WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today voted to override President Bush’s veto of the farm bill joining members on both sides of the aisle in approving the measure containing critical tax relief, livestock provisions, conservation measures, energy and nutrition programs.

Major Kansas and national farm organizations supported the bill including the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Sorghum Producers, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Agricultural Retailers Association, American Association of Crop Insurers, Kansas Cattleman’s Association, Kansas Farmers Union, National Pork Producers Council and many others.

"It is time our producers in the fields have a farm bill so that they may plan their operations," Roberts said. "Farmers went into the fields this year not knowing what farm policy would be available for them at harvest. This bill protects producers from any changes in the game this year and provides predictability and stability in the years to come. There are some strong, positive provisions in this bill that will go a long way to benefit not only Kansas but also the nation."

Several important provisions were key to Roberts’ support. He said the bill:

• Retains the safety net of a national crop insurance program and the current payment rates of the direct payment program;
• Provides temporary tax relief for Kiowa County and surrounding areas as a result of Presidential Disaster Declarations due to the Greensburg tornado and related storms;
• Allows for the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) in a way that does not require additional burdensome paperwork on producers and Kansas’ $6 billion beef industry;
• Protects competition in the marketplace so that producers will be able to market their livestock as they see fit;
• Creates a mechanism for state inspected meat processors to ship their products across state lines.
• Increases funding for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by $2.4 billion;
• Provides language allowing the Department of Homeland Security to continue plans to build a new National Bio and AgroDefense Facility (NBAF). The research that will be conducted at this facility will be crucial in protecting livestock and commodity industries, human health, and the overall health of the nation’s economy;
• Corrects an inequity in the tax code that harms retired and disabled farmers when they receive Conservation Reserve Program payments;
• Helps agriculture businesses to manage the growing costs of securing agriculture pesticides and fertilizers. Senator Roberts has introduced legislation similar to this provision;
• Allows producers to make additional contributions to Social Security to ensure that they are eligible to receive benefits;
• Provides landowners who incur expenses for protecting an endangered species or the habitat of an endangered species, a permanent tax deduction;
• Establishes a new, temporary production tax credit for up to $1.01 per gallon, available through 2012 to encourage the production of cellulosic ethanol.
• Establishes new renewable energy programs that assist producers in installing wind turbines and other energy efficiency devices on their operations to help meet rising energy costs;
• Expands USDA Rural Development grant and loan guarantee programs that benefit bio-refineries. This will help bring forth the next generation of renewable fuel technology;
• Establishes a program to assist producers in raising cellulosic feedstocks to be used in ethanol production;
• Reforms to the Rural Utilities Service’s (RUS) broadband loan program to bring broadband Internet to more Americans;
• Provides federal funding for Open Fields programs that benefit outdoor sports and recreation. Senator Roberts previously introduced legislation this provision is based upon;
• Encourages school children to eat more whole grain foods; and,
• Increases access to food and nutrition programs to help struggling families meet rising food costs.

Senator Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance.

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