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Despite a lot of last minute confusion over missing pages, all of the 2008 Farm Bill is now law minus the 34 pages containing the trade and foreign food subsidy title, which was omitted from the copy sent to President Bush for his signature.

On Thursday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., issued the following statement:

“Following veto override votes of 316-108 in the House and 82-13 in the Senate, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 has been enacted into law, with the exception of the bill’s trade title.

“The trade title was included in the conference report passed by Congress but was inadvertently left out of the official copy of the farm bill that the president vetoed. Today, the House also took action to correct the clerical error that resulted in the unintentional omission of the trade title from the enrolled farm bill and ensure that the entire farm bill is enacted into law swiftly. Most of the farm bill is now law and the Administration can begin implementing the new programs and policies immediately.”

North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan called the veto override a victory for America’s farmers and ranchers.

“For the family farmers who are hard at work across rural America today, this is a big victory,” Dorgan said. “This bill has followed a long and tortured trail but I’m proud to say it’s done and it will deliver for our rural families.

“I was disappointed that the President decided to throw one final roadblock in front of this effort to promote good farm policy. But in the end, Congress had the final say. That’s good for producers in North Dakota and across the nation.”

Minnesota’s two Senators praised the bipartisan efforts in the new farm legislation, saying those efforts were a big help in passing the 2008 Farm Bill by such wide margins.

“Today’s overwhelming vote was an indication that we produced a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill that is good for our farmers and ranchers and essential to our state,” said Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Republican Norm Coleman said, “Today’s vote to override the farm bill veto is a testament to the capacity of Americans to work together, regardless of regional or political affiliation, to do what is right for the nation. This bipartisan victory comes from a common recognition that this bill is about food security for every American who goes to the grocery store, as well as for those who cannot afford to.”

National Farmers Union president Tom Buis said shortly after the Senate’s override action that the veto rejection votes in the House and Senate mark the end of a long journey for the farm bill.

“Today’s vote brings a near completion to a long progress that many Americans have been waiting for,” Buis said. “The hurdles to completing this legislation have been many, but Congress has done a good job under very difficult circumstances. I appreciate the continued leadership and perseverance to complete the bill.”

The House of Representatives has already taken action to correct the clerical error that resulted in the trade title omission and, according to Senate leadership, that body will deal with the problem when they return in June after a one-week vacation.

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