TIFTON, Georgia– Georgia peanut farmers are pleased with the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approval of the Supplemental Appropriations bill which includes language to provide $74 million for the payment of storage, handling and other associated costs for the 2007 crop of peanuts. The FY 2007 Supplemental Appropriations bill passed the full House Appropriations Committee by a vote of 36 to 28.

“Peanut Producers are very pleased with the House Appropriations Committee including 2007 peanut storage and handling fees in the Supplemental Appropriations legislation,” says Armond Morris, Georgia Peanut Commission chairman. “We know we have a long way to go but we appreciate Georgia’s congressional leadership on this issue.”

In the 2002 Farm Bill storage and handling fees were not covered in the legislation for the 2007 peanut crop and that has many farmers worried about how they are going to make ends meet. Farmers have already felt the increase of high fuel and fertilizer costs, Morris says, and they can’t take much more.

“I am very pleased that the full House Appropriations Committee has backed this important program,” Congressman Bishop says. “We still have a few more hurdles until the bill becomes finalized, but I have faith that we have garnered enough support to see the peanut language through passage by the entire House of Representatives.”

“Ensuring that the peanut industry remains strong always has been one of my top priorities. Agriculture is the heart and soul of the economy of the Second Congressional District as well as many parts of the nation,” Congressman Bishop says. “The vote by the House Appropriations Committee today will guarantee that Georgia peanut farmers will get the financial help they need to store their peanuts before they get to market.”

To become final, the bill also must pass the House of Representatives and then the Senate. Consideration of the bill by the House of Representatives should occur sometime next week. Peanut growers are encouraged to visit, www.AmericanPeanuts.comand write their congressman regarding funding for storage and handling this year. The Georgia Peanut Commission has a sample letter that growers can use when contacting their congressman through the website, www.AmericanPeanuts.com.