Farm bill takes step forward

Robert Wolfington III

Marshall Independent

A tentative agreement between the U.S. House and Senate for the next farm bill was reached Thursday amidst veto threats from the White House.

The bill, called “The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008” on the House Agriculture Committee Web site, is expected to be voted on Wednesday, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. said Thursday.

Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, said in a news release Thursday he was satisfied with the results in the agreement.

“This is a good farm bill,” Buis said in the release. “Conferees were challenged to write a new farm bill under the pressure of competing demands and reduced budget. They produced a good, fully-paid-for bill that will benefit all Americans.”

During a conference call with reporters Thursday, Coleman said the bill was good for Minnesota.

“A deal has been reached in the House and Senate farm bill conference,” Coleman said. “It’s a bill I believe should get to the House next week on Wednesday and should get to the Senate that same day.”