A new Farm Bill is crashing on the rocks of the Democratic-controlled Congress' vow of fiscal responsibility.
Most of the policy differences guiding federal farm policies for the next five years have been settled. It is paying for them that's the problem.
It has been nearly two years since debate began on the first Farm Bill in history to include significant funding support for fruit, nut and vegetable farmers who represent the bulk of the San Joaquin Valley's agriculture.
San Joaquin County's economy runs on agriculture: Crop values in 2006 reached $1.68 million, larger than that of 14 states and equal to the combined output of the entire New England region.
The new bill would give farmers who don't grow grain or cotton more federal aid to expand research on new varieties, help growers comply with California's strict environmental law and increase funds to open overseas markets for their crops.
Congress' new pay-as-you-go rules have trimmed the legislation down from $14 billion to $10 billion over the five-year life of the legislation. Most of this new money is for the federal Food Stamp Program, which is included in the Farm Bill.
Since the House and Senate passed their versions of the bill last year, the House has rejected the Senate's financing plan, and the Senate has rejected the House's. President Bush has threatened to veto the both plans - even sending acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner to Stockton on Jan. 21 to deliver this message.