By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

WASHINGTON, D.C. — If not for a clerical error, a new farm bill would already be in place today.

As expected, President Bush vetoed the $290 billion Farm Bill Conference Committee Report on May 21.

“At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline,” he said at the time of his veto.

A printing mistake, however, has prevented the second Congressional override of Bush’s 10 vetoes as president.
Hours after the House voted to override the President’s veto 316-108, members noticed that the 34-page Trade Title had been omitted from the bill prior to delivery to Bush. After a debate on whether or not Congress can override what the President has not technically vetoed, the Senate voted 82-13 to override the bill as vetoed.

The House crafted another version of the bill, including the Trade Title, which will move back through the process and will supersede this bill after it is presumably vetoed and overridden sometime in the next few weeks.

While most national farm groups are still in favor of the new farm policy, the Bush administration is still hoping for a change of heart by lawmakers.

“Maybe it gives them one more chance to take a look and think about how much they’re asking the taxpayers to spend at a time of record farm income,” said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, according to the Associated Press. “I think what this clearly shows is that they can even screw up spending the taxpayers’ money unwisely.”

The National Corn Growers Assoc. applauded the House and Senate for their overwhelming votes to support the farm bill.
“The Senate’s action today on the farm bill is a huge victory for farmers and consumers throughout our country,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer.

“Inclusion of the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program sets us on a path of real reform in our farm support policy.”
ACRE is designed to be a market-based state-level revenue program that provides producers an alternative safety net for more targeted protection against volatile markets, rising input costs and weather related crop losses. Litterer said.

“Contrary to the 11th-hour criticism and dire budget predictions, any reasonable market projections will demonstrate an optional program that is fiscally responsible and more efficient in delivering support when it is most needed by farmers,” Litterer added.
“Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) deserve tremendous credit for their leadership and commitment in helping to advance legislation that laid the foundation for this much needed market oriented reform.”

Cattle producers are pleased with other portions of the bill. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. agrees with some criticisms of the legislation, but it is preferred to a reversion to the permanent farm policy law passed in 1949, or a long-term extension of the 2002 Farm Bill.

“Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have worked very hard to deliver a farm bill that provides a certain level of stability and consistency for agricultural producers.” said Colin Woodall, NCBA’s executive director of legislative affairs. “No agricultural group is coming away with everything it wanted, but it’s a bill we can all live with.”

The new farm bill clarifies and simplifies livestock record-keeping requirements for mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), which is set to take effect this fall. It also moves the grandfather date for domestic livestock in the COOL law from Jan. 1 to July 15.
Cattlemen also support a provision that allows for meat processed at state-inspected plants to be shipped to customers across state lines - a practice currently permitted only for federally inspected facilities. This will allow many small processing plants the opportunity to grow their business presence, and could increase local marketing options for cattle producers.

NCBA supports a $3.807 billion permanent ag disaster aid program. In this plan, farmers and ranchers who purchase Non-insured Agricultural Program (NAP) coverage could be eligible to get compensation for extreme forage or livestock losses from disasters such as drought, wildfires and floods. The new farm bill does not limit marketing options for livestock producers by banning packer ownership of livestock more than 14 days before slaughter. This provision had been included in the Senate version of the bill, but was voted down by the Conference Committee and did not become law.

The new legislation includes a significant clean energy development component — improved and new programs for wind power, advanced biofuels, energy efficiency, solar power and new energy crops.

“We thank the Agriculture Committee leadership for their support of a stronger Energy Title in the face of an extremely difficult budget environment,” said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center. “These programs are good for all Americans - they are a win-win-win for our energy security, environment, and economy.”

The new Energy Title received $1.04 billion in mandatory appropriations in the 2008 Farm Bill. The bill includes $348 million in new tax credits to spur production of advanced cellulosic biofuels.
The clean energy programs in the Energy Title include:

•Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP funding has been more than doubled and improves the farm bill’s Section 9006 clean energy development program for locally owned wind power, energy efficiency and solar energy projects - $255 million on four years.
•Biorefinery Assistance. Grants and loan guarantees to help build advanced biorefineries; critical to jumpstart advanced biofuels production - $320 million.

•Advanced Biofuels. Production incentives for advanced biofuels - $300 million.

The new bill includes $348 million in new tax credits to help jumpstart cellulosic ethanol production.

The National Sorghum Program also supports the bill. “The fact that this bill gained such overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle really speaks to the quality of this legislation,” said NSP President Dale Murden. “It is not a perfect bill, but this legislation includes solid policy to protect and support America’s farmers, allowing them to continue to provide the safest and most reliable food supply in the world.”

National Assoc. of Conservation Districts President John Redding, a cotton, peanut and pine tree producer from Monroe, Ga., said districts are eager to help implement the policy’s programs. “Among other things, the bill includes a $4 billion increase for critical conservation programs,” he said. “It maintains a solid commitment to locally-led conservation. The bill contains a nationwide Conservation Security Program designed to encourage producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner. It also includes important provisions on technical assistance and additional opportunities for technical service providers.”