SNAP Battle Top Obstacle for Farm Bill

House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson said the biggest problem facing legislators as they write the new Farm Bill isn’t just funding. Peterson told sugar producers and processors this week that the biggest battle is over what to do with the SNAP.

Peterson spoke to the International Sweetener Symposium in San Diego, pointing out that the Heritage Foundation is attacking SNAP, not just as a way to save money but a way to kill the farm bill. The Heritage Foundation says the farm bill is excessive government intervention.

“They tell their members they’re trying to kill SNAP,” Peterson told the audience, “which they’ve been trying to do for twenty years. They’re really doing it to get rid of the Farm Bill.”

Peterson added that farm bill negotiators are going to have to work out new ways to support both the dairy and cotton industries. Peterson says, “Cotton farmers are going to have a new program or we won’t have a new Farm Bill.” He adds that the program will need significant money put into it.

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