Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner said he and other presidential advisors will recommend President Bush veto the farm bill being debated on the Senate floor in its current form.

On a conference call with reporters, Conner said the Senate bill includes $37 billion in additional costs and relies on "budget tricks" and additional taxes to fund it. He cited the lack of government payment limits for the wealthy, increased crop loan rates and target prices and a lack of reform in crop price support payments as particularly unacceptable.

He said USDA will send Congress a detailed Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) outlining specific changes the administration will seek.

Asked about the livestock portion of the Senate bill, Conner said there are several provisions of the livestock title the administration opposes. (See Livestock title of Senate Farm Bill addresses Packers and Stockyards Act on Meatingplace.com, October 23, 2007.)

Conner said the administration opposes the creation of a special counsel on agricultural competition at USDA to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act. He said it also opposes the proposed ban on packer livestock ownership, as well as contract restrictions of any kind.

In terms of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) provisions, Conner said while USDA has historically opposed COOL, the provisions in the current House and Senate bills make it easier for USDA to implement it.

Harkin responds

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, quickly responded to Conner's threat.

"We have not yet received a Statement of Administration Policy, but I am concerned by this announcement today. I am hopeful we will be able to work through many of the Administration's concerns as the farm bill moves through the full Senate and into a conference with the House," he said in a statement.

By Janie Gabbett on 11/6/2007 for Meatingplace.com