Agriculture Press Releases

10/14/2004

Farm Bankruptcy Legislation Passes Congress The House and Senate have passed S. 2864, equivalent to legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison), which renews Chapter 12 bankruptcy protections for family farmers until June 30, 2005 and applies retroactively to January 1, 2004.

10/08/2004

Smith Supports Ag-Energy Provisions in Corporate Tax Bill Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, voted in favor of the American Jobs Creation Act. This legislation ends tariffs on American manufacturers and farmers and provides tax relief to domestic manufacturers to make them more competitive both at home and abroad. Specifically, Smith was pleased with some of the agriculture related provisions.

09/29/2004

Smith Introduces Legislation to Permanently Extend Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Provisions for Farmers Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) today announced at a press conference that he is introducing legislation that would make the provisions of Chapter 12 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code permanent. Chapter 12 provides bankruptcy protection for family farmers.

09/29/2004

Smith Applauds Michigan’s Selection as One of Three States to Receive Full WIC Special Project Grants Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) today applauded the Administration for awarding the State of Michigan a full WIC Special Project Grant of $456,288. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman awarded approximately $1.7 million to seven States and the District of Columbia. These grants are awarded to help States develop, evaluate, and implement new innovative methods of service delivery to meet the changing needs of WIC participants.

09/28/2004

Smith, Baldwin Hold Press Conference in Move to Restore Protections for Family Farmers Congressman Nick Smith (R-Addison) and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, September 29 to introduce legislation to restore Chapter 12 bankruptcy protections for farmers. While family farmers throughout the country have suffered for years because of uncertainty about the availability of farm bankruptcy protections, the recent hurricanes in the Southeast have increased the urgency that Congress act now. Congressman Smith will point out some of the problems in delaying permanent solutions to problems with Chapter 12.

07/27/2004

Smith Announces Grant for Agricultural Marketing Projects Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) today announced a $52,000 matching grant for the Michigan Department of Agriculture to support agricultural market research and demonstration projects. The grant, provided under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program, will be used to explore new and innovative approaches to marketing U.S. food and agricultural products and improve the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.

07/22/2004

House Ag Committee Passes Country of Origin Labeling Bill Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) said today that voluntary country-of-origin labeling legislation passed by the House Agriculture Committee is a good compromise. The "Food Promotion Act of 2004” will amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish standards for a voluntary country-of-origin labeling of produce, meat (including beef, pork, veal, lamb) and seafood.

06/30/2004

Smith Comments on Negative BSE Case Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison), a senior member on the House Committee on Agriculture and former USDA official, stated:

06/09/2004

Smith Announces Sign Up for St. Joseph Watershed Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) announced today that farmers in the St. Joseph watershed can begin signing up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) beginning July 6 and continuing through July 30.

05/28/2004

Smith Clarification on Emerald Ash Borer Funding “I have received inquiries about whether the Bush Administration has approved Emerald Ash Borer control funding. The $16.5 million of funding for Michigan has been approved and the continuation of the Emerald Ash Borer eradication program will continue on schedule.”

05/27/2004

Smith Assured by USDA of Emerald Ash Borer Funding Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, visited today with Dale Moore, Chief of Staff for USDA Secretary Ann Veneman and Dr. Richard Dunkle, Deputy Director, at the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), to discuss the Emerald Ash Borer Eradication Program.

05/19/2004

Smith Announces Selection of the the St. Joseph Watershed as a USDA Priority Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) today announced the St. Joseph watershed as a USDA priority, making landowners eligible for Conservation Security Program (CSP) funding.

03/19/2004

Smith Comments on Additional Federal Funding for Emerald Ash Borer Eradication Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) stated, “Today USDA announced that it will provide an additional $28.2 million in emergency funding for the emerald ash borer (EAB) eradication program. Michigan will receive a significant portion of this funding to use for EAB-infested tree removal, surveillance activities, and quarantine enforcement.”

12/31/2003

Smith Comments on BSE Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison), a senior member on the House Committee on Agriculture and former USDA official, stated:

12/12/2003

Smith Announces Funding for Agricultural Learning Center In an attempt to finalize federal spending for the 2004 fiscal year, the House passed an omnibus spending bill that consolidates seven of the thirteen annual appropriations bills into one measure. Within the education portion of the bill, Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) was able to add language securing $92,200 for the Lenawee Intermediate School District to fund the Lenawee Agricultural Learning Center.

11/21/2003

Smith Comments on Agriculture Provisions in Energy Bill Congressman Nick Smith (R-Addison) praised conferees on the Energy Policy Act, H.R. 6, for including provisions beneficial to agriculture. H.R. 6 passed the House 246-180, and is currently being debated in the Senate.

