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NCGA
Encouraged by Energy Title in Farm Bill (11-07-01)
By unanimous vote
on Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition
approved the Energy and Forestry Titles of Sen. Tom Harkin's, D-Iowa,
farm bill proposal, despite attempts by Sen. Thad Cochran,R-Miss., to
turn the titles' mandatory spending requirements into discretionary
spending. The committee has resumed markup on the Trade Title.
"We are encouraged
by the inclusion of the Energy Title. Sen. Harkin's Energy Title expresses
the desire of the Senate to enact a national renewable fuels standard
(RFS)," said Tim Hume, a Walsh, Colo.,, corn grower and president
of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). "It also requires
the USDA to promote renewable energy production, and creates a grant
and loan program that would help set up farmer-owned renewable energy
cooperatives that produce electricity."
A renewable fuels
standard is a major goal of the NCGA Task Force on Ethanol. "As
far as the research effort on renewable fuels goes," Hume added,
"we need to make sure that corn is on the same footing as other
energy sources, such as biomass fuels. We look forward to working with
the Committee staff to suggest improvements as the process unfolds."
The committee will
turn to the Nutrition and Research Titles on Thursday. The Commodity
and Conservation Titles are scheduled for Friday.
For more information
on farm bill, log onto the NCGA
website.
Last reviewed
November 7, 2001
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