New Farm Bill

 Is it really time to start thinking about the next farm bill already?  The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee says, “yes.” it’s planting time on Capitol Hill. 

 “We’re likely to start this month with officials from USDA and academics testifying in front of the House Agriculture Committee and next month we believe the farm groups will be called in to testify and once we get into the May recess for Memorial Day Chairman Peterson has said he’s going to take it to the countryside with field hearings.” 

American Farm Bureau farm policy specialist Tara Smith says many are asking, “why the rush?” considering the current farm bill doesn’t expire until September of 2012. 

 “We really just got some of the major provisions of the last farm bill implemented here within the last couple of months.  So to start hearings already seems very, very soon.  but remember that it took us two years to write the last farm bill.  So really if you think about it, it’s not too early.  Chairman Peterson’s just trying to get ahead of the game. When you don’t have any money, everything’s tough.  Any changes that you want to make have to be dealt with within those budget constraints. We’re also dealing with an economic downturn which means programs like nutrition programs, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, school programs are going to receive a lot of attention and folks are going to want to direct a lot of money that way. ”

And also conservation programs…and where would they get that money?  Many fear they’d try to take it away from the farm safety net.