Rice Industry Supports House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Draft

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2007 — Contacts: Reece Langley, (703) 236-1471, rlangley@usarice.com

Dwight Roberts, (713) 974-7423, dwight@usriceproducers.com

The USA Rice Federation and US Rice Producers Association support the draft farm program language released July 6 by Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). That language will serve as the base text for the Commodity Title at the full committee markup scheduled for July 17. Chairman Peterson’s proposal would maintain the current safety net for rice producers and continue the balance between loan rates, direct payments and target prices that has worked so well as part of the current farm bill.

We appreciate the work of Chairman Peterson and the House Agriculture Committee in developing the 2007 farm bill and recognize the difficulty involved in writing a farm bill given the current budget situation. The chairman’s proposal maintains a strong and equitable safety net not only for America’s farm families, but for America’s consumers, as well. If enacted, it would in large measure continue the policy of providing Americans with an abundant food supply at a cost representing a lower percentage of disposable income than is the case in virtually any other country in the world.

Both organizations look forward to continuing to work with the House and Senate agriculture committees to develop and maintain a strong farm policy for all Americans.