Senate passes farm bill
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

The U.S. Senate passed their version of the farm bill last Friday, but it will be after the New Year before a final version is signed.

The Senate's bill, labeled the Food and Energy Security Act, includes substantial spending increases for nutrition, energy and conservation. It also incorporates significant reforms to payment limitations for agricultural producers. However, U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the bill still provides a safety net for farmers and ranchers.

The House of Representatives approved their version of the bill back in July, and differences between the two bills will be hashed out by a conference committee from the two bodies after the holidays. It will then be sent to President George W. Bush's desk for his signature.

While it looks like there may be a bill in sight, farmers aren't banking on it.

President Bush has threatened to veto the bill if it does not meet certain budget restrictions.

Burke County Farm Bureau president Lee Webster pointed out that any changes to the bill will affect Burke County residents in one way or another, since the farm bill deals with a full range of issues such as food stamps and housing.

"People don't realize how much of the farm bill is for rural development, food stamps and other subsidies not related to production agriculture," he said.