September 5, 2010

Sessions discusses farm bill with growers Senator Sessions (left) talks with growers about the importance of a new farm bill. Brundidge, Alabama (March 27, 2008). – Great concern from area peanut producers was expressed during a recent meeting with U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (AL) and producers made their views known as to the importance of Congress passing a new farm bill this year. The meeting was held at the Robert E. Barr Nutritional Center in Brundidge, Ala., an appropriate place for such an agriculture meeting considering the area relies greatly on peanut production and agriculture in general for part of their economic base. “I’m here to listen, particularly to your concerns about the farm bill,” Sessions said. “The bill that came out of the Senate was a good version and the House bill was good, too, but now it’s time for the Senate and House to agree on the same bill. Sessions said there are no real differences in the bills and he feels that the there should be no need for concern as far as the bill collapsing. Growers were eager to voice their opinions so Sessions could take those views back to Washington. “We need a farm bill,” said Carl Sanders, a Coffee County peanut producer and president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). “We need the stability of a farm bill.” “There are some issues with the new farm bill and, of course, we’d like to see some things included in it.” Sanders then reviewed with Sessions, and the 15+ growers attending, some of the items producers would like to see in the new farm bill, those include: •Need for passage of a farm bill: Need a farm bill now and not a one year extension. •Safety net: Despite high commodity prices, farm costs have risen also. Maintaining a safety net is important. •Farm Bill request: oRotation incentive program oFair implementation of crop insurance oEstablishing “base” grade for peanut loan support at 70 versus 73. oStorage & handling for forfeited peanuts. •Need for Water Reservoir development in drought areas of the southeast. •Concern for cuts in funding for agriculture research (including bio-diesel). “The big thing is it’s imperative to try to get a farm bill this year if at all possible,” said Randy Griggs, executive director of APPA. “Rather than have a one or two year extension of the current farm bill, we’d like to see a new farm bill in place.” Griggs said farmers need to know something definitive… “it’s time to plant and growers need to have some sense of what direction things are moving in.” “If we can’t help our farmers, we can’t compete,” Sessions commented, “and we’ve got to make sure it’s a fair market.” Sessions also recognized that during this and previous farm bills growers have been very fortunate to have Congressman Terry Everett (AL) working hard for growers on the house side. “We’ll be missing him in the future,” Sessions stated.

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