The Senate and House of Representatives are debating the 2006 budget. Over the next several weeks, the two houses of Congress must come to agreement on the budget resolution's plan for deficit reduction.

President George W. Bush's proposed budget means the Senate was looking at a $9 billion cut over five years in agriculture spending. Thursday they voted 46-54 for a proposal by Ag Chairman Saxby Chambliss for a smaller $2.8 billion share within a government-wide five-year deficit reduction plan.

The Senate did not adopt an amendment offered by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Kent Conrad (D-ND) and others, which would have rolled back the instruction to make a $2.8 billion cut to ag spending.

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Chambliss (R-GA) said the Senate's vote maintains authority for the Senate Agriculture Committee to look for deficit reduction along five years and within many different areas of agriculture spending without changing the current Farm Bill.

"I was at the table when the 2002 Farm Bill was negotiated for our farmers, and we are going to keep the current policy of the Farm Bill in place," said Chambliss in Senate debate on the budget resolution.

Chambliss noted that the benefit to farmers and ranchers from agriculture's $2.8 billion share out of all federal spending cuts means less government borrowing which could lead to favorable interest rates for farmers and ranchers. In all probability, Chambliss said in a release, the $2.8 billion share could be returned to them in interest savings alone.

The National Farmers Union expressed disappointment in the outcome of the vote, saying the budget unfairly attempts to balance the federal budget on the backs of American farmers.

"We are very disappointed the Senate rejected (the) amendment to eliminate the huge cuts in agriculture spending programs called for in the Senate budget legislation for FY 06," said NFU President Dave Frederickson.

The National Farmers Union joins members of the Senate in reminding Congress that American farmers have already contributed greatly to deficit reduction.

"Congress and the President made a commitment to rural America in 2002 to adequately fund farm, nutrition, conservation, research and rural development programs thru 2007," said Frederickson. "Passage of this budget reneges on that promise and re-opens the 2002 farm bill after just three years of the six year commitment," he said.