Senate Passes Farm Bill, Sugar Vote Crop Insurance - How it's working for cane USDA WASDE June Report on US Sugar Supply and Use

摘要

Readers of this column over the past few months will have had early warning of the volatility and uncertainty that ensnared farm bill deliberations in the Senate. Unfortunately, sugar had the first taste of things to come. In an early procedural voteto table (set aside) Shaheen's amendment to completely dismantle the program, we eked out a 50-46 victory on a vote that saw many traditional supporters voting against us and traditional opponents voting with us - it was surreal.After that difficult vote, the Senate was finally able to hammer out agreement on a package of 73 germane amendments. Two anti-sugar votes were included in that package. AToomey amendment to eliminate the improvements in the program in the 2008 farm bill was defeated by a 53-46 margin, with Sugar Caucus Co-Chair Senator Landrieu successfully dragging undecided Members to the cause in the final hours on the floor.