By Associated Press
Washington, DC – Southern growers are optimistic about the farm bill that passed the Senate Agriculture Committee this week.
Like House legislation that passed in July, the Senate measure would largely continue price supports for commodity crops such as cotton, peanuts and rice that drive the region's agriculture economy.
Sam Spruell, a cotton farmer from Mt. Hope, Alabama, said the legislation is a good compromise. He chairs the Southern Cotton Growers Incorporated, which represents farmers in Alabama and five other Southern states.
Peanut farmers are also pleased. Although the bill would hold peanut price supports roughly flat for another five years, it includes payments for storage costs in bad years.
Opponents say the $280 billion measure benefits wealthy farmers and should devote more to conservation programs, reducing the federal deficit and boosting food aid for the poor.
The farm bill could be voted on in early November.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)