MONTE VISTA — U.S. Senator Ken Salazar is pleased with the 2008 Farm Bill, but says its provisions must be used. “The only way the farm bill will work is if those who are interested know what’s available,” said Salazar.

Salazar celebrated food security and other issues addressed by the 2008 Farm Bill during his stop at the Monte Vista Co-op last week on his “Putting the Farm Bill to Work Tour.”

He said the farm bill will create investments in agriculture over the next five years, providing the framework for 2008-2013. The Farm Bill is renewed every five years.

The legislation works to make food safer, provide fresh fruits and vegetables to school children, support agricultural communities and economy and promote renewable energy.

Salazar said the bill sets requirements for labeling the country of origin on all food products. “It is now clear under the new law that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has no discretion,” said Salazar.

More fresh fruits and vegetables will be available to students under the new law, which allocates $45 million each year to improve nutrition for 80,000 schoolchildren in Colorado.Another provision empha-sizes a preference for locally produced food in the nutrition program.

Reacting to concerns expressed earlier this year, Salazar said the bill prevents the USDA from closing Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in the Valley.

Another component affecting Valley farmers, Salazar said, is the $285 billion funding research and marketing for specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables.

In addition, $300 million is set aside for incentives for renewable energy. Salazar said cellulosic ethanol production would benefit and relieve the reliance on corn for ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol (also called ceetol) is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses or the non-edible parts of plants.

It is a type of biofuel produced from lignocellulose, a structural material that comprises much of the mass of plants.

Lignocellulose is composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Corn stover, switchgrass, miscanthus and woodchips are some of the more popular cellulosic materials for ethanol production.

“We’ve taken as much out of the corn world as possible,” he said. There will be a $1.02 incentive per gallon for cellulosic ethanol.

Renewable energy grants are also accessible to individuals. Farmers can receive grants to produce biodiesel or build wind turbines.

Salazar said there would be a significant tax credit for this type of renewable energy production.

“We’re trying to push the renewable energy world to the individual farm and small business,” he explained.