Oregon Representative Releases Alternative Farm Bill

Oregon Democrat Michael Blumenauer released an “alternative Farm Bill” Friday.  Bluemenauer has long advocated for fruits and vegetables, as well as organic and local foods, in previous farm bill debates.  His version of the farm bill covers all titles in the 2014 Farm Bill and adds titles focused on food waste and animal welfare.

His bill eliminates the two main crop subsidy programs; ARC and the Price Loss Program.  It also eliminates conservation spending on confined animal feeding operations, opting instead to give more money to organic and local production, as well as research that benefits smaller farms.

Blumenauer was joined at the news conference by several Democratic Representatives who have endorsed his bill. Connecticut’s Rosa DeLauro says crop insurance and subsidy programs could be cut to increase nutrition spending. Blumenauer adds that if people receiving SNAP benefits are going to be drug tested, then tests should also be done for the “overuse of antibiotics in animals.”

Click Here to read Blumenauer's plan.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com