WASHINGTON, DC – Late last night, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts announced his support for the Farm Bill which was approved by the Senate today. Despite concerns with the commodity and crop insurance sections of the bill, Senator Roberts supported the bill for its many other key provisions, benefitting Kansas and the nation, including tax relief for Greensburg.

Senator Roberts made the following remarks:

"Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the farm bill conference agreement, but most importantly to stand up in support of production agriculture.

"Our nation enjoys, but does not appreciate, the modern day miracle known as U.S. agriculture. The modern miracle that provides the cheapest and highest quality food supply in the world.

"We’ve heard claims throughout this debate that since commodity prices are high, we don’t need farm programs. Mr. President, those who would make these claims do not understand agriculture or the challenges our farmers and ranchers face.

"Prices were high in the past and just as quickly as they rose, they fell. We very well could see history repeat itself again. This is precisely why we need a farm bill. A farm bill that provides an adequate safety net so producers can compete in a global marketplace.

"Producers, especially in high risk states like Kansas, may barely scrape by for two, three, four, and - yes, even five years.

"Then one year they make it big. When they do they are able to pay down some debt and maybe, just maybe upgrade the equipment they have been using for 15 years, or they can take their wife and kids on the first vacation they’ve been able to afford or take time to enjoy in years.

"Yet, as soon as they get a little breathing room, the media and other critics claim producers are taking advantage of taxpayers. What other business do you know of that can sustain such prolonged periods of loss only to hold out for a one year reprieve?

"That is why we need a safety net in our farm programs. To help producers weather the storms of instability in the marketplace.

"Mr. President, it is the deficiency in the safety net protections for wheat and sorghum producers in this conference agreement that give me pause.

"As a senator from a state with high risk agriculture, many of our current farm programs simply don’t work for my farmers when they have no crop to harvest. This is especially true of target prices and loan rates.

"However, two programs have worked. In recent years, direct payments and crop insurance have been a lifeline for Kansas farmers and their lenders.

"Yet, title one of the this agreement increases target prices and loan rates, the very same programs that do not help producers when disaster strikes and they have no crop to harvest, while at the same time cutting direct payments and crop insurance.

"Back in 2002 we discovered that the counter cyclical program would not have provided assistance in 9 of the previous 17 years in Kansas. And, those nine years represented some of our toughest ones in that period.

"Since that time, because of a prolonged drought and late season freezes, the counter cyclical and loan programs have failed to provide assistance to Kansas producers – even when they had no crops.

"Direct Payments and Crop Insurance have provided support.

"Unfortunately these key programs are treated as a bank in the conference report. Even though both the House and Senate passed bills that kept Direct Payments completely in tact, the conference report reduces this producer support in years 2009, 2010, and 2011.

"Some of my colleagues here and in the House have stated publically that they would like to see the direct payment program ended all together. These statements created an atmosphere in which moving forward was difficult and at times frustrating.

"Thankfully, we were able to protect farmers who are getting ready to head into the fields to harvest their 2008 winter wheat crop. I am pleased that conferees worked with me to ensure that producers would not face cuts to direct payments in 2008.

"Producers long ago signed operating notes with their lenders for this crop year and should not have the rules of the game changed now. I’m pleased we kept that from happening.

"Mr. President, historically we had kept crop insurance legislation separate from the farm bill, but that changed in 2002 and, unfortunately, continues in this bill. Last time around, we took $2 billion out of crop insurance. This time, the crop insurance program offers up close to $6 billion for the benefit of other programs in the bill.

"This will have an effect on producers and providers, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

While these cuts may not unravel the program in low risk states, they are dangerously close to doing so in high risk states.

"I am also concerned that producers will have to pay their premiums earlier beginning in 2011. This means they may have to secure credit to cover the payment. I am hopeful that since we have a few years before this takes effect, we can get it fixed before it hits farmers on their balance sheets.

"Notwithstanding my concerns for the commodity and crop insurance sections of this bill, there are some strong, positive provisions in this conference report that will go a long way to benefit not only Kansas but also the nation.