11/21/2003

Smith Inroduces Bill to Protect Family Farms Today, Congressman Nick Smith introduced bill H.R. 3540, which extends Chapter 12 Bankruptcy provisions of Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code to help the family-size farm by allowing them to avoid forced sales of equipment when they attempt to reorganize.

07/25/2003

Smith Criticizes Michigan's Administration of the Food Stamp Program U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) at a Food Stamp hearing with USDA Under Secretary Eric Bost described as very troubling the findings of the USDA, that the error rate in Michigan's administration of the Food Stamp Program far exceeds the national average.

06/11/2003

Speaker Hastert to Testify at Nick Smith Biotech Hearing On Thursday, June 12 at 10:15 A.M. Chairman Nick Smith of the House Research Subcommittee on Science will hold a hearing to examine plant biotechnology research and development activities relevant to African food crops and the challenges and opportunities involved in these activities. Speaker of the House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert is scheduled to testify and will discuss the importance of sound science in driving trade policy, as well as the promise biotechnology holds to grow the U.S. economy and to reduce hunger in sub-Saharan Africa.

05/02/2003

Smith Includes Help for the Emerald Ash Borer Representative Nick Smith (MI-7) utilized his position as a senior member on the House Committee on Agriculture to gain support to aid in the eradication of the Emerald Ash Borer.

04/04/2003

Representative Nick Smith Honored by Science Organizations Two Washington D.C. based science coalitions today honored Chairman Nick Smith (R-MI) who, as leader of the House Science Subcommittee on Research, has championed numerous efforts for which the agricultural and biological science communities are grateful. The Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC) focuses on the vitality of research in the biological sciences across agencies including the National Science Foundation. The Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM) works to raise awareness and support for the agricultural research community, especially through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

02/13/2003

Smith Statement on Drought Assistance U.S. Representative Nick Smith (MI-7) made the following comments regarding the drought assistance provision for agriculture in the omnibus appropriation bill passed on February 13:

12/06/2002

Smith and Kaptur Host Biofuels Conference Congressman Nick Smith (MI-07) and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) will host the Ohio/Michigan Biofuels Conference in Perrysburg, Ohio on Monday. The conference will address issues, policies, and opportunities concerning the development of ethanol and diesel fuel from agricultural crops.

11/19/2002

Smith: Less Money in Future Farm Programs U.S. Rep. Nick Smith (MI-7) spoke to agriculture faculty, graduate students, and farm leaders at Michigan State University on federal agriculture policy of the past, present, and future. "Farmers should start saving up for hard times ahead," said Smith, "Rainy days" will be coming in the next Farm Bill and farmers need to reduce spending and push for greater efficiency."

09/19/2002

Smith Comments on Bacteria Theft from Michigan State University Lab U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) reacted to the theft of samples of a swine pathogen from a laboratory on the campus of Michigan State University. Sometime on September 12 or 13, research materials, including lab records and small samples of a bacteria held for vaccine development, were taken from the Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building.

09/13/2002

Farmers Union Recognizes Rep. Nick Smith for Family Farm Leadership National Farmers Union presented its Presidential Award for Leadership this week to Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., for his efforts to target farm payments to family farmers during the 2002 farm bill process.

08/22/2002

Smith Criticizes USDA for Proposed Dairy Market Loss Payments for 2002 U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) today criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its proposed rules that would pay the very large dairy operations more per pound than the average family dairy farm.

06/20/2002

Smith and Grassley Meet to Continue Work on Farm Payment Limitations U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) and U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) are working together to establish real payment limitations on farm programs. To the disappointment of Smith and Grassley, the farm bill, which gives 82 percent of the farm subsidy payments to 17 percent of the largest producers, was signed into law last month. The following are Senator Grassley’s comments to Iowa agriculture news editors made Tuesday:

05/22/2002

Smith Amendment Added To Bioterrorism Package The Health Security and Anti-Bioterrorism bill passed by congress May 22nd included U.S. Representative Nick Smith’s (MI-07) amendment to protect the nation’s food supply. The legislation incorporated, H.R. 3965, a bill Smith introduced in March to protect agricultural field crops into final conference language.

05/21/2002

Smith Addresses The Future Of International Agriculture Trade And Research Today U.S. Representative Nick Smith (MI-07) told guests of the Brazilian Caucus and Rubens Antonio Barbosa, Brazilian Ambassador to the United States that, "Agriculture research is the vehicle that will enable our two agricultural nations to be able to feed the world in the future."

