Senate to Start Farm Bill Debate Today

Washington--Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced the Senate will begin debating amendments on the farm bill at 2:15 p.m. today. A unanimous consent agreement limits debate to 73 amendments.

Farm Bureau staff are reviewing all the amendments. Currently, the following three are of the most concern: the amendment proposed by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to reduce the level of federal premium support for crop insurance participants whose adjusted gross income exceeds $750,000; an amendment offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) to make all checkoff programs voluntary; and one from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to replace the $4 billion cut in nutrition programs by largely taking money out of the crop insurance program.

Under the agreement, amendments will be considered in an alternating fashion between Democrats and Republicans. Voting will occur today and tomorrow.

Washington Post article