October 23, 2007
Farm Bill  Markup?

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Harkin scheduled a press conference for 12:30 this afternoon discussing the mark up scheduled for tomorrow and announcing the release of drafts of the Senate Farm Bill reauthorization legislation. We were still waiting for it to start shortly after 1:00 p.m., and then it was announced that the Chairman had postponed the conference indefinitely.  This indicates a strong possibility that there are unresolved issues surrounding the legislation, and that the current schedule is definitely subject to change. Chairman Harkin may or may not have agreement within the Committee Members, and many Senators have already indicated that they plan to bring amendments to the Floor when the bill reaches that point – Senator Durbin on Single Food Agency and Senators Grassley and Dorgan on Farm Payment Limitations, to name a few.  
 
Despite the postponement of the press conference, draft legislation was still posted on the Committee website.  It is stated on the website that these are discussion drafts, and “that technicalities are still being worked out and these drafts DO NOT constitute the final chairman's mark.”  Evidently there will be a Manager’s Amendment offered at mark up, still scheduled for tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. EST, but as just mentioned, subject to change.  

The draft language is available on the website (link below).  The crop insurance language is located in Subtitle G – Risk Management, of Title I – Personal Income Protection (page 214).  In addition, the ACR language (explained in last week’s update) is found in Title I – Personal Income Protection, Subtitle B – Average Crop Revenue Program (page 85).  A Rain & Hail economist worked out some potential scenarios regarding the ACR program demonstrating unintended consequences.  These are found below.
 
In addition to the draft language, the Senate Agriculture Committee website will most likely show a webcast of the Farm Bill mark up, currently scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. EST (subject to change).  If you would like to view the mark up proceedings, please click on the link below and follow the directions on the webpage.  
 
http://agriculture.senate.gov/

As always, we will keep you updated as things progress, or don’t.
 
Brent W. Gattis
NACIA Washington Representative

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