Durbin Hosts Listening Session to Discuss Farm Bill

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) hosted a listening session today with representatives and leaders from Illinois' agriculture industry to discuss provisions for commodity, nutrition, conservation and other programs likely to be included in the 2007 Farm Bill. Durbin, a member of the agriculture appropriations subcommittee, also discussed the challenges ahead in reauthorizing the current Farm Bill, which expires in September.

"I believe the single most significant factor will be the budget," Durbin said. "We're writing this bill during a time of record deficits rather than the surpluses we had on hand during the writing of the 2002 Farm Bill, and there is going to be competition for limited funds for education, medical research, social services, and other core functions."

Renewable energy will be a critical element of the 2007 Farm Bill. Durbin supports a renewable energy program that provides grants to farmers and rural small businesses interested in investing in wind and biofuels projects, anaerobic digesters, or energy efficiency projects.

"We ought to continue adding to the momentum behind ethanol and biodiesel and other renewable sources of energy," Durbin said.

Durbin is hoping to add biofuels and broadband legislation to the Senate Farm Bill.

Durbin introduced legislation last month that would increase biodiesel production nearly three-fold over current levels to 1.25 billion gallons in 2012. Biodiesel burns far cleaner then petrol diesel and emits fewer unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, all of which contribute to global warming.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has already begun meeting to discuss proposals for the 2007 Farm Bill and hopes to have the bill ready for floor action later this month or immediately following the August recess.

"While the 2002 Farm Bill was a vast improvement on the 1996 ‘Freedom to Farm' bill, there are still several changes that need to be made to craft the best bill for Illinois farmers," Durbin said. "One thing we've identified for improvement is our policy for dealing with natural disasters."

The current Farm Bill does not do a very good job of protecting against yield losses, which lead to frequent need of ad hoc disaster assistance. Corn and bean farmers in Illinois and the Midwest do not receive the same level of support through the crop insurance system that farmers in other parts of the country do. That leaves Illinois farmers at risk when they have yield loss, such as during the 2005 drought in parts of Northeast and Western Illinois.

"We're looking at several proposals which would help protect against yield loss," Durbin said. "I believe that is an important goal in our current environment of high grain prices."

As the Farm Bill discussions begin, Durbin will be looking at ways to promote economic growth.

"One of my top priorities is bridging the digital divide by bringing broadband access to rural parts of the state," Durbin said. "There is a clear issue here of economic development. For small towns and rural areas to attract businesses and qualified people, communities need to offer access to broadband."

Durbin introduced legislation earlier this year, the Connect the Nation Act of 2007 (S. 1190), to encourage the rapid deployment of high-quality, affordable broadband internet service, especially in rural areas. The legislation creates a matching grant program to be administered through the Department of Commerce to assist statewide or regional public-private partnerships increase broadband access, map resources and build demand.

Durbin received the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union in September for his attention to issues affecting rural America.

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