Obama Signs Farm Bill

Well, this long drawn-out saga is over.

The nation finally has a Farm Bill.

Here is what some groups are saying:

President Obama's signature on the Farm Bill ushers in a new sense of security for New York's diverse agricultural community," said Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau. "New York Farm Bureau is not setting its sights on working with the USDA on the implementation of the Farm Bill. We look to assure farmers that the programs in this legislation are properly carried out in the way they were intended.

"We also find the President's 'Made in Rural America' announcement today (Friday, Feb. 7) regarding efforts to boost agricultural exports promising for New York business," Norton said. "This initiative recognizes that farming is important to rural economies of this country, providing jobs along with the food and fiber that are in demand around the globe."

The National Corn Growers Association thanked President Obama for signing the Agricultural Act of 2014 today. The Farm Bill passed the House Jan. 29 and the Senate Feb. 4.

"This new five-year farm bill means certainty and stability for farmers. It means food on the table of hungry families. And it means taxpayers will save money," said association President Martin Barbre.

If you want a full look at the Farm Bill and the journey to get it passed, go to http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/farm_bill_us/ this link at the New York Times. Then click on the story to read, including a timeline of what has happened and the story from the Associated Press called "What Is the Farm Bill?"

The Fight Over Food Stamps Explained

Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/07/11/the-fight-over-food-stamps-explained/ to see this informative piece in the Washington Post.

Gillibrand, Schumer, Other Senators Fight to Keep Farm Bill Whole

This release is from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office:

As the U.S. House of Representatives voted today on a split farm bill that only addresses agricultural interests and leaves out nutrition programs including food stamps, U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, both D-N.Y., joined with 15 other senators urging that Senate Leadership keep the Farm Bill whole.

The senators said House Republicans unprecedented legislative maneuver disrupts a decades long balance between urban and rural interests which has ensured American farmers have the protections they need to grow enough food to feed people across the world, while also ensuring that American families have the resources they need to meet their basic food needs.

Gillibrand called on Sen. Harry Reid and other Senate leaders to oppose any effort to split that legislation that would undermine Americans farmers and hungry families.

“Just as important as the health of our agriculture industry, is the health and nutrition of our children, seniors and military families who are struggling for their next meal,” Gillibrand said.

“This unacceptable and unprecedented plan by House Republicans to split this bill into two parts jeopardizes the rural-urban connection in the farm bill and puts critical food assistance for our children, seniors and military families at risk of even more draconian cuts in the House," Gillibrand said. "Hungry children deserve better than this complete dysfunction from the House turning a long standing and bipartisan coalition upside down."

The other senators who joined the two New York Democrats in writing a letter to Harry Reid are Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc.; Mark Begich, D-Alaska; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Angus King, I-Maine; Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Bernie Sanders, Democratic Socialist-Vt.; Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; Tom Udall, D-N.M.;  Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

Farm Bill News from Wednesday May 22

Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/senate-rejects-bid-to-turn-food-stamp-program-over-to-states-cut-spending/2013/05/22/90d46aac-c2ff-11e2-9642-a56177f1cdf7_story.html to read this story from the Washington Post.