WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today said he would work to provide certainty and a forward thinking Farm Bill responsible to Kansans, farmers, ranchers, consumers and the taxpayer.

The following are Senator Roberts’ prepared remarks at the first meeting of the 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee:

“We have all worked very hard to get to this point and have already made significant strides in achieving necessary reforms,” Roberts said. “For example, both bills eliminate Direct Payments, commodity and disaster programs like ACRE and SURE.

“We’ve heard consistently from producers in all regions that crop insurance is their number one priority. Our producers are willing to put their own skin in the game to protect themselves from disaster.

            “The full House of Representatives and the Senate have made the commitment, through the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and other provisions, that crop insurance is the most responsible farm safety net for farmers and the taxpayer.

            “However, I do have concerns with several Senate provisions that unnecessarily duplicate regulation on farmers’ practices and restrict producers’ coverage.

            “For ranchers and livestock producers, I am pleased that both bills extend the disaster programs from the 2008 Farm Bill including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Program (LFP).

            “I also appreciate the House addressing several burdensome regulations that I’ve worked on in the Senate including: Pesticides, Farm Fuel Tank Storage, the Lesser Prairie Chicken, GIPSA, and mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL).

            “Regarding nutrition and the SNAP Program, the House passed similar reforms to legislation I’ve offered to tighten federal eligibility standards, close State loopholes and end wasteful and duplicative programs, without harming benefits to those that most need assistance. 

            “Unfortunately, the Senate bill barely scratches the surface with around $4 billion in savings over ten years - from an $800 billion program that was held exempt from sequestration.  

            “Finally, I have significant concerns regarding the two proposed commodity titles.

“The 2012 Senate passed Farm Bill contained real reform. We ended federal subsidies that encourage producers to plant for the government, i.e. target price programs.

            “This year’s version created a new Adverse Markets Payments (AMP) program tied to De-coupled historic base acres. The House Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Program went further backwards and recoupled production to planted acres and sets high fixed target prices.

            “A modern Farm Bill should not create planting, marketing, or international trade distortions. Let me be clear…target prices should be decoupled… and the government should not set prices at a level that practically guarantee profit, instead of acting as a risk management tool.

             “In closing, we are all around this table for a reason; I’m here and committed to resolving these difficult differences in order to provide certainty and a forward thinking Farm Bill that is responsible to Kansans, farmers, ranchers, consumers as well as taxpayers.

“Again, thank you to the leadership of both committees, the producers who have participated in hearing and meetings, and all the members here for working to advance agriculture.”

            Senator Roberts is senior member and former Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Last year the full Senate passed a bipartisan Farm Bill introduced by then Ranking Member Roberts and Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that eliminated target prices. He is the first member of Congress in history to serve as both Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and Ranking of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

-30-