Pat Roberts Says Farm Bill Will Get Done

As the days creep closer to when the existing farm bill expires and the new farm bill needs to be in place, Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts is still confident it will get done.

“During the last one we had prices, and it took us 3 years to pass it. I’m working with the chairman of the House Ag Committee and we’re going to get a farm bill done and I’m working very well with our ranking minority person who use to be the chairperson.”

Roberts spoke to the Montana Ag Summit earlier this month and he was impressed with the number of there and he considered another farm bill feedback session with producers.

One of the bigger challenges though, according to Roberts, is the vastness of the task.

“We’re going to have to put together a bill that considers the needs of all producers from throughout the country. I can’t emphasize that enough. When you’re chairman of the committee, you can’t pick and choose, you’re got to represent all of agriculture. And that’s exactly what we’re going to try and do.”

The intent of the farm bill is to make USDA programs more defensible while making them more flexible and efficient.