Several farm groups are applauding Congressional passage of the farm bill. Most of those groups are also asking the President to reconsider his veto threat. In fact - National Farmers Union President Tom Buis (BUY-us) says the strong votes in the House and Senate should send a clear signal to the President that vetoing the farm bill is the wrong move. While Buis says no bill is perfect - he says the bill approved by Congress this week is a good bill.

National Cotton Council Chairman Larry McClendon agrees - calling the measure the best option available for production agriculture. He says farmers need the bill in place now - and notes enacting the legislation will provide a predictable safety net for farmers and their lenders.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says the farm bill strikes a key balance. When members of the House and Senate voted for the bipartisan conference report - he says they stood up for America’s farmers and ranchers. He says the bill gives U.S. farmers and ranchers assurance and stability at a time when domestic food security is more important than ever. He says that’s why Farm Bureau members are disappointed that President Bush intends to veto the bill.

The National Pork Producers Council says they accomplished their goal of maintaining the competitiveness of the U.S. pork industry with this farm bill. NPPC President Bryan Black says NPPC is not only pleased with provisions included in the measure - but also provisions that were kept out of the measure - like the ban on packer ownership.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging final farm bill approval, too. NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs says the bill doesn’t accomplish all of the free-market reforms cattle producers hoped for - but does contain some areas of improvement over the 2002 Farm Bill. NCBA prefers the conference report to a reversion to permanent farm law or a long-term extension of current law.

Other groups releasing statements of support for the farm bill include the National Association of Conservation Districts, National Sorghum Producers, National Corn Growers Association and R-CALF USA.