Redwood Falls Gazette - Sen. Franken: Enacting a Five-Year Farm Bill is Vital to Keeping Our Farm Economy Strong

Op-Ed

By U.S. Senator Al Franken

As Minnesotans gather for FarmFest this year, we all understand that this is a critically important time for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in our state and across the country.

First and foremost, we need to enact a five-year Farm Bill to reform federal farm policies and give producers the certainty they need to plan for the future.

At Farm Bill meetings I've held across Minnesota, and in discussions with farm leaders in Washington, D.C., I've heard over and over how important it is to Minnesota producers that we finish this job. With one in five Minnesota jobs tied to agriculture, a good Farm Bill plays a vital role in helping farmers and agriculture businesses make decisions about their operations and in turn become engines for creating jobs and economic vitality in our state.

In the U.S. Senate, the Farm Bill has been a top priority for me, and we passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan measure that not only reforms our agriculture programs, but also strengthens the farm safety net and reduces deficits by $23 billion.

During the Senate Farm Bill debate, I helped lead the successful fight against efforts to gut the U.S. sugar program, which is critical to Minnesota's economy and keeps jobs from being shipped overseas. A prosperous sugar industry contributes thousands of jobs and almost $5 billion to our region's economy.

I am hopeful that we can negotiate a final Farm Bill with the House and get it signed into law before the current temporary bill ends in September. Last year, I was very frustrated that the Senate's bipartisan bill died when House leaders refused to allow a vote on the measure. Minnesota's House members who play key roles on the Agriculture Committee-Reps. Collin Peterson, Tim Walz, and Rick Nolan-share my frustration and have worked very hard to get a Farm Bill done this year.

Expanded Role on Energy

As chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, I have seen how Minnesota has become a national leader in the development of new and innovative energy technologies.

This year, I was very pleased to bring many of those Minnesota ideas to Washington, D.C. as one of the authors of the Farm Bill's Energy section. I want to continue to encourage the growth of advanced biofuels, biogas, biomass, and other forms of renewable energy. These technologies will not only spur economic development in our state, but will also go a long way toward decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.

At FarmFest this year, I look forward to being part of a panel discussion on the future of renewable energy in Minnesota. I am proud that rural Minnesota entrepreneurs, along with farmers and farm families, will continue to play a critical role in that future.

Beyond the Farm Bill

I also have been working to address to the immediate needs of farmers and ranchers who have faced weather disasters and a severe shortage of feed and forage for their livestock.

For months, the shortage has put many producers in a very difficult position and has forced some to decide whether or not to liquidate all or part of their herds.

In response, I have taken a number of measures to address this crisis. First, I pressed USDA to allow for more planting and harvesting of forage crops. While I have been disappointed with USDA inaction on this front, I am pleased that after receiving a letter from the Minnesota Congressional delegation, Secretary Tom Vilsack did provide low-interest loans to the hardest-hit counties. In addition, in mid-July USDA announced that it will allow emergency haying and grazing on some Minnesota CRP land. While these are in no way perfect solutions, they will provide some relief and help our producers get through this difficult time.

In the coming months, I will continue to work on issues that are important to Minnesota farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, and press to keep Minnesota agriculture as an important part of our state's economic future.

Source