House Ag Panel Oks Farm Bill Measure Replaces Subsidies With Lump-Sum Payments

Despite progress on a farm bill Tuesday in the Senate and House, Northwest wheat farmers are still in the dark about this year’s federal farm policy.

By a 28-17 vote, the House Agriculture Committee approved a bill to provide declining lump-sum payments from the federal government to wheat farmers over the next seven years.

The government currently subsidizes farmers based on the market price of crops.

While the bill is similar to one President Clinton vetoed in December, Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho, said she is more optimistic this time.

“A seven-year program will give farmers more long-term stability in their planting decisions,” Chenoweth said.

“It also will benefit the banking and lending community.

“If this bill isn’t passed now, then we’re back to the 1949 law,” she said, referring to legislation that would take effect if Clinton doesn’t sign a new farm bill.

However, committee Democrats criticized the bill sharply and argued for retention of a “safety net” of government subsidies when market prices fall below a certain level.

They said the Republican fixed-payment plan would give federal money to farmers even when crop prices are relatively high.

“This is almost exactly the same farm bill that was vetoed,” complained Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, said he hoped the bill would reach the floor of the House by Thursday.

Chenoweth said she hopes the Senate will pass the same bill, removing the need for a House-Senate conference committee to iron out differences.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Dick Lugar, R-Ind., said the Senate will vote Thursday to try to prevent a filibuster of a similar bill co-sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

Craig’s bill needs 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.

, DataTimes