NCC Welcomes Senate Farm Bill Passage

MEMPHIS, TN – The National Cotton Council (NCC) appreciates the timely action by the U.S. Senate in approving the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 by a 66-27 vote. The passage by the full Senate was made possible by the strong leadership of Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS).

NCC Chairman Jimmy Dodson, a South Texas cotton producer, said, "The Senate approval of this farm bill is an important step toward providing producers with critically important predictability and tools to manage risk. Producers and their lenders need sound, long-term farm programs to sustain investments and to make market oriented decisions."

The cotton provisions in the Senate's bill offer significant reform with a greater focus on risk management, while at the same time contributing budget savings to deficit reduction. The policies in the Senate's farm bill are consistent with recommendations sought by the Brazilian and U.S. cotton industries and should provide a basis on which the United States and Brazil can negotiate a permanent solution to the World Trade Organization case.