The Senate passed the 2007 Farm Bill
on December 14, 2007. Vermont again has a prominent seat at the
table as Farm Bill decisions are made, and Vermont again is
a major Farm Bill winner. Sen. Patrick Leahy – the panel’s
most senior member and former chairman of the Committee – as
in earlier years he has been working to secure Vermont
priorities in the bill. Highest among Leahy’s priorities has
been extending and strengthening the MILC Program, cleanup
funding for Lake Champlain, securing added help for
Vermont’s rapidly growing organic sector, strengthening
conservation programs that have been the most important
ongoing sources of funds for environmental and water quality
improvements in Vermont, improvements in the Food Stamp
Program and other nutrition initiatives, rural development
funding for the Northeast Kingdom, support for Vermont’s
growing renewable energy industry and for Vermont-branded
products and other Vermont value-added initiatives.
Then Cong. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),
Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
toast a victory for Vermont Dairy Farmers on February 1,
2006 as an extension for the beneficial MILC Program was
approved by Congress.
