A3o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 23,1981 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutritionrand Forestry last week approved an omnibus four-year Farm Bill, and ordered it reported to the full Senate for action Senator Jesse Helms, chairman of the Committee (R-N.C.), praised the 17 Senators on the Committee for their work on the bill, which included more than a month of hearings followed by two weeks of drafting the bill. He said, “While we have had differences, this bill reflects an effort to reach a bi-partisan solution to our many farm problems. Our compromise does not go as far toward market orientation as did my original proposal, but it does provide a mechanism for farmers to obtain their profits in the marketplace.” The Congressional Budget office estimates that the farm bill package will cost about $7 billion over the four-year period. Senate action on the bill is ex pected to start about the last week in June. The 1981 Farm Bill is designed to improve on and refine the provisions in the 1977 Farm Bill, which expire September 30. Helms pointed out, “This is the first time in the history of the Agriculture Committee that we have had to write a Farm Bill under severe budget constraints. In the past, the sky has been the limit.” He said, “This has made our task that much more difficult.” The two weeks of legislative drafting called “mark-up” of the Farm Bill came to an end with a vote on a revised compromise on the commodity programs. The compromise 'reduced the level of budget outlays on many of the programs, which had gone con siderably over budget guidelines in earlier considerations. Helms had 'earlier told the Senators, “We have marched up the hill (on spending), and now GEBHART’S , SANDBLASTING I RESTORATION INC. Box 109 AA, R.D. 1 Abbottstown, Pa. 17301 - 717-259-9868 • Water Blasting • Chemical Cleaning • Brick I Stone Re pointing t Water proofing M> I*WO Helms says “pleased” with conservation we’re going to have to march back down again.” Helms had special words- of praise for Senator Walter “Dee” of KeiTtucky, the ranking Democrat on the Com mittee, for his cooperation and assistance in drafting „ the legislation. In commenting on some of the maior decisions reached by the Committee, Helms - said he was especially pleased to have a strong _ resource conservation title; a food stamp program that incorporates much-needfid measures for eliminating fraud, abuse and soaring costs; and commodity programs that contain im provements which make them more effective and should allow for greater opportunities for profits by farmers. The entire package of con servation proposals in the Helms Farm BUI (S. 884) was accepted by the Committee, along with some additional provisions offered by other Committee members. FToposhls adopted included A special Areas Conservation Program designed to target technical assistance and funds at localities having the most severe soil and water conservation problems. A program to permit the SoU Conservation Service to use volunteers in conservation work. Permanent authority in law for the popular Resource Con servation and Development Program. Amendments to the Small Watershed Program to speed up the approval process for local soil and water conservation measures, thereby saving local sponsors time and money. Senator Helms said, “These conservation initiatives / are designed to strengthen Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ local programs, protecting our valuable soil and water resources that are so vital to producing food and fiber, and maintaining a Legislative Roundui title, reports on Farm favorable balance of trade. In recent years we’ve tended to ignore these problems, and I welcome the opportunity to return to basics in soil and water con servation ” In the commodity programs, for wheat, feed grains, upland cotton and rice, target prices and loan authority are continued for an additional four years. Minimum target prices are specified for each year of the bill, with discretionary authority in the* Secretary of Agriculture to adjust upward according to change in the cost of production. A crop-specific acreage reduction program is authorized to replace the current set-aside authority, and a land diversion program is provided. Minimum target prices and loan 'levels are: Wheat; target prices starting at $4.20 per bushel in 1982 and increasing 20 cents a year through 1985; loan levels of $3.50 per bushel. Feed Grains: target prices for com starting at $2.80 per bushel in 1982 and increasing 15 cents a year through 1985; loan levels of $2.60 per bushel for com. The Secretary shall set comparable levels for other feed grains. Cotton: target prices of 71 cents per pound for 1982, 76 cents for 1983, 85 cents for 1984, and 93 -cents for 1985; loan levels of 55 cents per pound. \ ' Rice: target prices of $11.23 per hundredweight for 1982, $12.14 for 1983, $12.70 for 1984, and $13.50 for 1985; loan level based on 75 percent of the target price. Other provisions of the omnibus bill include: Dairy: price support for milk at between 75 and 90 percent of parity, with a 70 percent minimum if Government costs or purchases of dairy products are projected to exceed certain levels; and semi annual adjustment on April 1 if necessary to maintain support price at 70 percent. Peanuts: loan levels of $631, for quota peanuts the four years; a poundage quota of 1.3 million tons per years; and maintaining‘the national acreage allotment at 1.6 - million acres. Soybeans: loan level based on 75 percent-of recent average soybean market prices, but not less than $5.02 per bushel.