Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
A few choice quotes heard at Wednesday’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing for the 2007 Farm Bill…
“I am very new to the committee. I have never seen anything so complicated. I don’t begin to understand half of what we’re talking about when it comes to some of these programs.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- S.C., in a moment of honest reflection about the 2007 Farm Bill.
“This is my ninth time on the Farm Bill merry-go-round as either a staffer or a member. I ought to get a purple heart or something.” Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., in his opening statements.
“People should know, this farm bill was infinitely more difficult to bring together, because we’ve got a lot less money.” — Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. in reference to the reduced baseline funding available for the 2007 Farm Bill.
“It’s ironic that the strong prices that we’re experiencing today in farm country would make our job more difficult in drafting a new law.” — Sen. Saxby Chambliss, ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
“Ensuring a safe and abundant and affordable domestic supply of food and fiber is critically important, particularly in this day and age when we see imports that are coming in and our lack of ability to really inspect enough of those.” — Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., on the true reason for a strong farm program in the United States.
“U.S. farm programs have cost taxpayers too much, and hurt American agriculture in the process. Subsidy programs have spurred farm consolidation, violated international trade agreements and still left most farmers heavily exposed to risk. The House of Representatives failed this year to pass a bill that reforms our antiquated scheme, and it appears that this committee will unfortunately follow suit.” — Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., making his opinion known about the 2007 Farm Bill.
“It’s interesting, the year I fought for an organic bill, the then-chairman strongly opposed it, saying it’s just a niche thing nothing will come of it. It’s now a $13- or 14 billion-dollar industry and one of the fastest growing parts of agriculture.” — Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., discussing his work in the past on organic food programs.
“I have more cows than people in my state, and they’re usually in a better mood.” — Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., discussing the importance of livestock to the Kansas economy.
“Did you say you had a listening session in Conrad, Montana? You already have towns naming themselves after Kent Conrad?” — Sen. Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joking with Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
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