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On December 13, 2007, the U.S. Senate voted to reject the Dorgan-Grassley payment limits amendment to the farm bill. The amendment was defeated with 56 in favor and 43 opposed under an agreement by leadership to require 60 votes for passage.

For those senators who voted for family farms by voting for the amendment, we urge you to call and offer your sincere thanks. For those senators who voted to continue unlimited payments that destroy family farming and rural communities by voting against the amendment, we urge you to call and express your deep disappointment.

You can call the Capitol switch-board at 202.224.3121 and ask for any senator’s office. See how your senators voted.

Throughout the last year literally thousands of Center for Rural Affairs supporters and tens of thousands of people nationwide called on their elected officials to reform farm program subsidies. Without your strong support, the vote would note have ended where it did. However, now it is critical that we hold those responsible for the defeat of true reform accountable. Please make your call today.

Conference Committee Next
Next, the farm bill moves to the conference committee. Though the hope for significant reform of farm program payments is significantly diminished, we will still be fighting to retain and fund other important priorities that support conservation, rural development, and beginning farmers.

At the conference committee stage it becomes more difficult to influence the final composition of the bill. But it is not impossible, especially for those living in areas represented by members of the conference committee. Conference committee members will primarily be selected from the Agriculture Committees in the House and Senate, but those who do not live in those areas will also have opportunities to make a difference in the final bill.

Action directed at legislators will still be able to help secure funding for programs that support conservation, rural development, and beginning farmers, and we will call upon you again when your voice is needed.

Also, we should always remember that taking action is not limited to making a phone call to Washington DC or writing a letter. Being an active citizen does not mean we simply involve ourselves with an advocacy organization and respond to their alerts – though we do think that is important.

Working toward the common good means speaking up in your community and talking to your friends and neighbors. It means fighting for what you think is right. And it certainly does not always involve politics and policy.

Contact: Dan Owens, dano@cfra.org or by phone at 402.687.2103 x 1017 to find out more ways to get involved.