The current U.S. Senate version of the 2007 Farm Bill has aspects both good and not so good for Hudson Valley farmers, according to state and local farming advocates.
The farm bill essentially sets U.S. farm policy for a five-year period. The House of Representatives already passed a version of the bill, while the Senate version is currently being debated. After that version passes, a final bill will be wrangled over in conference.
Bob Hokanson, the New York Farm Bureau national affairs coordinator, said positive aspects of the Senate version of the bill include changes to the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program, and added funding for marketing and research for fresh fruit and vegetable crops.
MILC compensates dairy producers when domestic milk prices fall below a specified level. The 2002 Farm Bill authorized MILC through Sept. 30, 2005. The Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 2005 reauthorized the program through Sept. 30.
There had been a vote to discontinue the MILC program in the Senate Agriculture Committee, which was defeated.
“We”™re real pleased about that,” Hokanson said.
The program is good for New York farmers, he said, considering dairy products constitute a little more than 50 percent of agricultural sales in New York, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He said both Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton had advocated for the continuation of the program.
Hokanson said that while government subsidies have long focused on traditional grain crops like corn, wheat and rice, both the House and Senate farm bill have increased funding for fruit and vegetables, which are prevalent in the Hudson Valley.
And while current versions of the bill don”™t offer subsidies for those crops, they both include funding for marketing and research, which is what fruit and vegetable growers are looking for, Hokanson said.
“They”™re not going to get subsidy programs, but the (fruit and vegetable) industry doesn”™t want that,” he said.
In a written statement, Schumer touted provisions in the Senate farm bill that will help state farmers.
“This bill has two solid provisions that will give the twin pillars of New York”™s farm community ”“ dairy farmers and specialty-crop farmers ”“ a much-needed shot in the arm,” said Schumer. “The MILC program, a vital safety net, is vastly expanded over the House version and specialty-crop farmers ”“ like apples and tomatoes and cherries and onions ”“ can expect to receive a windfall in additional funding. Agriculture is the lifeblood of the upstate economy and Congress needs to do everything it can to ensure it stays that way.”
One area of the Senate farm bill as it currently stands that is lacking is a conservation program tailored for muckland soil, said Hokanson.
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Muckland soil is prevalent in Orange County, and Hokanson advocates for a conservation program tailored to muckland soils, where growers would receive federal payments for preventing soil erosion on muckland while growing a crop.
He said U.S. Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, was able to include such a program in the House version of the 2007 Farm Bill.
“I hope they can get that into the Senate bill,” said Hokanson.
Orange County onion grower Chris Pawelski agrees.
“The muckland farmers of Orange County need a comprehensive solution regarding flooding,” he said.
Overall, Pawelski believes the House version of the bill is better for Hudson Valley and statewide farmers.
“Money for specialty crops is less in the Senate version and the House version is superior; it”™s better for New York state,” he said. “However, neither goes a long way as far as pursuing major reform. Funding is still structured around the same old crops like corn, wheat and rice. We need more for fruits and vegetables.”
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