Fiscal Cliff Bill Includes Farm Bill Extension

The bill passed by Congress New Year's day to avert the fiscal cliff included a nine-month extension to the "authorities provided by each provision of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008," also known as the "Farm Bill." President Obama signed the bill Jan. 2.

The extension is better then nothing, said American Soybean Association President Danny Murphy. "As we have been working with our colleagues on Capitol Hill for more than two years on a comprehensive, five-year bill, we are very disappointed that Congress was not able to come together and pass a new bill in the best interests of farmers," he said. "However, the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill allows important foreign market development, disaster assistance, and farm safety net programs to continue." The press release is (here).

(See ITT's Online Archives 08051905 for summary of the 2008 bill.)