Call Today for Farm Bill Reform!

URGE YOUR SENATORS TO VOTE "YES" ON THE DORGAN-GRASSLEY AMENDMENT & "NO" ON THE ROBERTS AMENDMENTS

After reaching a much-anticipated agreement over the number of amendments that can be introduced, the full Senate began debate on the next Farm Bill December 7 and is expected to start voting on December 11. THIS IS IT! The full Senate’s consideration and vote marks the farm bill’s final stages and the last chance to institute real reform before the bill moves to the Conference Committee.

An amendment introduced on the floor of the Senate by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is our last chance to reform the commodity payment system and fund sustainable agriculture priorities. The Dorgan-Grassley amendment will put a hard cap of $250,000 on commodity payments, close loopholes, and shift the savings to beginning and minority farmer, rural development, conservation, nutrition, and anti-hunger programs. It will be the major floor amendment on the Farm Bill, and the vote count is expected to be very, very close. Every single vote will count.

The $1.15 billion in savings from the Dorgan-Grassley Payment Limitation Amendment will be shifted to:

• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program ($60 million)
• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account Program ($20 million)
• Pigford black farmer lawsuit settlement with USDA ($100 million)
• Rural Microenterprise Assistance Program ($40 million)
• Farmers Market Promotion Program ($15 million)
• Organic Certification Cost Share Program ($3 million)
• Community Food Grants ($50 million)
• Grasslands Reserve Program ($45 million)
• Farmland Protection Program ($52 million)
• Emergency Food Assistance Program ($315 million)
• Food Stamp Benefit Enhancements ($396 million)

The 4 Roberts Amendments (#3546-#3549) would amend the Livestock Title of the Farm Bill, and substantially reduce the number of producers covered by the important protections of the bill. Call your Senators and tell them to vote NO on these Amendments!

The message is simple: “I am a constituent and am calling to ask that Senator_________ vote YES on the Dorgan-Grassley Amendment and NO on the 4 Roberts Amendments (#3546-#3549) during the Farm Bill deliberations. How will the Senator vote on these important amendments for the 2007 Farm Bill?”

It’s easy to call: To call your Senators’ offices, you can contact the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or locate your Senators’ office number by going to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/. When you call the office, ask for their legislative aide that works on agriculture. If the aide is unavailable, leave a short message, along with your name and phone number, on the aide’s voice mail or with the receptionist.