Increases public nutrition programs by $10.3 billion over 10 years, including $7.9 billion for food stamps, $1.25 billion for donations to food banks through The Emergency Food Assistance Program and $1.05 billion for a fresh fruit and vegetable school-snack program.
Denies all supports to people with more than $500,000 adjusted gross income and denies "direct" payments to people with more than $750,000 in farm income. People with more than $1 million AGI not eligible for land stewardship payments unless two-thirds of income is from farming; waivers allowed.
Creates standby $3.8 billion disaster relief fund for farmers and ranchers.
Provides additional $2.4 billion for Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which shares the cost of controlling runoff from fields and feedlots.
Cuts the tax credit for corn-based ethanol by 6 cents to 45 cents a gallon beginning in 2009; creates $1.01 a gallon credit for cellulosic ethanol through 2012; and extends the 54-cent import tariff on ethanol through 2010.
Provides $320 million in loan guarantees for construction of commercial-size plants producing advanced biofuels, such as ethanol, from cellulose.
Provides $300 million in mandatory funding for payments to support production of advanced biofuels including cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel.
Expands Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by $466 million over 10 years to aid promotion, research, marketing and exports of fruits, vegetables, nuts and nursery crops.
This is an important farm bill and I'm happy to see that if President Bush vetoes this, the House AND Senate have enough votes to override that veto. This is a key piece of legislation and will improve agriculture throughout the country and especially here in New York.
