Senate Panel Asked to Expedite Action on Farm Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Cotton Council joined with other commodity organizations on a letter today to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and that panel’s ranking member, Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) -- urging their prompt action on 2007 farm legislation.

Among other organizations signed onto the letter were those representing rice, wheat, peanuts, grain sorghum, soybeans, minor oilseeds, dairy and sugar.

The organizations stated they are encouraged by the announcement that the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry has reached agreement on a framework on budget and policy options. The letter urged the panel’s leaders to schedule a committee mark-up and floor consideration using that panel’s framework agreement as the basis.

“While each of our organizations may have concerns and questions about details of the framework agreement, particularly the relatively new version of a revenue option … we believe it is imperative that the Senate complete work on its version of new farm legislation so a conference committee can be appointed,” the letter stated.

The letter also noted that important provisions of current farm law have recently expired – and farmers and ranchers need to have policy in place in order to make well-informed financing, cropping and marketing decisions.

“And it is important to farmers and ranchers, rural communities and other stakeholders to have conservation, nutrition, energy, risk management, trade, research and other policies in place as soon as possible,” the groups said.

The NCC’s mission is ensuring the ability of all industry segments to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.