05/02/2002

Smith / Kind Motion To Include Real Payment Limitations In Farm Bill Fails 172 - 251 The motion to recommit offered by U.S. Representatives Nick Smith (R-MI) and Ron Kind (D-WI) today failed in the House with a vote of 172 - 251. The motion was the second attempt by Smith to incorporate real payment limits in the farm bill.

04/26/2002

Smith Expresses Disappointment at Exclusion of Real Payment Limits from Farm Bill U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI), who has led the fight in the House for implementing real payment limitations in the Farm Bill, said today that he is disappointed that politics won out over good policy in regard to payment caps for farm subsidies. Rep. Smith was the author of a motion to instruct farm bill conferees to include strong payment limitations in the farm bill. That motion passed the House by a vote of 265 - 158 on April 18.

04/18/2002

Smith Wins on Farm Subsidy Limits U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) offered a Motion to Instruct House Conferees to include payment limitations for commodity price support programs in the final version of the farm bill. The motion passed this morning on a vote of 265 - 158, with strong bipartisan support. The motion calls for using some of the money saved, estimated between $2 - 4 billion, to increase funding for conservation programs and agriculture research.

03/19/2002

Smith Announces That Farm Bill Is Progressing U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI), senior member of the House Agricultural Committee, announced today that the Farm Bill Conferees expect to complete negotiations and report the bill to the floor the week of April 9, 2002.

02/12/2002

Senator Grassley Praises Smith For Work On Payment Limitations Today U. S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI), who has led the charge for payment limitations during the House Farm Bill debate was commended by the measure’s Senate sponsor, Charles Grassley (R-IA), who stated, "Congressman Smith's payment limitation in the House was the beginning, and his leadership will be important in keeping payment limitations in the final version of the farm bill. Changing the status quo is hard to do in Washington and Congressman Smith’s work on this legislation is key to making sure the farm bill truly helps the family farmer."

02/07/2002

Smith Lauds Senate Adoption of Farm Bill Payment Limitations By a vote of 66-31, the Senate today moved to implement an amendment establishing a $275,000 limit on federal farm payments. The amendment then passed by voice vote. The issue has been one of growing contention as the Farm Bill has progressed through Congress. U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI), who has lead the charge for real payment limitations during House Farm Bill debate, commended the Senate’s action.

10/12/2001

Congressman Nick Smith Receives Commendation The governing body of the world’s largest organization of plant health scientists recently adopted a resolution to commend Representative Nick Smith (R-Michigan) for his leadership in supporting the work of its more than 5,000 members. The American Phytopathological Society (APS) cited Smith’s work on a bill that would provide critical funding needed to help combat plant diseases that routinely cause billions of dollars in crop loss each year as the reason for their official Commendation.

10/05/2001

Megafarms Win $1.3 Billion Taxpayer Subsidy The Farm Security Act of 2001 passed, as expected in the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 291-120. U.S. Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) voted for the bill with deep reservations because the bill failed to limit price supports to millionaire corporate farms at the expense of small farms.

07/12/2001

Smith Speaks out on High Energy Prices in the Farm Sector Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference today expressing his concerns about the high energy costs for farmers. "In addition to being faced with continuing low commodity prices, farmers are now being adversely affected by high energy costs," Smith said. "This situation exacerbates the challenges facing farmers, and has significantly impacted agricultural bottom lines."

07/05/2001

Smith Announces USDA Grant to Chestnut Producers Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) today announced a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to aid in the marketing of Michigan chestnuts. The award will provide the Midwest Nut Producers Council with $99,900 for equipment and test marketing of shelled chestnuts.

06/29/2001

Smith's Amendment to Agriculture Appropriation Bill Passes U.S. Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) had one of his energy conservation bills passed as an amendment to the fiscal year 2002 agriculture appropriations bill today. The provision, expected to become law, could eventually reduce the amount of natural gas used to produce nitrogen fertilizers.

06/06/2001

Smith to Hold Agriculture Field Briefing to Review Federal Farm Policy Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) today announced that he will be holding an Agriculture Committee field briefing on federal farm policy at the Lansing State Capitol building on Monday, June 11th. Over twenty of Michigan's top producer groups are expected to present testimony and voice their priorities for upcoming farm bill reauthorization.

06/06/2001

Smith Bill Extending Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Protection for Family Farmers Passes House Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed 411 to 1 H.R. 1914, a bill that will extend Chapter 12 bankruptcy protections for family farmers an additional four months. H.R. 1914 was introduced by U.S. Congressmen Nick Smith (R-Addison, MI) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) on May 17, 2001. Chapter 12 protection allows family farmers additional options to reorganize debt rather than liquidate their assets when filing for bankruptcy.

