New Farm Bill Now In Place

President Obama on Friday signed into law an agriculture spending bill that will spread benefits to farmers in every region of the country, while trimming the food stamp program that inspired a two-year battle over the legislation. As he penned his name on the five year measure at Michigan State University, Obama said the wide-ranging bill “multitasks” by helping boost jobs, innovation, research and conservation. “It’s like a Swiss Army knife,” he joked.

But not everyone is happy with the legislation and Obama acknowledged its passage was “a very challenging piece of business.” According to the Associated Press, the bill expands federal crop insurance and ends direct government payments that go to farmers whether they produce anything or not. But the bulk of its nearly $100 billion per year cost is for the food stamp program that aids 1 in 7 Americans.

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The bill finally passed with support from Democratic and Republican lawmakers from farming states, but the bipartisan spirit didn’t extend to the signing ceremony where Obama was flanked by farm equipment, hay bales and Democratic lawmakers. White House press secretary Jay Carney said several Republicans were invited, but all declined to attend.

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Conservatives remain unhappy with the bill and its generous new subsidies for interests ranging from Southern peanut growers and Midwest corn farmers to the Northeast maple syrup industry, the AP reported.

They also wanted much larger cuts to food stamps than the $800 million Congress finally approved in a compromise. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters he did not expect the cut of about 1% of the food stamp budget to have a significant impact on recipients.

Source: USAgNet.com

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