Bush administration threatens Senate farm bill veto

Tom Chino plows a section of his family farm in Rancho Santa Fe, California October 5, 2007.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration threatened to veto the U.S. farm bill under debate in the Senate because it raises crop support rates and does not reform farm subsidy limits, Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner said on Monday.

"We see very little reform of these programs," Conner said during a telephone news conference in which he announced the veto threat. "I believe this bill can be changed to reflect good farm and fiscal policy."

As flaws, Conner cited provisions that would increase support rates for some crops. He said the bill failed to reform farm subsidy limits and did not correct a "pick your price" shortcoming in so-called loan deficiency payments.

(Reporting by Charles Abbott)