WASHINGTON, July 20, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said last night's approval of farm bill legislation by the House Agriculture Committee is a step in the right direction in moving a farm bill forward in 2007.
"Crafting a farm bill is a long process," said NCGA Ken McCauley. "NCGA appreciates Chairman Collin Peterson and the committee's hard work on this farm bill, and we will continue an open dialogue with the committee as the process continues."
The House could vote on the farm bill as early as next week.
The House Agriculture Committee's bill gives farmers the option of signing up for a program similar to one now available in the 2002 farm bill or a program that allows growers to enter a revenue-triggered countercyclical program based on national price. NCGA advocates a farm bill with a county-based revenue countercyclical program that triggers payments based on a farm's revenue rather than a crop's price.
While Peterson's version of a revenue-based program prevailed, Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) offered an amendment that would offer a state-based program. The committee discussed the proposal favorably, and Peterson gave a commitment the committee should study the proposal in the future. Moran decided to withdraw the amendment.
"Although Representative Moran withdrew the amendment, it was clear there was support for a more localized revenue-based program," McCauley said. McCauley cautioned that the entire proposal has a dozen sections and NCGA is studying each of them in detail.
"For example, we are evaluating payment limits on conservation programs that will affect the livestock industry," he noted.
The National Corn Growers Association's mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members and 47 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information on NCGA, log on to www.ncga.com.