Passage of the Feingold-Grassley-Harkin Amendment prohibiting forced binding arbitration clauses in agricultural contracts: Mandatory binding arbitration clauses are used by companies to force farmers to give up their rights to settle a dispute in court in the event a dispute rises between the company and the grower. These clauses are usually accepted under duress -- farmers have no other choice. Prohibiting binding arbitration clauses could significantly stem the tide of abusive contracts. This amendment passed on Thursday, 64 to 31.

Passage of the Johnson/Wellstone/Grassley packer ownership ban: This amendment bans packer ownership of livestock within 14 days of slaughter. The ban doesn't apply to packers with less than 2% of annual slaughter of a type of livestock and it exempts farmer-owned co-ops. This amendment passed on Thursday, 51 to 46.

Failure of the Bond environmental law waiver amendment: This amendment would have allowed the President waive any environmental law that affects farming. This would permit waiver of even the most basic provisions of the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act, the management of hazardous materials, the enforcement of wetland protection laws, the preparation of environmental impact statements, and the registration of pesticides. Waivers could be obtained by any operation, including factory and corporate farms. The Amendment was tabled on Thursday, 53 to 43.

Failure of the Cochran-Roberts Amendment: Senators Cochran (R-MS) and Roberts (R-KS) offered their substitute commodity and conservation title amendment on Tuesday night. That bill would have eliminated the Conservation Security Program, lowered WHIP and FPP and provided even more livestock subsidy money under EQIP. The amendment failed, 55-40.

Failure of the Hutchinson-Lincoln House Farm Bill amendment: Senators Lincoln and Hutchinson made an attempt Wednesday to substitute the Senate’s bill with the House Farm Bill. This attempt fortunately failed, 55-40.