Senate Prepares to Pass 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report

Press Release

Senate Prepares to Pass 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report

Thune Amendments and His Committee Contributions Make Bill Better for South Dakota

After months of gridlock and multiple temporary extensions, the United States Senate is set to pass the 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report (H.R. 2419). Senator John Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was instrumental in shaping many titles of the bill which outlines our nation's agriculture policy through 2012.

"South Dakota stands to reap substantial benefits thanks to the 2008 Farm Bill. Agriculture, weather disasters, outdoor recreation, and ethanol all significantly impact our state's economy, and as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee I've left no stone unturned to ensure this Farm Bill addresses specific needs and will work well for South Dakota," said Thune. "This bill makes great strides in providing disaster relief, advancing biofuels production, making adequate conservation tools available, and not just preserving but improving the farm safety net."

One of Thune's hardest-fought farm bill victories is the inclusion of a permanent disaster program. This battle for permanent disaster relief was made even more difficult during Conference Committee action because the House Farm Bill failed to include or address the need for permanent disaster provisions. The Permanent Disaster Title program will provide $3.8 billion in timely assistance to both crop and livestock producers for losses due to natural disasters. Senator Thune has fought tirelessly for ad hoc disaster programs for the past several years and recognized the absolute necessity of including a permanent disaster program in the 2008 Farm Bill. Eligibility for disaster assistance requires that a producer participate in crop insurance, which will strengthen the crop insurance program and encourage producers to better manage their risk.

"The 2008 Farm Bill eliminates the political games that have defined ad hoc disaster assistance in the past. South Dakota's farm and ranch families will now be able to receive timely disaster payments instead of waiting years for assistance," said Thune.

Senator Thune also hosted an Energy Subcommittee field hearing in Brookings, SD, in April, 2007 to explore the potential for expanding cellulosic ethanol production. Following the field hearing in Brookings, Senator Thune introduced a bill (S. 36) the Biofuels Innovation Program, which was successfully included as a comprehensive biofuels provision in both the House and Senate-passed bills and now is included in the final Farm Bill Energy Title. Thune's legislation, with mandatory funding for "as much funds as are necessary," is a monumental victory for cellulosic ethanol and will jumpstart cellulosic ethanol production in South Dakota and nationwide.

"The Energy Title of this Farm Bill will result in even greater strides towards South Dakota's ethanol development, particularly cellulosic ethanol, and expand the potential to produce ethanol in South Dakota from border to border," said Thune.

A Thune safety-net provision amendment which preserves beneficial interest for farmers who would obtain loan deficiency payments when commodity prices drop was successfully passed during Senate Farm Bill markup and is included in the 2008 Farm Bill, with a modification to the pricing structure. Every major farm organization supported Thune's amendment and strongly supported his efforts to ensure this critical safety net provision was in the final Farm Bill.

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