WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The U.S. Senate on June 10 voted to pass the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, better known as the 2013 Farm Bill.

U.S. agriculture groups said the bill addresses many of their priorities, and urged the U.S. House of Representatives to move the bill quickly to conference with the Senate before the August recess.

“The bill passed this evening represents many of the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) priorities and is a critical step toward strengthening the farm safety net, protecting planting flexibility, improving conservation, bolstering exports and feeding our nation’s hungry,” said ASA President Danny Murphy.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said the bill’s revenue-based Agriculture Risk Coverage Program, designed to complement producers’ individual crop insurance policies, will provide protection against multi-year price and production declines that adjusts with the marketplace.   

“This legislation is long overdue and our work is still not done,” said NCGA President Pam Johnson.  “Our focus now turns to the House of Representatives with hopes that they schedule floor time to consider the legislation as soon as possible. We look forward to continuing to partner with agriculture advocates to pass a new common-sense, reform-minded farm bill.”

National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Bing Von Bergen, a wheat farmer from Moccasin, Montana, U.S. said it is hopeful a new bill can be signed by September.

“The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 is vital policy that will help provide certainty to our farmers and support more than 16 million U.S. jobs. Importantly, the bill passed today cuts $24 billion over existing spending,” he said. “NAWG was encouraged to see Senate Democrats and Republicans working together to pass this important bill. It has become a rare day when leaders of the two parties come together on truly bipartisan legislation. We are grateful Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran were so committed to bringing their caucuses together to ensure our growers have strong farm policy over the next five years.”