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Senate Farm Bill Likely to Be Marked Up in Third Week of Sept.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is aiming to mark up the 2007 farm bill during the third week of September, an Agriculture staffer said today. Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is set to release a complete proposal shortly after the Senate returns from August recess, spokeswoman Kate Cyrul said.

Aides have circulated private "discussion drafts" of every title except for the commodities element of the bill, which contains income support programs for grain, corn, cotton and other crops. That title - which Agriculture ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) has called "the heart of the farm bill" - has not yet been circulated, and staff don't expect a draft next week.

Aides have been meeting to discuss the discussion draft proposals and to offer feedback.

"Folks always want to offer suggestions," said one committee staffer, but "it's all kind of hypothetical" at this point.

Aides are also working to secure additional funding for the bill, with staff members consulting with aides on the Senate Finance Committee to explore options.

Harkin remains focused on his top priority of conservation, almost to the exclusion of other farm bill priorities, sources on and off Capitol Hill say.

"The chairman is notoriously known for his focus on conservation - it's his baby," said one aide. "If the chairman's in power, that's going to be one of those things that he chooses to focus on."

Harkin's office disputed the characterization.

"You can read the record of what Chairman Harkin has proposed - restoring a portion of the conservation funds that have been taken away and adding more than any other proposal in the Senate for both nutrition and energy," Cyrul said.

The House has already passed a farm bill. The current farm bill expires Sept. 30.

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