Kennedy provides farm bill update

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy told area farmers he is confident that the House's version of the Farm Security Act of 2001 will become law.

Kennedy (D-Watertown) met with members of the Farm City Hub Club in New Ulm over lunch at Turner Hall, where he gave the club a brief update on the progress of agricultural legislation at the Capitol.

"We have a farm bill, and I think it will be one that moves us forward," Kennedy told the crowd.

The new farm bill came out of the House Agriculture Committee in late July and passed the House floor on Oct. 5. If it becomes law, the bill will maintain planting flexibility provisions found in the current farm bill and will add a "target-price based program" to help farmers compete in tougher markets.

The bill will also provide a three-piece safety net by keeping in place fixed "decoupled" payments, a marketing loan program, and a payment the House Agricultural Committee thinks will "provide consistent and reliable support that will allow farmers and their leaders to plan for the future."

It will also provide $73.5 billion in additional spending over its 10-year lifespan.

Kennedy criticized the Senate's version of the bill, saying it has several problems. He said it is $6 billion over budget, while the House's version is balanced. The Senate's bill will increase loan rates for farmers and budgets for more food stamps. The House version leaves rates as they are, but will add payments on top of those rates, Kennedy said.

Finally, it also has an appropriation geared more towards dairy production in the northeastern region of the U.S. Kennedy said he's going to try to give that appropriation "more of a Midwestern focus."

Kennedy had planned to make stops in other parts of the Second District, but was unable to do so because of the weather.

He told onlookers he planned to fly directly into Minneapolis from Washington D.C., but got stuck in Omaha and spent the night in Sioux City, Iowa, before driving back to Minnesota on Friday morning.

The congressman spent the rest of his latest visit to New Ulm touring the NU-Telecom building, where he met with NU-Telecom management and visited with employees. District director Mark Matuska said Kennedy stopped to tour similar businesses in Hutchinson and Madelia earlier in the week.