U.S. Senate panel approves farm bill

May 14, 2013

The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a five-year farm bill on Tuesday, which would cut spending while creating new programs and subsidies for farmers. The bill now goes to the Senate floor, with a vote that could be called as early as this month. The farm bill would expand spending on federal crop insurance by 10 per cent, while making cuts to the food stamp portion of the legislation.

The legislation includes concessions to Southern rice and peanut farmers, which Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran strongly advocated for. The bill seeks to eliminate $5 billion in annual direct payment subsidies, which Southern farmers rely on while making it easier for them to qualify for other subsidies if prices decline. The bill calls for $2.4 billion a year in cuts, while the House version would attempt to save $4 billion out of $100 billion annually. A major chunk of the savings comes from direct payments. The savings would be allocated towards deficit reduction, creation of new programs and subsidies for farmers.

The extended farm bill expires Sept. 30.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.