Senate approved the Agricultural Act of 2014

The Senate approved the Agricultural Act of 2014 on a vote of 68 to 32 Tuesday afternoon. Since the measure was approved by the House by a strong vote of 251 to 166 last week - the farm bill will now head to the President for his signature. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow says Congress has come together to pass a major bipartisan jobs bill that includes major reform and deficit reduction. Stabenow says this bill is a new direction for American agriculture policy. She notes direct payments will finally come to an end and says the bill supports the transition Americans are making to a healthier, more locally based food system. Stabenow says it’s also one of the largest investments in land and water conservation made in years. She says the bill truly touches every American - from the food we eat, to the air we breathe and the water we drink. 

Here is an overview of the Agricultural Act of 2014 as provided by Senator Stabenow’s office: 

Enacting the Agricultural Act of 2014 will reform agriculture programs, reduce the deficit, and help farmers, ranchers and business owners grow the economy. The legislation: 

* Repeals the direct payment program and strengthens risk management tools

* Repeals outdated programs and consolidates duplicative ones, eliminating nearly 100 programs or authorizations

* Helps farmers and ranchers create jobs and provides certainty for the 16 million Americans working in agriculture

* Strengthens conservation efforts to protect land, water and wildlife for future generations

* Maintains food assistance for families while addressing fraud and misuse in SNAP

* Reduces the deficit by $23 billion

More information and a summary of the bill is available on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s website at http://www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farm-bill.