Farm Bill Conference Agrees on Budget Framework; Specific Dairy Provisions Still Pending

On March 19, the House and Senate conferees agreed to a $75.4 billion budget outline for the farm bill, but details on the dairy provisions are still not decided. Of the total $75.4 billion, the conferees have tentatively decided to set aside $2.6 billion for dairy, sugar and peanut provisions. In addition, this $2.6 billion is likely to be tapped for other conferee priority programs. Staff members for the conference committee are now beginning to work on possible options to divide up the $2.6 billion. Once Congress returns from its spring recess on April 9, House and Senate conferees plan to review staff-recommended funding options. During these ongoing negotiations, IDFA urges its members to continue communicating with lawmakers to oppose dairy compacts and other harmful dairy provisions.

According to media reports, here is the tentative funding breakdown by title for the $75.4 billion total:

$2.6 billion		dairy, sugar, peanuts and other conferee priorities
$46 billion		commodities
$17.1 billion		conservation
$6.4 billion		nutrition
$3.3 billion		remaining titles
(assumes a $1.9 billion savings from crop insurance to meet the difference between the $73.5 billion already agreed to for farm bill spending and this new total of $75.4 billion)

Throughout the farm bill conference, it is critical that lawmakers keep hearing from their constituents. IDFA members can click here to use the GRAND website to assist with their communications to Capitol Hill. Even if your U.S. senators and representatives are not serving on the farm bill conference committee, it is important to contact them since they can share your positions and concerns with the conferees. For a list of farm bill conferees, click here. For details on the conference provisions, members can click here to review Alert #02-04. ###

Posted March 21, 2002