Producers finally have a farm bill

After years of planning and months of limbo, producers finally have a farm bill.

The U.S. Senate voted 80-14 last Wednesday to override President Georgia W. Bush's veto of the farm bill.

The House of Representatives voted 317-109 in favor of the override.

Both of Georgia's Senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, as well as Congressman John Barrow, who represents Burke County, voted in favor of H.R. 6124, labeled the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

The new farm bill includes reforms to commodity programs and payments and adds $10 billion in spending for nutrition assistance and food aid programs. It also provides $4 billion in new funding for conservation programs. Other major provisions include around $1 billion for bio-energy programs and research.

"This farm bill covers a broad swath of America, from farming to hunger to conservation to measures involving good tax policy," Senator Chambliss stated in a news release.