Indiana Farm Bureau praised Congress for the May 15 passage of a new five-year bill that provides crucial funding for agriculture, nutrition and conservation programs.

“This farm bill, while certainly not perfect, represents the best interests of the majority of Indiana’s farmers and other Americans. It increases support for the environment and those in this country who need food assistance while continuing to provide a basic safety net for farmers,” IFB President Don Villwock said. He farms in Knox County.

Farm Bureau expressed appreciation to those members of the Indiana congressional delegation who voted for the farm bill, which passed both houses of Congress by veto-proof margins this week.

“The farm bill is expensive and it took some real courage to support it in the face of the president’s promise to veto it,” Kent Yeager, IFB’s director of public policy said. “I think the majority of our delegation realized that this bill, compromise though it was, will serve the best interests of Hoosiers in the long run.” Supporting the bill were Reps. Steve Buyer, Andre Carson, Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth, Baron Hill, Mark Souder and Pete Visclosky and Sen. Evan Bayh.

The bill was passed May 14 by the U.S. House of Representatives by a 318-106 vote and then passed the U.S. Senate yesterday 81-15.

“Having a farm bill is important to all Hoosiers, not just farmers,” Villwock said. “The stability of having a farm program is important to production agriculture, but it will also guarantee our continued safe food supply and provide a meaningful nutrition program for the neediest in our communities.”

It is estimated that less than 20 percent of the spending authorized by the farm bill will actually go to farmers – more than 70 percent is earmarked for nutrition programs such as food stamps.

“This farm bill makes investments in nutrition, conservation, specialty crops, renewable energy and rural development programs,” Villwock said. “Lawmakers were able to make these increases in spending while keeping intact the current farm bill’s safety net for farmers.”

“While prices for corn, soybeans and other commodities are near their all-time highs, so are fuel, fertilizer, feed and other production expenses and input costs. Moreover, Indiana’s wet spring has made it extremely difficult for many Hoosier farmers to get their crops in the ground and highlights the potential need for a viable safety net,” he added. “Farm Bureau sincerely appreciates the vote of confidence most of the Indiana congressional delegation has given to production agriculture in our state.”