By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer
May 16, 2008 04:00 am Area legislators and members of the local farm community hailed the passage of the 2007 farm bill by a veto-proof majority by Congress. Despite President Bush's strong opposition, 35 of the Senate's 49 Republicans voted Thursday with Democrats to pass and send to the White House a $290 billion farm bill that will increase food aid for the needy as well as subsidies for farmers. In the House, 100 Republicans voted the same way Wednesday. Even so, the White House has indicated that Bush will veto the legislation, contending it is fiscally irresponsible and too generous to wealthy corporate farmers in a time of record crop prices. Hartwick dairy farmer Clifford Brunner said farmers continue to struggle with high fuel and grain prices. "We have to cover our expenses if we are going to stay in business," he said. The changes in the legislation will help to do that. Among the programs that will impact local diary farmers is a vastly expanded Milk Income Loss Contract program that serves as "a vital safety net for dairy farmers," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.. "Agriculture is the lifeblood of the upstate economy and Congress needs to do everything it can to ensure it stays that way," he said. The MILC program includes a return to the previous repayment rate for dairy farmers to 45 percent when the price falls below the target price, currently set at $16.94 per hundredweight. In April, the Boston Class I price was $22.06 a hundredweight. The rate had been reduced to 34 percent a couple of years ago as a federal cost savings measure. The yearly cap on milk shipment payments would be raised from 2.4 to 2.985 million pounds _ equal to the production of about 160 cows, officials said. There is also a feed-cost adjuster, so when costs spike, the target price of milk would be raised accordingly. About two-thirds of the overall bill would pay for domestic nutrition programs, such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy. An additional $40 billion is for farm subsidies, while almost $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programs. "I'm pleased that the Congress has come together in a bipartisan manner to do the right thing for millions of American farmers and consumers," said Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. "We need to take care of the people in this country," Brunner said. Through such programs as the country of origin labeling, the bill's provisions show the Congressional concern about enhancing food production in this country, he said. Delaware County Cornell Cooperative Extension educator Mariane Kiraly said the bill will bring stabilization to agricultural prices. "The changes make the safety net more realistic," she said. "I am extremely pleased that we were able to deliver a farm bill that will ensure that farming remains a powerful economic force in New York for years to come," said Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, a member of the House Agricultural Committee. "I am proud to vote for legislation that addresses the unique needs of upstate farmers and communities" by addressing a number of issues, said Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica. Congress has overridden only one veto, on a water projects bill, during Bush's two terms. ___ The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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