Senate Advances Farm Bill to Conference Committee

WASHINGTON, December 14, 2007 — Senate passage today of a farm bill in a 79-14 vote marks a major milestone in the quest to replace the 2002 farm law that expired Sept. 30, USA Rice Federation said today. With commodity programs remaining in effect through the 2007 crop, it is essential that the conference committee in a timely fashion completes its work to reconcile the House and Senate bill and that Congress swiftly pass the final bill, USA Rice officials said.

“It is then up to the president to sign into law the farm legislation that will enable the United States to continue producing a safe, abundant and affordable food supply,” USA Rice Federation Chairman Al Montna said. “The Senate farm bill and the version the House passed July 27 do that to the greatest extent possible today.”

“We urge the House and Senate to begin conference negotiations as quickly as possible to ensure a new bill is in place early next year to provide the predictability and stability of long-term farm policy,” USA Rice Producers’ Group Chairman Paul T. Combs said.

“By the same token, rice producers fully appreciate the positions taken and work done by the senators who courageously and vociferously supported our industry,” Combs said.

The Senate bill was not passed without serious challenges, though, USA Rice said. Among them were a series of Senate amendments proposed during the last several months designed to strip farmers of a meaningful safety net, including:

· An amendment advanced by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) to lower farm program payment limits — rejected Dec. 13 in 56-43 vote (required a 60-vote majority for passage)

· Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) proposal to lower the adjusted gross income amount for farm program eligibility — rejected Dec. 13 in a 48-47 vote (required a 60-vote majority)

· An amendment sponsored by Sens. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) that would have crippled the Senate farm bill’s commodity title safety net was rejected Dec. 11 in a 58 to 37 vote. Ten of 12 rice-state senators opposed that amendment.

Rice state Sens. Lincoln (D-AR), Pryor (D-AR), Landrieu (D-LA), Vitter (R-LA), Bond (R-MO), Cornyn (R-TX) Hutchison (R-TX), Lott (R-MS) and Cochran (R-MS), voted against the Klobuchar amendment. They and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) voted against the Dorgan-Grassley amendment. Sens. Lincoln and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) were key floor leaders who spoke in strong opposition to the amendments. Pryor and Landrieu joined them in staunchly opposing the Dorgan-Grassley amendment and supporting rice producers.

The USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses.

Contacts:

Reece Langley, (703) 236-1471, rlangley@usarice.com

David Coia, (703) 236-2300, dcoia@usarice.com