreement reached by agriculture and conservation groups.

Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., spoke on the floor about the conservation compliance agreement, the impact it will have in conserving natural resources on the landscape while producing a stronger farm safety net, and the need for keeping the agreement in place through a farm bill conference committee.

The full list of amendments considered by the Senate this week and the resulting vote are listed below:

The Senate bill still contains strong overall funding for the combined Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, with $2.2 billion over five years while the House bill contains about $2.05 billion.  AFT has been working with the Senate and House agriculture committees to include favorable report language for the program, particularly in the area of certification for state and local farmland protection programs.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) also contains robust funding of $500 million over 5 years in both the Senate and House bills.

Nearly 200 amendments have been filed and more could be filed before the Senate completes consideration of the farm bill, although many are anticipated to be on issues non-germane to the bill.

Amendments that AFT is supporting includes amendment #1093 by Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., William Cowan, D-Mass., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, which would provide payment limit equity between organic and conventional producers in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). We also support amendment #1049 by Senators Mark Udall, D-N.M., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., which would revise EQIP provisions to improve water conservation and irrigation efficiency.

The White House issued a Statement of Administration Position which articulates the administration’s support for the Senate’s “efforts to consolidate and streamline conservation assistance, which will reduce administrative burdens on farmers and ranchers and improve environmental outcomes,” and belief that “crop insurance payments should be tied to the Nation’s soil conservation and wetland protection goals.”

The House of Representatives is likely to begin floor consideration of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 in mid-June. AFT and the coalition of agriculture and conservation groups are actively pursuing introduction of a conservation compliance bill to be introduced in the House in early June.

House and Senate Agriculture Committees completed work this week on their respective versions of the 2013 Farm Bill. Highlights of both markups are below. Major differences exist between the bills, primarily on nutrition and commodity programs. A significant development in the Senate bill was the committee’s support for reattachment of conservation compliance to crop insurance premium assistance, and removal of crop insurance limits from the committee bill. This has been a hard-fought agreement and support for conservation compliance is now needed in the Senate to keep those provisions intact.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has indicated the Senate will take up the Farm Bill beginning on Monday, May 20 so time is of the essence in getting contacts made to Senate offices. A host of amendments are anticipated to place means testing on crop insurance (Durbin-Coburn), cap or even eliminate premium support (Shaheen-Toomey, Flake, Feinstein-McCain), and to publish farmer information on crop insurance assistance. Amendments are also anticipated from Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. to strip conservation compliance and wetland protections from the bill. AFT has worked with partners on the agreement to develop a handy Conservation Compliance FAQ to help answer questions about what the compliance agreement means.

Now to recap the week’s committee activities—

After a relatively short mark-up, the Senate Agriculture Committee voted 15-5 to move their version of the farm bill out of committee. AFT continues to carefully monitor changes to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). An amendment from Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., was successful in removing the 40 percent funding floor for the Agricultural Land Easement portion of ACEP, which leaves funding for farmland protection potentially exposed to diversion to wetlands, grasslands and other lands of ‘ecological value.’ We are working with committee staff to provide the strongest possible report language to give USDA direction in that regard.

A second notable amendment was from Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., which provides a technical fix to the certification program under ALE. As you are aware, the certification process provided in the 2008 Farm Bill has proven to be a challenge based on NRCS interpretation of the program, so the Leahy amendment along with strengthened report language will provide greater clarity and an improved process for states and other qualified entities to become certified.

The House Agriculture Committee marked-up their version of the farm bill until late Wednesday evening. Consideration of the conservation title was dispensed with fairly early in the markup with five amendments brought up for consideration. The final committee vote on approving the bill out of committee was 36-10. Differences on nutrition, dairy, sugar and conservation compliance are setting up for a major farm bill floor fight in the House of Representatives as early as mid-June.

An ACEP amendment was offered by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-NY, which would have provided USDA discretionary authority to adjust the cash‐cost share requirement for land trusts and state and local governments when acquiring conservation easements by allowing the Secretary to consider a non‐cash (i.e. land) donation from the private landowner to count against the cash‐only donation requirement. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn after disapproval was expressed by committee leadership. AFT has expressed support for the Maloney amendment. ACEP is reduced by $166 million compared to 2012 in the House version.

A pair of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) amendments that would have adjusted the wildlife habitat percentage caps to 10 percent or greater than 5 percent respectfully were offered by Rep. Ann Kuster, D, NH, but were withdrawn after leadership also expressed disapproval of the measures. An EQIP amendment to remove the organic payment limit of $20,000 was also offered and withdrawn. A pair of Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) amendments by Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., to increase the acreage cap for to 10.3 million acres nationally, and to focus program eligibility on conservation outcomes were both defeated by voice vote. All were supported by AFT with the exception of the CSP acreage increase, which could have negatively impacted ACEP funding if an offset was required.

No other conservation amendments, such as conservation compliance, were considered by the House Agriculture Committee during mark-up. AFT continues to call for the House to protect conservation programs from further cuts and to include the conservation compliance agreement.

On the USDA front, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. Vilsack also announced the restart of sign-up for continuous CRP, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative, the Highly Erodible Land Initiative, the Grassland Restoration Initiative, the Pollinator Habitat Initiative and other related initiatives. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

AFT President Jon Scholl said, “The Committee bill is a critically important step toward the end goal we all share of a five-year farm bill.  I congratulate Chairman Lucas and Representative Peterson on their work and leadership in moving the bill through committee.”

On a program level, AFT was disappointed in the Committee’s cuts of $166 million to the new, streamlined Agriculture Conservation Easement (ACE) program.  ACE is built on the principles AFT recommended: keeping working lands in agricultural production, relying on the use of permanent easements and working through partnerships at the local level.

AFT also notes that the House Committee bill fails to re-link crop insurance premium assistance to conservation compliance.  AFT helped lead the coalition of 32 conservation, commodity and farm organizations that proposed the plan to re-link conservation compliance with crop insurance and oppose any further limits on crop insurance as it becomes the primary risk-management tool for America’s farmers. This is now the consensus position held by the production and conservation sectors.

AFT urges the full House of Representatives to remedy these two issues when the farm bill comes to the House floor in Conference Committee.

American Farmland Trust was a leader in brokering the non-partisan conservation compliance agreement included in the draft bill, helping bring together 32 major agriculture, crop insurance and conservation groups to provide a stronger safety net for farmers and for the environment.

The Farm Bill will be voted on by the full Senate in just a few days. Please contact your senators today. Ask them to support the conservation compliance agreement in the Farm Bill.

The timing of your message will be critical to gaining support in the full Senate for conservation compliance. The Senate could meet as early as next week to vote on the Farm Bill. The conservation compliance agreement encourages good conservation stewardship, regardless of the size and scale of the farming operation.

Act now. Tell your senators that conservation compliance is good for the environment and good for farmers.

Fiscal pressures are a reality of the 2013 Farm Bill discussion, but so are sound conservation programs to ensure long-term economic and environmental benefits in agriculture. Don’t let the gains made in the Senate Agriculture Committee be lost. Funding for programs that keep farmers on the land and protect valuable natural resources must be maintained in this Farm Bill.