Washington, D.C.- Congressman Rick Berg announced that the House Farm Bill - known formally as the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) - has been positively reported out of the House Committee on Agriculture to the full House for its consideration.

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"Getting a Farm Bill reported out of Committee is a big step forward for the many farmers and ranchers who are looking for the stability and certainty that a long-term Farm Bill reauthorization will bring," stated Berg. "It is now critical for the House act quickly in passing the Farm Bill so the Senate and House can agree on a final bill in their conference committee. This crucial law expires on September 30th 2012, and must be reauthorized quickly so the farmers working on North Dakota's 30,000 farms have the certainty they need to grow and prosper."

While speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives, Berg called on the House leadership to bring the Farm Bill up for a vote by the full House as quickly as possible.

Earlier this year, Berg brought Chairman Lucas to North Dakota to discuss firsthand the importance of developing a new Farm Bill that recognizes the unique challenges facing North Dakota farmers and ranchers. Specifically, Berg stressed the importance of a strong crop insurance program.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the North Dakota economy. North Dakota is the national leader in nine different commodities, including dry edible beans, navy beans, pinto beans, canola, flaxseed, honey, sunflower oil, durum wheat, and spring wheat.

Below are the highlights of the FARRM Act.

* FARRM saves more than $35 billion in mandatory funding.

* FARRM repeals or consolidates more than 100 programs.

* FARRM eliminates direct payments, as well as streamlines and reforms commodity policy, saving taxpayers more than $14 billion

* FARRM improves program integrity and accountability in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that saves taxpayers more than $16 billion.

* FARRM consolidates 23 conservation programs into 13, which improves program delivery to producers and saves taxpayers more than $6 billion.

* FARRM provides regulatory relief, including H.R. 872, to mitigate burdens farmers, ranchers, and rural communities face.

Read this original document at: http://berg.house.gov/press-releases/congressman-berg-ag-committee-approval-of-house-farm-bill-a-big-step-forward-for-north-dakota/