06/06/2001

Smith Introduces Legislation to Expand Farm Program Payment Eligibility Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) introduced legislation today that would expand the number of agricultural producers eligible for Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) under the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act. Smith said the legislation is needed so that farmers are not placed at an unfair disadvantage simply because they are not enrolled in farm contract base acreage. "Current base acreage for Freedom to Farm programs was determined way back in 1991," Smith said. "Therefore, farmers that have decided to go into farming in the past ten years are not eligible to receive loans or LDPs unless they have purchased farmland that was enrolled in 1991."

05/23/2001

Smith Introduces Bill to Extend Further Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Protection for Farmers U.S. Congressman Nick Smith (R-MI) today announced introduction of legislation to extend Chapter 12 provision of the Bankruptcy Code for family farmers. Chapter 12 protection allows family farmers additional options to reorganize debt rather than liquidate their assets when filing for bankruptcy. Smith's bill follows enactment of H.R. 256, a bill that retroactively extended Chapter 12 and was signed by the President.

02/28/2001

House Passes Smith Legislation to Protect Family Farmers In a move to protect family farms, the U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed legislation offered by Congressman Nick Smith (R-Addison) to temporarily extend the Chapter 12 Bankruptcy provision of Title XI of the Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 12 protection allows family farmers the option to reorganize their debt rather than liquidate their assets when filing for bankruptcy.

10/27/2000

Smith Dairy Legislation Passes Congress, Sent to President for Signature U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-Addison) today announced that the Dairy Market Enhancement Act of 2000, which he introduced in the House, passed both chambers of Congress yesterday evening by unanimous consent.

10/16/2000

Smith Statement on Release of Bovine TB Emergency Funds "I'm pleased that the Administration has joined with many of us in Congress in recognizing the importance of immediately addressing the serious problem of Bovine TB.

09/21/2000

Smith Promotes Benefits of Agricultural Biotechnology "I've seen just how important it is for us as lawmakers to use sound scientific decision-making in regulations, an approach that entails much more than just picking and choosing the scientific studies we want and interpreting them how we want in order to achieve policy goals."

08/10/2000

Smith Comments on USDA Agriculture Disaster Designation As a result of this designation, farmers in these areas will be eligible for emergency low-interest loans.

07/20/2000

Smith Contributes Subcommittee Findings to Congressional Biotech Caucus "Agricultural biotechnology holds tremendous potential to provide consumers safe and nutritious foods, feed a growing world population, protect the environment, aid farmers, and lower costs to consumers."

07/05/2000

Smith's Bankruptcy Protection Bill Passed in House "Chapter 12 is a significant risk management tool for farmers. Given the current low commodity prices and the many natural disasters our nation's farmers have faced, flexible bankruptcy provisions for farmers must continue."

05/31/2000

Smith Introduces Loan Deficiency Payment Bill "Loan deficiency payments, otherwise known as LDPs, were a key component of the 1996 farm bill and have helped cushion the blow of low commodity prices and restricted demand."

05/25/2000

House Passes Comprehensive Farm Aid Package U.S. Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) today voted for a vital farm aid package that enacts direct payments to America's farms and includes important reforms to the federally-funded crop insurance program.

04/13/2000

Smith Releases Report on Genetically-Modified Plants Committee on Science Subcommittee on Basic Research Chairman Nick Smith (R-MI) today released a report assessing the benefits and risks of genetically-modified plants and plant-derived foods, and recommending changes in federal regulation.

01/31/2000

Smith to Focus on Federal Farm Policy Senior House Agriculture Committee member Nick Smith (R-Addison) attended a bi-partisan retreat at the Wye River Retreat in Maryland. "We made some progress last year on a wide variety of issues affecting the farming community but there is still much work to be done. The Maryland retreat was a great opportunity to cast partisan differences aside and discuss how both parties, working together, can develop a federal agricultural policy that continues an abundant, healthy supply of food at reasonable prices.

01/06/2000

Smith Says Farm Policy to be an Issue for 2000 Senior House Agriculture Committee Member Nick Smith (R-Addison) today predicted that some changes to the current market-oriented Farm Bill could take place this year.

12/03/1999

Smith Says WTO Negotiators Need Flexibility Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) was one of more than twenty members of the Agriculture Committee to attend as delegates to ensure that the concerns of American farmers and ranchers were fully represented in the negotiations.