Work On Farm Bill to Start When Congress Returns

Congress faces a full-plate of issues when it returns in September, but lead Farm Bill writers still hope to complete action on a new five-year farm plan this year.  Top Senate Ag Democrat Debbie Stabenow agrees, while the process would need to addressed at a record speed, the Michigan senators adds it’s not impossible to address the Farm Bill, even though lawmakers need to take action on the debt ceiling and spending bills.

“Senator Roberts and I are very focused on coming together and getting a Farm Bill done.  And we are just about to the end of the hearings.  We’ll end that in September, and then we’ll sit down and begin writing a farm bill and negotiating it.”

Stabenow suggests timing’s important amid continued challenges in the ag community.

“Farmers need certainty, the food industry needs certainty and so, if we can get that done in the Senate before the end of the year that would be a great step forward in getting them certainty.”

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