"I want to thank Finance Committee Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley, and their staffs, for fighting so hard to ensure that the tax title of the Senate’s bill remained in the conference report. I am honored to serve on the Finance Committee under their leadership. They often take hits from all corners around here because of their efforts to work together. But, it is because of their bipartisanship that we have been able to show the American people that we can work together to get things done here in Washington.

"They have fashioned an agricultural tax relief package that provides targeted tax relief for farmers and ranchers, encourages significant investments in conservation, decreases our reliance on foreign energy, and invests in rural communities.

"Of particular importance to many of us is a provision that corrects an inequity in the tax code that harms retired and disabled farmers when they receive conservation reserve program payments. I and many others, on both sides of the aisle, have worked for years to get this fixed.

"We also help agriculture businesses manage the growing costs of securing agriculture pesticides and fertilizers. While important to farmers and agricultural businesses, these can also be used for illegal purposes, including the manufacture of explosives and methamphetamines. Those of us in the heartland, that remember the attack in Oklahoma City in 1995, know this risk all too well.

"Also included in this title is important tax assistance for Greensburg, Kansas. Ten days ago we marked the one year anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that literally wiped the town off the Kansas prairie, destroying 95 percent of this community of 1,500. The grade school, high school, city hall, hospital, water tower, fire station, every church and all but three businesses in the town were completely destroyed. Several lost their lives in the storm.

"In the aftermath of this devastation, Senator Brownback and I put together a modest, and temporary, tax relief bill to help residents and small businesses pick up the pieces and rebuild Greensburg. This tax relief mirrors many of the same provisions that Congress approved to help those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The provisions in the package will help residents rebuild the 1,000 homes that were damaged or destroyed and will help the 113 small businesses in Greensburg to rebuild and grow their businesses.

"Mr. President, this tax legislation represents exactly what our government should do to help in times of extreme need, and it belongs in this bill. Frankly, the House should have passed it a year ago – as the Senate originally did on May 25, 2007.

"The tax title of this conference report is a solid win for rural America, and it is a major reason why I will support this legislation – despite my concerns with the commodity title and crop insurance.

"I also appreciate the Ag. Committee Chairman and Ranking Member for working with me to address my concerns regarding the Rural Utilities Service’s broadband loan program. The reforms included here represent a rare bipartisan, consensus-driven effort to bring broadband Internet to more Americans.

"As has been noted by others, the conference report makes significant investments in conservation programs that are popular in Kansas, like EQIP and the Open Fields program that I and Senator Conrad have been working on for so long.

"I’m also pleased to see the investments made in nutrition policy. Specifically, the provision which encourages our school children to eat more whole grain foods. Whole grain products are an excellent source of fiber and provide nutrients that help reduce the risk of heart disease.

"Finally, the bill includes two sections that are extremely important to Kansas.

"First, through the livestock title of this bill, we have ensured that competition is protected in the marketplace and that producers will continue to be able to market their livestock as they see fit.

"I’m also pleased the livestock title allows for the implementation of COOL in a way that does not require additinal burdensome paperwork on our producers and beef industry. The beef industry is nearly a $6 billion a year industry in Kansas. The livestock title of the bill helps us ensure that it will continue to be an important part of our state’s economy.

"The research title of this bill also includes an important provision to allow DHS 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 our livestock and commodity industries, human health, and the overall health of our nation’s economy. I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for helping to ensure this provision was included in the conference report.

"Mr. President, as I’ve said before, this is not the best possible bill, but it may be the best bill possible under extremely difficult circumstances.

"While I’m not pleased with the way our Kansas wheat and sorghum producers are treated in this bill, I’m worried that no farm bill or revisiting the farm bill in the next year or two may lead to an even less desirable outcome.

"The fact of the matter is that we do have important provisions in this bill.

"We also have producers who in a few short days or weeks will be in the fields harvesting their 2008 winter wheat crops. They need - no they deserve - the predictability and stability of a long term bill. It is time to let them know the rules of the game." -30-