U.S. Senate Approves $955 Billion Farm Bill

From our content partner, The City Wire:

The U.S. Senate on Monday approved a five-year farm bill by a 66-27 vote, with U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and John Boozman, R-Ark., voting for the legislation that would cut $4 billion over 10 years from the food stamp program.

Boozman was one of 15 Republicans to join with Democrats in voting for the legislation.

The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 (S. 954) is the Senate’s idea for what should replace the existing farm bill set to expire Sept. 30. The U.S. House version seeks cuts of almost $40 billion, with $20.5 billion coming out of the food stamp program. The Senate bill reduces spending by more than $23 billion. The Senate version projects about $955 billion in spending over 10 years, and the House version projects about $940 billion over the period.

“The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act reforms, eliminates and streamlines numerous programs, saving taxpayers $23 billion. It does this while strengthening the tools available to producers to help manage risks and conserve natural resources,” noted a statement from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Pryor said the “fair and equitable” bill includes provisions to help Arkansas agriculture interests.

“My bio-preferred provision within the bill ensures that timber farmers have a greater advantage in today’s global marketplace. We’ve also inserted strong market protections for southern farmers, and kept the catfish inspection program intact so our food’s safe and healthy. All in all, this is a win for Arkansas,” Pryor said in a statement.

Boozman, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the bill is “a great example of Democrats and Republicans working together.”

“Considering that agriculture is Arkansas’s top industry, passage of a farm bill is vital to our state’s economic recovery. Like any other business, Arkansas’s agricultural producers need certainty to be able to make important planting, purchasing and hiring decisions,” Boozman said in his statement. “A five-year farm bill will give our family farmers and ranchers the confidence to move forward with those decisions, and in turn, create jobs and opportunities in our communities.”

Although the Senate and House bills are far apart on deficit reduction plans, food stamp support and other major components, Boozman said he is “optimistic” that a compromise bill will be drafted and approved by both chambers.

The U.S. House is expected to take up their Farm Bill version the week of June 17.  For more analysis of the Senate bill’s contents, click here.