In advance of Tuesday’s scheduled markup, the Senate Agriculture Committee today released a draft of its proposed farm bill, which met with approval from the nation’s soybean farmers. American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Canton, Miss., soybean farmer Danny Murphy welcomed the draft and encouraged its expedited passage:

“ASA commends Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Cochran, and members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their work thus far in crafting a proposed farm bill. Importantly, the draft released by the Committee would protect and strengthen crop insurance as well as ensure that a target price program to protect growers from low prices remains decoupled from current planting decisions, thus avoiding the possibility of production distortions. Combined with a revenue protection program similar to that included in last year’s Senate bill, the proposed legislation takes significant steps to provide farmers with effective risk management programs while protecting planting flexibility and avoiding planting distortions.

“While ASA is still studying details of the 1,102-page bill, our initial review also notes that the draft reflects other ASA priorities including reauthorization and funding of the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program and Market Access Program, funding for conservation programs applied to working lands, reauthorization and funding for important bio-based and bioenergy programs, and support for agricultural research, to name just a few.”

“ASA applauds the Agriculture Committees in both the House and Senate for taking the initiative to move a farm bill forward in the 113th Congress. We look forward to speedy markups in both Committees next week and the passage of a new comprehensive farm bill as quickly as possible.”

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ASA represents all U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international issues of importance to the soybean industry. ASA’s advocacy efforts are made possible through voluntary farmer membership by farmers in 30 states where soybeans are grown.

For more information contact:

Danny Murphy, ASA President, 601-906-3809, dpmurphy@bellsouth.net
Patrick Delaney, ASA Communications Director, 202-969-7040, pdelaney@soy.org