Senator Coleman, new farm bill earn praise

May 29th 2008 10:53 AM

Late last week, the House and Senate voted to override an administrative veto and made the new farm bill law. The legislation emerged from the House and Senate with overwhelming, bipartisan support – and it contained a number of important provisions secured by Senator Coleman. The bill will have a huge impact on Minnesotans, as agriculture brings 367,000 jobs and $55 billion in economic activity to the state.

Included in the farm bill is a sugar-to-ethanol program, which Coleman has long championed as a means to diversify our ethanol feedstocks and accelerate our nation’s efforts to achieve energy independence, while also supporting Minnesota’s sugar beet industry that sustains over 40,000 jobs. Another Coleman provision included in the bill will help ensure rural communities benefit from the ethanol boom by encouraging local ownership of ethanol plants.

Senator Coleman also worked to extend and improve the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC). MILC provides Minnesota dairy farmers a critical safety net and Coleman improved the program by increasing the payment rate from 34 to 45 percent.

Senator Coleman also played a key role in the bill’s provisions to maintain the commodity safety net, establish a permanent disaster assistance program, expand farmers’ grain storage capacity, make the largest conservation investment in history and increase funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which helps fund food shelves and other organizations that feed families in need.

What’s being said:

· “To Minnesota's sugar producers — and the state congressional delegation — the new policy is vital to preserving the state's powerful and profitable sugar industry.” (Tom Webb, “No sweetness in sugar debate,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 20, 2008.)

· “Coleman says he continues to support alternative energy. He was an early proponent of converting sugar to ethanol. He also says the alternative energy revolution was started by farmers who have worked to develop ethanol and soy-based biodiesel.” (Andrea Johnson, “Sen. Coleman gained farm knowledge over decades,” Farm & Ranch Guide, May 20, 2008.)

· “Minnesota’s Norm Coleman achieved some notable breakthroughs of benefit to sugar producers.” (Mike Jacobs, “Our Opinion: Farm bill needs a signature,” Grand Forks Herald, May 18, 2008.)

· “Passing this farm bill is a real achievement. It makes real changes and it helps real people.” (Mike Jacobs, “Our Opinion: Farm bill needs a signature,” Grand Forks Herald, May 18, 2008.)

· “‘This bill is good for sugar beet farmers. It’s good for all farmers,’ said Kelly Erickson, a Hallock, Minn., farmer and president of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association.” (Jon Knutson, “Ag supporters relish farm bill win in Congress,” The Fargo Forum, May 17, 2008.)

· "But what most of America seems to forget is the farm bill is all about providing a safe, secure and bountiful food supply to all Americans." ("Farm Bill Good For Minnesota,” Bemidji Pioneer, May 17, 2008.)

· "The farm bill which sailed through Congress this week includes provisions aimed at helping sugar growers - a boon (boom?) for Minnesota, the nation's largest producer of sugar beets." (Frederick J. Frommer, "Farm bill helps sugar growers,” Crookston Daily Times, May 16, 2008.)

· "Lance Peterson, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association president, said the vote Thursday demonstrates the strong support for farmers and nutrition. 'I'm very pleased they were able to get this passed with a strong vote,' said Lance Peterson. 'It sends a pretty clear message to the administration there is very strong bipartisan support. If he chooses to veto or not is really immaterial.'" (Robert Wolfington III, "Farm bill on its way to Bush", Marshall Independent, May 16, 2008.)

· "The $290 billion farm bill includes $1 billion for renewable fuels research and credits, hoping to trigger the next wave of biofuels made from sugar beets and crop residue, switch grass and logging waste — all of which benefit northern Minnesota." (Brad Swenson, "Farm bill sent to president; Klobuchar, Coleman praise $290 billion package," Bemidji Pioneer, May 16, 2008.)

· "The Minnesota-influenced bill includes increased subsidies for farmers and food stamps for the poor amid rising grocery prices. The provisions will also help sugar growers by increasing the loan rate, or guaranteed minimum price. The bill also works to ease the U.S. dependence on foreign fuel by encouraging biofuels and renewable energy." ("Farm Bill Sails Through Congress," MyFox Twin Cities, May 15, 2008.)

· "In order for ethanol to be a true savior from foreign oil for our country, we will need to look harder at other sources. Thankfully, the new farm bill calls for $400 million for cellulosic ethanol research and development — making ethanol from wood chips, switchgrass and even garbage." ("Ethanol's future more than just corn,” Fergus Falls Daily Journal, May 13, 2008.)

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Your support of this bill is extremely dissapointing. I also haven't received a reply on my email about this very bill. More money for rich farmers and more government spending is not what we need in this economy. As a Republican, you were elected to stand up for these ideas. You consistently have failed.

By: Branden

I sure am glad we voted down the farm bill. What a disaster that would have been for our economy and tax payers.
I am truly looking forward to the day when the republican party gets rid of all the RHINOS and starts reclaiming conservative Ronald Reagan values.

By: JOHN DARST

B S how much damage to our economy and food supply do the liberals have to do to us before you come to your scences and realize the only way shorter term to be energy self sufficient is to drill and refine our own oil and build nuclear power plants and approve that new coal plant we are trying to build witch is being held up by more libs U S is the Saude Arabia in coal and perhaps could also be in oil. I used to think there was a long term plan for our oil as we kept it off limits as we use up all the foreign oil saving ours for last and let them pump and eat sand, but no more I think libs will try to prevent us from ever using our own. And Sen Norm is just another claim to be Republican that is really democrat so we might as well have angry Al, how much worse could it be???

By: MIKE

Retired Minnesotan

I believe that Senator Coleman is only concerned about Minnesota as long as it suits his personal and professional ambitions. He certainly doesn't represent or speak for me. In our house, he's called Normie flip flop.

It's sacrilege that he sits in Paul Wellstone's seat--once held by a man of honor and conviction.

By: Karen Ihli

Gee, one type error and blog is gone. But as I wanted to point out, wood chips, switchgrass and garbage should be the focus. Not FOOD! Especially when there are starving people in this world and people less the expense living on food subsidies in this state! It is a very disturbing idea and unfeasible to survival. Please senator, rethink this tremendously idiotic, useless, senseless, freedom reducing scam. It is not for Minnesotans it is solely a benefit to FARMERS who are already financially stable. And another unnecessary, inexcusable tax increase.

By: Barb

Mr.

As I read the praise for Norm's farm bill vote, the cost of this bill on taxpayers via taxes, food and gas is being ignore. As a farm boy, I am noting the amount of subsidies farmers in our area have received. A local farmer, a net of $100,000.00 for 440 acres of production. Let the free markets determine our costs, not the government. Currently Democrats are considering "governmentalizing" refineries. Ag is no different. Why the outrage for one, but not the other, the other being ag?

Sincerely,
A Conservative, not a GOPer,
Brian Tommerdahl
Champlin, MN

By: Brian Tommerdahl

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