WASHINGTON (May 7, 2002) – National Farmers Union is one of 30 groups urging the Senate in letters today to pass the farm bill conference report immediately.       

"Delaying the bill could jeopardize $5.5 billion in additional assistance for farmers and ranchers," said NFU President Dave Frederickson. "The Senate must adopt the farm bill conference report immediately to assure farmers have an adequate, long-term safety net."

According to a recent analysis by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, the new farm bill would mean $5.5 billion over current law to U.S. agriculture producers each of the six years of the farm bill.

The FAPRI data demonstrated the "Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002" would increase net farm income $4.5 billion a year and significantly increase crop returns per bushel. The bill would also increase average milk revenue in most states.

FAPRI also found the bill would lower the likelihood of World Trade Organization violations compared to either the House or Senate bills.

"This farm bill has been debated in field hearings throughout the country, in House and Senate committees and on the floor of both chambers for more than two years. It is now time to end debate as well as farmers uncertainty," the farm groups’ letter stated. "We urge the Senate to immediately adopt the farm bill conference report and send it without unnecessary delay to the President for his signature and implementation for the 2002 crop."

The House overwhelmingly passed the conference report May 2. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation Wednesday.

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The complete FAPRI Analysis is available at http://www.fapri.missouri.edu/

The joint letter follows:

May 7, 2002

The Honorable Tom Harkin
United States Senate
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1502

Dear Senator Harkin:

The organizations listed below extend our gratitude to members and staff of the Farm Bill Conference Committee for their tireless efforts in achieving a workable compromise for comprehensive reform in our nation's farm policy.

In response to the critical need of farmers and their lenders to immediately know the rules and regulations under which they must operate, the House of Representatives acted swiftly to adopt the farm bill conference report to H.R. 2646, by a vote of 280-141. With farmers in their fields now planting this year's crop, it is imperative that the Senate also take immediate action and adopt the farm bill conference report. Adoption of this farm bill will assure them that they will have an adequate, long-term safety net in place now and in the future.

This farm bill has been debated in field hearings throughout the country, in House and Senate committees and on the floor of both chambers for more than two years. It is now time to end debate as well as farmers uncertainty. We urge the Senate to immediately adopt the farm bill conference report and send it without unnecessary delay to the President for his signature and implementation for the 2002 crop.

Sincerely,
Agricultural Retailers Association
Alabama Farmers Federation|
American Cotton Shippers Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
American Sugar Cane League
CoBank
Fresh Solutions
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Farmers Union
National Grain Sorghum Producers
National Milk Producers Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Sunflower Association
Ocean Spray, Inc.
Rice Millers' Association
South East Dairy Farmers Association
Southern Peanuts Farmers Federation
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Rice Producers Association
U.S. Rice Producers Group
USA Dry Pea & Lentil Association
United Egg Producers
Western United Dairymen