(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus joined forces with North Dakota Senator John Hoeven to build a bipartisan coalition of 33 Senators united around passing the Farm Bill by year's end.  In a letter to leadership, also signed by Senator Jon Tester, the Senators call for any end of year package Congress considers to include the full, five year Farm Bill passed by the Senate in June.

"The Farm Bill is a jobs bill and there is no excuse to put rural jobs on hold any longer. The Senate passed a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill months ago that is ready to be signed into law right now," Baucus said.  "As we work to tackle the debt, it's important to remember the Senate Farm Bill is part of the solution, not part of the problem.  We worked with farmers and ranchers to find smart ways to cut spending by $23 billion while still maintaining strong support for agriculture jobs."

"The farm bill version the Senate passed with broad bipartisan support would not only help our farmers and ranchers, but also save $23 billion dollars toward the deficit," Hoeven said. "Passing a strong farm bill is good for agriculture, good for American consumers and good for the fiscal health of the country."

 "The Senate Farm Bill is a fiscally responsible plan that came together because folks worked across party lines to support America's farmers and ranchers," Tester said.  "The bill preserves a strong safety net while making long-needed reforms to save taxpayers money, and passing it will create jobs,  increase certainty, and safeguard the future of Montana's number one industry."

 The Senate passed a bipartisan Farm Bill in June by a margin of 64 to 35 in June.  It cuts spending by $23 billion and is expected to support 16 million jobs nationwide through programs that support farmers and ranchers, boost trade, and invest in research. One in five Montana jobs is tied to agriculture.

The following Senators joined Baucus, Hoeven and Tester's letter: Sens. Pat Leahy(D-Vt.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Kerry (D-Mass), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Herb Kohl (D.-WI) , Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Nelson (D-Fla), John Thune (R-SD), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.), Robert Casey Jr. (D-Penn), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Udall (D-Col.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Col.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).

Complete text of the letter follows below. 

 December 13, 2012

The Honorable Harry Reid

Senate Majority Leader

S-221, The Capitol

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Senate Minority Leader

S-230, The Capitol

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell:

Last June, the Senate came together and passed a strong bipartisan farm bill that would help producers manage risk, create jobs and reduce the deficit and debt.  It was not an easy task, but members from both sides of the aisle came together and passed farm policies that cut the deficit by over $23 billion while making smart, common-sense reforms that ensure the farm safety net works for both the American taxpayer and the American agricultural producer.

Our country's farmers and ranchers produce the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world, and they need strong farm policies to ensure they can continue providing our nation with a safe and reliable food source.  Thankfully, the 2008 farm bill coverage for most programs extends throughout the 2012 crop year.  But as the 2012 harvest rolls to an end, farmers and ranchers are already working with their bankers to plan for the 2013 crop.  In many parts of the United States, they have already seeded their 2013 winter wheat. 

Agriculture supports over 16 million jobs in our country and is the heart of many rural economies across the United States.  In order for our farmers and ranchers to plan for their future, it is imperative that we provide them the certainty of a full five-year farm bill.  While our farmers produce a domestic supply of food, fiber and fuel, American agricultural products also contribute to a trade surplus.  Just this year, the U.S Department of Agriculture reported that agriculture exports for fiscal year 2013 are projected to reach a record of $143 billion in 2013, resulting in an agricultural trade surplus of over $26 billion. 

While the increase in agriculture exports is welcomed news, our producers are still struggling from the extreme drought, spring deep freeze, and other weather disasters across the country this past season.  To date, 2,196 counties are currently under primary USDA drought disaster designations.  As the historic drought conditions persist, farmers could suffer from the impacts of the drought in the 2013 crop year as well.  Congress has serious challenges to meet before the end of the year; including the farm bill which can help us cut the debt and create jobs.

With each passing day, the difficulty of enacting a farm bill before the end of this Congress grows.   Congress must do the responsible thing and pass a full, five year reform farm bill.  Accordingly, we urge you to consider folding in the Senate's strong bipartisan bill in any end-of-year package.

 American farmers and ranchers put affordable food on our tables, bring in dollars from around the globe with their world-class products, and continue in our strong agricultural tradition.  These are some of the hardest workers in the United States, and it is our turn to show them Washington is fighting for rural America. 

Sincerely,

Max Baucus                                                                                                        John Hoeven

U.S. Senator                                                                                                       U.S. Senator