FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2002
Contact: Drew Goesl 

Lincoln Votes Against Farm Bill, Says Arkansas Farmers Targeted in Senate Legislation

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) today voted against the Senate farm bill because she said it would openly discriminate against Arkansas row crop and livestock farmers, ultimately limiting their ability to compete in the global marketplace.

"My support for the Senate farm bill was dependent upon what it did for my state, and I voted against this bill because it unfairly inhibits Arkansas' farmers and ranchers," said Lincoln. "I helped craft and eventually pass out of the Agriculture Committee legislation that provided our farmers with adequate support to survive the volatile and heavily-subsidized global marketplace. Yet last week, the bill was altered significantly and no longer recognized the regional needs of our producers in a fair way. I will continue, however, to work with Chairman Harkin and members of the Conference Committee to modify the legislation so that I might support a more balanced Farm Bill Conference Report."

Lincoln said she couldn't support the Senate bill, which passed by a vote of 58-40 today, because it contains, in particular, two provisions that would hurt Arkansas row crop and livestock producers. Together, these two provisions would make it harder for farmers and ranchers to compete most efficiently in the global marketplace.

Lincoln fought vigorously against inclusion of a payment limitation amendment introduced by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND), pointing out that it disproportionately hurts southern producers of rice and cotton, which are the two most capital-intensive program crops. The amendment also eliminates several components relied upon by Arkansas farmers to ensure an adequate support level, such as the 3-entity rule and generic commodity certificates. Lincoln said the amendment lowers the effective level of financial support from each of the three primary components of the Senate bill's commodity title– fixed payments, loan deficiency payments, and countercyclical payments.

Lincoln also objected to the bill because it includes a provision prohibiting packer ownership of livestock within fourteen days of slaughter. This provision effectively disables packers from ensuring that their facilities can run at maximum capacity at all times.

"Current agriculture policy demands that farmers and ranchers engage the global marketplace and learn how to become more competitive. Yet today, the Senate approved a bill with two provisions that would penalize farmers and ranchers for undertaking the practices to become more competitive and survive in the market," said Lincoln. "If we want to continue to lead the world in safe, reliable food production we cannot construct more hurdles to the competitiveness our agriculture industry needs to survive."