FARMBILL

Schafer pushes free trade, broadband access

A Case IH tractor built in Fargo has a $15,500 tariff when it is sold to a buyer in Colombia, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said Wednesday, explaining why he wants Congress to give final approval to free trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Panama. Schafer said North Dakota and U.S. agriculture producers also are charged tariffs of 10 percent to 35 percent on the product they sell to Colombia. Meanwhile, he said, Colombia is shipping its products to the U.S. with no tariffs.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , August 28, 2008

Johnson: Bill offers new opportunities

Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson said this week that a little-recognized section of the 2008 Farm Bill gives North Dakota meat processing companies a new opportunity to grow their markets and expand their operations.

July 05, 2008

Bill vetoed, passed again

Congress enacted a massive $290 billion farm bill for a second time on Wednesday after a clerical error in the first bill threatened delivery of U.S. food aid abroad. The Senate voted 80-14 to override President Bush’s veto of the legislation, more than the two-thirds majority necessary to enact it. Bush vetoed the bill for a second time earlier Wednesday, and the House voted 317-109 to override it a few hours later.

By By Mary Clare Jalonickl, The Associated Press , June 19, 2008

Congress enacts most of farm bill over Bush veto

Congress enacted a massive farm bill Thursday with new and bigger subsidies for farmers and more food stamps for the poor. But first Democrats had to eat a little crow that dimmed the election-year victory of overriding President Bush’s veto for only the second time during his seven years in office.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 23, 2008

Farm bill foul-up

The House overwhelmingly rejected President Bush’s veto Wednesday of a $290 billion farm bill, but what should have been a stinging defeat for the president became an embarrassment for Democrats. Only hours before the House’s 316-108 vote, Bush had vetoed the five-year measure, saying it was too expensive and gave too much money to wealthy farmers when farm incomes are high. The Senate then was expected to follow suit quickly.

By Mary Clare Jalonick and Julie Hirschfeld Davis, The Associated Press , May 22, 2008

Farm bill big win for the Dakotas

It almost didn’t happen at all, but the farm bill passed by Congress this week is a big win for the Dakotas. The legislation includes a permanent disaster aid program that will pay farmers when crops are destroyed by weather. It raises loan rates and target prices for several Northern Plains crops. It will require fresh meats and other foods to be labeled with their country of origin, which will help northern ranchers compete against Canada.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 17, 2008

Senate passes farm bill

Congress responded speedily to voters’ angst over rising grocery prices and $4-a-gallon gasoline Thursday, bucking President Bush’s veto threats with lopsided votes to boost food stamps and farm subsidies — after ordering Bush to quit pouring oil into the nation’s emergency reserves.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 16, 2008

Farm bill helps sugar growers

The farm bill that sailed through Congress this week includes provisions aimed at helping sugar growers — a boon for Minnesota, the nation’s largest producer of sugar beets. The legislation calls for a gradual 5.2 percent increase in the loan rate for sugar beet growers, or guaranteed minimum price, through 2011 (and a 4.2 percent increase for cane). That would be the first increase since 1985.

By Frederic J. Frommer, The Associated Press , May 16, 2008

Farm bill

By a strong, veto-proof majority, the House passed a $290 billion farm bill with increased subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor amid rising grocery prices while sprinkling in pet projects that lawmakers can take home to voters this election year. The 318-106 vote for the five-year bill gave supporters 28 more than they need to override a promised veto from President Bush, who has complained the measure is too expensive and generous to farmers now enjoying record earnings. “A bloated, earmark-laden bill,” his agriculture secretary said after the vote.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 15, 2008

Proposed farm bill has little aid for world’s needy children

A five-year farm bill in Congress this week does little to address the growing global food crisis. Instead, it diverts money that could be spent feeding poor children abroad to give more subsidies for U.S. farmers now enjoying record high crop prices and incomes. Food experts, international aid groups and the White House all complain that the $300 billion bill crafted by House and Senate negotiators focuses on the wrong priorities. The bill has widespread bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, but President Bush has promised to veto it.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 14, 2008

Letter to the editor: Permanent disaster program should be in Farm Bill

Recent comments on the new Farm Bill agreement clearly show the Bush administration’s disconnect with the nation’s farmers, ranchers and agricultural industries, as well as a profound lack of understanding of agricultural policy.

By Roger Johnson, Bismarck , May 14, 2008

Lawmakers finish farm bill

Married couples with joint incomes of up to $1.5 million from their farm operation could still qualify for crop subsidies under a five-year, $300 billion farm bill compromise that would boost the Agriculture Department’s food and farm programs.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 09, 2008

Local officials concerned whether proposal will pass

Local farm leaders are looking at the conference committee agreement on the farm bill as positive for production agriculture but are concerned whether it will become law.

By Keith Norman , May 09, 2008

Farm bill

Negotiators on a five-year, $300 billion farm bill say they have reached a tentative agreement on the legislation and it will be considered by the House and Senate next week. But the Bush administration has objected to the bill, and the White House says it seems unlikely that Congress will pass farm legislation the president can sign. President Bush has said the bill is “bloated” with farmer subsidies in a time of record crop prices and is too expensive. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said after meetings Wednesday that the negotiating is finished, but he acknowledged that some minor issues remain unresolved.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 08, 2008

White House: Farm bill still too costly

The White House told members of Congress on Tuesday that the cost of the five-year farm bill is still too high, saying negotiators are using budget gimmicks to hide the real expense. The cost of the almost $300 billion bill and the amount of subsidies directed toward wealthy farmers remain the major sticking points between the White House and both Democratic and GOP negotiators. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation.

By Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press , May 07, 2008